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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:
Original poster
redrugroffle · 30/05/2012 11:19
Shock The radio station know nothing about it. It wasn't them they are claiming. There was no comp.

Tis police jobby for sure.

OP posts:
PandaWatch · 30/05/2012 11:20

I reckon a national newspaper may be interested if the store is well-known enough.

You've nothing to lose calling your local police station and telling them what happened. If they think it's worth following up they will but I think the issue may be that they would struggle to find, on what you've said and know, that a crime had been committed. I think your best option is a name and shame in a newspaper which will hopefully stop them doing something so stupid in the future.

What a horrible experience red :(

Clytaemnestra · 30/05/2012 11:21

It's entirely possible the manager was hoaxed. Or the whole company was hoaxed.

What radio station was it, what program? Was it live? Is there any way you can corroborate the fact that the radio station was involved and it has been broadcast?

AmazingBouncingFerret · 30/05/2012 11:21

"you're thinking of phoning the police?? - why humiliate yourself any further??" The Op hasnt humiliated herself!

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 30/05/2012 11:22

I am confused. What was the benefit to the hoaxer of doing this?

IvanaNap · 30/05/2012 11:22

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This has been withdrawn as this poster has privacy concerns.

Lovetats · 30/05/2012 11:22

How totally bizarre! Why on earth would someone pull a stunt like this? I'm baffled - was it supposed to be a 'funny joke' or a scam?

Do you think the shop manager's colleagues set her up to humiliate her and you got caught in the cross fire?

IvanaNap · 30/05/2012 11:22

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn as this poster has privacy concerns.

Clytaemnestra · 30/05/2012 11:24

Oh x-posts. This is totally bizarre then. I think that it is the company's responsibility, if they have been hoaxed, to sort it out with you. The order for the manager to participate must have come from somewhere, and it's the person who told her she had to find someone to participate is the one with responsibility.

ThisWeekonFancyPuffin · 30/05/2012 11:24

This one Nancy?

Original poster
redrugroffle · 30/05/2012 11:24

Ivana Shock

No idea. But that does fit in with what the customer services lady told me, about the manager being duped.

OP posts:
Original poster
redrugroffle · 30/05/2012 11:24

Cly, that is a good point.

OP posts:
Original poster
redrugroffle · 30/05/2012 11:25

and nancy that is a true story. It happened in birmingham I'm sure. Wasn't it a VW polo??

OP posts:
ajandjjmum · 30/05/2012 11:26

Who the devil are they?

IvanaNap · 30/05/2012 11:29

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn as this poster has privacy concerns.

VivaLeBeaver · 30/05/2012 11:30

What store was it - I don't see anything wrong with naming them. Outrageous behaviour on their part. I'm guessing there was no actual "broadcast" then if there was no radio station involvement, they were just pretending to record it?????

Schnarkle · 30/05/2012 11:30

So someone within the company thought it would be hilarious to hoax the manager lady who in turn roped in redrugroffle to take part in the "charity winnings".

Shower of idiots, definitely name and shame and call the police on their sorry asses.

Nancy66 · 30/05/2012 11:31

Thisweek - no was a British woman.

Redrugroffle - may well have been Birmingham, rings a bell.

bamboostalks · 30/05/2012 11:31

NAME THE SHOP FGS

surroundedbyblondes · 30/05/2012 11:32

So who was doing the duping?

Customer Services need to take this seriously. If the whole store has been tricked, then surely they will want to take it further themselves. If they don't then I suggest you contact the press and the police to be honest.

You certainly weren't a fool though, OP.

DogEared · 30/05/2012 11:32

Is there any reason why you don't want to tell us the name of the company, OP? Seeing as it will be publicised in papers soon anyway?
I am very Shock about this. Who the hell could they have been? What would they have gotten out of it? It's just so weird.

VivaLeBeaver · 30/05/2012 11:33

here

SeymoreButts · 30/05/2012 11:34

It's a fairly elaborate hoax if the person pretending to be a radio host had jingles and sounded, well, like a radio host. I'd be livid, and confused.

BupcakesandCunting · 30/05/2012 11:35

This is bizarre and it is making my brain hurt :(

IvanaNap · 30/05/2012 11:35

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn as this poster has privacy concerns.