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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to push for more from this high street company that lied and humiliated me?

555 replies

redrugroffle · 30/05/2012 10:20

Sorry, name changing old timer to protect my RL identity on here (yawn, yes I know- please feel free to quiz me on MN howlers past and present)

I was shopping on a busy saturday in a chain. A lady approached me she was the manager.

She introduced herself and said she wondering if I would help her as she'd had no luck for the last hour and needed a candidate to take part in a radio phone in show- prizes/money going to charity and their staff and the chance to win an electrical appliance for myself???

I asked how long it would take and agreed as long as it would be swift as I felt a bit sorry for her Blush- I also asked what charity it would be for and whether it would be filmed? She was vague and said she wasn't fully briefed on the details. She then laughed and said that this was very much the "style" of their company. That they were very up on motivation for the staff, crazy competitions, incentives etc. I took this on trust and they are a very big company.

We went to her office and the phone rang on speaker phone- radio guy with jingles in background etc- asks me where I'm from, age, name etc.

It was then put on handset and I had to answer a few qs and agree whether or not to perform some silly tasks (think Chris Evans old style larking) some I did some I refused (every refusal got money for the charity)

Anyway- fast forward 20 mins and I cut ot off (as I wanted to go and was stretched for time. I'd won ££ for charity, 2 prizes for the staff and a prize for myself to be collected from the store on the following Tuesday and £3000 worth of stuff.

I was really pleased and as I fundraise for a local charity I asked if my prize could be donated to my chosen charity as well as thiers (I've got no need for another toaster of cake mixer Grin) I was told we will see on Tuesday.

I arrive on Tuesday (this place is a 55 mile round trip for me)

The manager looks solemn. She takes me to the office and tells me she's been stupid, it was a hoax, nobody was coming in.

She gave me a £20 voucher for my girl (it was her birthday) and asked me to leave. Sad

I've since called their customer services to demand an inquiry into her behaviour and to get some token for being humiliated, out of pocket and time.

They've not called me back.

They've said they're sorry but these things happen????

I've nobody except my close friend to asked and he advised me that he'd be going for the complete amount of things I was promised and to not compromise.

So your feedback would be greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
discophile · 31/05/2012 09:20

Actually a bit like Livilee suggests. Blackmail.

StealthPolarBear · 31/05/2012 09:20

Well how would they make sure the store manager picked the right person?

discophile · 31/05/2012 09:22

They'd just have to be hanging around looking like they've got a bit of time on their hands.

limitedperiodonly · 31/05/2012 09:22

greeneyes I'm saying nothing about sleb shags I may have had until I've banked the cheque from the Sun.

crunchbag · 31/05/2012 09:24

You do wonder what the pranksters get out of it, I hope the OP hasn't divulged too many personal details to them.

FartBlossom · 31/05/2012 09:25

Thanks crunch was worried people wont agree with me. I will shut up now.

crunchbag · 31/05/2012 09:29

disco that would be a bit too risky, if you watch the Real Hustle you can see that they would make absolutely sure that the right person was chosen, the person on the phone would have directed the store manager to their accomplice.

discophile · 31/05/2012 09:30

I think I've cracked it.

crunchbag · 31/05/2012 09:31

me too FartBlossom, it's too confusing and I have things to do :)

SadieChanges · 31/05/2012 09:31

I used to work in retail , a few years ago we had a phone call proposing the exact same thing. A " DJ" called and proposed the situation you describe , talking about how it will help publicise the store etc. My boss found it suspicious for some reason so declined but I remember her telling me about it. So perhaps it's a well known scam?

redrugroffle · 31/05/2012 09:31

As Oracle said. I've not e mailed this thread.

I've not mentioned press to the OM.

I'm not part of some criminal gang. The person who suggested this is on crack. Unless they were joking. Hard to tell on here sometimes.

MNHQ haven;t done a dawn raid either taking my laptop and questioning me under a lamp.

Yet. Hmm

OP posts:
OracleInAMonarchale · 31/05/2012 09:32

Redrug isnt some master criminal Grin

discophile · 31/05/2012 09:34

Well, time will tell. Just wait for the first news story about it. Not necessarily this event but the same scam. The interesting thing for Us Mumsnetters is whether redrug is innocent or guilty. The crime would be either extortion "obtain money or favours by intimidation" or fraud "deliberate deception or cheating". Eh viola! Ercule Poirot!

discophile · 31/05/2012 09:36

OK. Will take you at your word, innocent. Fine. My version still works though. I would be tempted to give Trading Standards a ring. They've probably heard it all. PS Not on crack. Haven't even had breakfast yet.

supernannyisace · 31/05/2012 09:36

No suggestions here - just watching...

redrugroffle · 31/05/2012 09:36

Oracle set your watch. I give it 5 minutes before someone says oracle is redrug/oracle is red rug, the one and same, combo

My name is George Aggaguengoh ...can I have you account numbers and sort code...

OP posts:
OracleInAMonarchale · 31/05/2012 09:38

discophile, I know Redrug. she is not some hardened master criminal, to suggest otherwise is ridiculous and pretty twatty imo. she is not a part of this scam.

OracleInAMonarchale · 31/05/2012 09:38

Grin I was just thinking that!

GreenEyesAndHam · 31/05/2012 09:38

Well you're not very likely to ADMIT to being part of a criminal gang ARE YOU NOW? Huh?

Admit it. You've been rumbled!

J'accuse!

Grin
discophile · 31/05/2012 09:41

Fine. No offence intended. Just speculating. Just please let us know if you ever find out whodunnit!

AmazingBouncingFerret · 31/05/2012 09:42

This is the weirdest fucking thread I've ever read.

I like it.

discophile · 31/05/2012 09:42

As I said way upthread if it happened to me I would be more interested in finding out who set it up, rather than getting compensation. Must do something sensible now like hoovering.

wereofftoseethewizard · 31/05/2012 09:44

I thought redrug had namechanged so she wasn't identified so how do you know her Oracle?

OracleInAMonarchale · 31/05/2012 09:45

we are old mn/fb friends.

discophile · 31/05/2012 09:45

Excellent point!

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