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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
IvanaNap · 30/05/2012 10:46

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn as this poster has privacy concerns.

HipHopOpotomus · 30/05/2012 10:47

I'm not following too clearly either.

This was all a set up for a radio station 'joke'? And they hoaxed the manager too? In that case isn't the radio station also equally liable - presumably you were "Winning the prizes" from them.

Def ask station to sent a copy of the broadcast to you immediately.

If I were you OP, I'd also be confused, perplexed and fucking angry.

Original poster
redrugroffle · 30/05/2012 10:49
Shock

I know this sounds far fetched but I've been called back just now with the "promise" that one of the directors will call me today!

OP posts:
Petsinmyroyalpudenda · 30/05/2012 10:50

When the do rind overuse the words fraud, police and newspapers

cheesesarnie · 30/05/2012 10:52

blimey!

so was hoax by radio station or the company?(sorry thick).

i agree threaten that youll go to the papers.

Original poster
redrugroffle · 30/05/2012 10:52

I need to clarify again.

The manager was sketchy and didn't mention the radio station being in on it. She implied that someone with lots of insider knowledge was part of the hoax.

as I said I have e mailed the radio station and got nothing back so far.

See I'm not happy with what I am being told- I have even gone as far as to check with the finance division of my chosen charity that thier donation will be honoured (that's how little I trust them!)

OP posts:
Petsinmyroyalpudenda · 30/05/2012 10:53

When they do ring even

Original poster
redrugroffle · 30/05/2012 10:53

actually the one thing I didn't consider is the police. Surely they should be invovled no?

OP posts:
PandaWatch · 30/05/2012 10:53

So the hoax was that you were winning money for charity?! I'd be fuming.

AlexReidsLonelyBraincell · 30/05/2012 10:56

What's funny about pretending to offer people the chance to fundraise for charity? It's hardly up there with Beadle's About is it?

You were doing a nice thing op, I know you probably feel embarrassed but they're the ones who should be ashamed. The whole thing is bonkers.

ginmakesitallok · 30/05/2012 10:56

you're thinking of phoning the police??Confused - why humiliate yourself any further??

Nancy66 · 30/05/2012 10:58

I don't understand why you won't name the store?

Original poster
redrugroffle · 30/05/2012 10:58

pandawatch (sorry to only name here and there)

I have been told by their customer services.
We don't know who these people were that called. The manager was duped also- We are investigating it.
There was no such affiliation or promotion (so they manager didn't check or verify anything but she told me "this is so typical of our company they're very zany etc etc)

I'm thinking now having read all your brilliant posts.

The police should be involved. I think they mentioned the charity to get you to stay on the phone for longer Hmm

OP posts:
MimsyBorogroves · 30/05/2012 10:59

How bizarre, and low of them to promise donations to a charity which they had no intention of honouring.

Name and shame!

mumto2andnomore · 30/05/2012 10:59

I don't get it , what was the point ??

StealthPolarBear · 30/05/2012 10:59

Yes phone police if fraudulsnt charity collectors

Original poster
redrugroffle · 30/05/2012 10:59

Thank you nancy.

If the director fobs me off. let's face it I'm fairly confident he/she will after the whole episode. I will name and shame immediately.

Have e mailed the Daily mail too.

OP posts:
lionheart · 30/05/2012 11:04

Poor you. I hope you get to the bottom of all this. What a buugger when you were trying to help them out.

Nancy66 · 30/05/2012 11:05

It's not a national newspaper - local press is your best bet

Nancy66 · 30/05/2012 11:05

correction: not a national newspaper STORY

IvanaNap · 30/05/2012 11:06

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn as this poster has privacy concerns.

ShowOfHands · 30/05/2012 11:09
Confused
Original poster
redrugroffle · 30/05/2012 11:10

I have already got a journo from local rag interested.

Forearmed etc.....I want to be prepared when I get the call.

Thanks so much.

Those of you saying not to bother with the police. Do you think it's ok for someone to pose as a radio station on the pretext money will go to charity?

OP posts:
Nancy66 · 30/05/2012 11:15

There was a case a while ago of a woman who sued a radio station after they hoaxed her into believing she had won a car - they invited her to the station for a presentation ceremony and handed her a matchbox car.

She won the equivalent of the cost of a new car - about £10k I think.

The radio station can damn well make a generous donation to your charity - threaten with legal action if they don't

Petsinmyroyalpudenda · 30/05/2012 11:17

Its the charity angle that would have me calling the police.