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

[redrugroffle]

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 - 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 ) 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.

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.

This is pretty random, cant wait to hear how it all turns out

i have read through pages and pages but still cant see name of store.

OP - in past I have found sort of making up your own newstory to email them, so they can see how it reads helps to get action

eg - Mum distraught after hoax by " XXXX" promises money to charity then fails to deliver"

Bla bla of bla bla was approached on X by store manager X - then tell story

put in qutoes - Mrs Bla said - she felt humilated adn this in not how a compnay should act towards it custmers, she ursges all shoppers to be aware ....

Elizaregina - you've been writing for the DM haven't you?!

Oh this sounds so bizarre, but i am very intrigued by what the Director is going to say for him/herself...

Even assuming that the manager was also duped, the fact that the company haven't called you back or made the promised charity donation shows their customer service to be pretty crap (to say the least)

I agree that you should name and shame.

just marking my place.

When did they promise to donate the money? They may not have done it yet, but may intend to, although it does sound a little lie you're being fobbed off. Very strange all round as I don't see what is to be gained.

Is it The White Stuff? Really want to know th company.

Sorry, got to mark my place. This is the weirdest scam ever!

not really.

Sounds like Stoatie is right - if the 'competition' person got the store to call them. If so, I don't understand why the store are being so off with you though - they should be getting their Telephone provider and the police involved and explaining the full situation to you and apologising.

IF they have been genuinely duped and apologised right away then you'd probably have still been annoyed, but at the fraudster, not the store - as it is, all this cloak and dagger stuff is just plain odd and I couldn't blame you for being angry with the store

I'm sorry that this has happened to you OP. I'm shocked that the company aren't interested in taking it more seriously - they've let themselves down here. Interested to hear what the director says on the call back, although I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't get the return phone call.

If they don't call back today you should definitely name & shame.

The only profit in a scam like this that I can see is the previously mentioned premium phone rate, otherwise someone has gone to a lot of effort for nothing.

What I don't h

I think stoatie has it!

It could still be a premium rate line scam even if they have phoned you. Not sure how it works, but it can.

Just because the charity hasn't recieved any money yet doesn't mean they are not going to, it can take a few days for a payment to reach its destination (the banks like to hold onto the money for as long as possible).

See I think this whole story is so weird it must be true

OP I think you need to name and shame because

a) I'm a nosy twat and need to know

b) this happened to one of their customers whilst in their establishment. If that hasn't got them falling over themselves to placate you already they don't deserve your protection

Honestly they reverse charge the calls somehow and make money.
The one's that rang my store, claimed to have gone through head office or where from head office. She then had to go get a randomer of the street, and bring them into the office. Head office only allow employees in the office so would never ask a member of staff to get a random. Also its not in the any employee's job decription to take part in a competition over the phone which takes them away from there daily jobs and responsibilites.

The members of staff who are recieveing these phone calls need to use there common senses and not think ooooo i win loads of prizes.

OP you did the right thing by putting and end to it. The things the manager did at my old store where humilitating, and she should of known better. The girl who was taken in the offices wasnts to know what was going on she didnt work for the company.

How strange! Hope they phone you back.

I think it's House of Fraser or Debenhams...

I just dont understand what the big deal is. Ok so a bit of time has been wasted and the cost of returning to the store. We are all lied to from time to time, no-one likes being lied to, but its not the end of the world. Sounds to me the OP was caught in the cross fire of a scam to the store so why the OP needs lots of money from the store just for a bit of time wasting Im not sure TBH. Name and shame and it will get a whole load of bad publicity for them if you're that bothered about it. Whatever humiliation you feel, I just cant see it especially as you haven't bothered to tell us what tasks it was.

WTAF?

And yes, please tell us what the tasks were.

Marking my place.

Do we know which store it is yet??

The OP mentions electrical appliances as prizes and "I've got no need for another toaster of cake mixer" so I've got a shop like Dixons or Currys in mind.

I'm very curious which shop and where it happened and if it's a shop frequent.