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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pissed off at my wasted fiver?

39 replies

StuffezLaBouche · 18/12/2012 11:31

Yesterday was the deadline for my work's raffle so I bought a fiver's worth before I left work, knowing it was to be drawn today.
Raffle was drawn and I didn't win anything (wasn't expecting to as I have notoriously crap luck!)

Later, I went to the office to do a quick job and noticed a pile of six, maybe seven envelopes with "£2 raffle money" and the people's names, including mine! They hadn't been opened which meant the tickets hadn't been included in the raffle.

Now I can live with not winning an Xmas hamper, and actually the kids who did win looked so pleased, but AIBU to be a bit grumpy about all the people who paid for tickets but weren't entered?

OP posts:
CajaDeLaMemoria · 18/12/2012 11:37

You should get the money back if you weren't entered.

Yes you might not have won anyway but it's a game of luck, and you didn't have a chance.

I'm surprised this can happen what with the strict guidelines around raffles in work places. It's very poor.

DonkeysInTheStableAtMidnight · 18/12/2012 11:37

That's not on! How is that fair? Yanbu.

SoleSource · 18/12/2012 11:40

Yanbu

Will you ask for your money back if you do not receive it before Christmas.

Original poster
StuffezLaBouche · 18/12/2012 11:41

I don't think I would dare ask for the money back but I do feel a bit annoyed. I work in a school and the office is very understaffed currently, but still no excuse. The parents whose tickets were also unentered would be pissed of too, I think - particularly if they also contributed to the hampers. Ah well! Glad people can see why I'm a bit miffed.

OP posts:
FivesGoldNorks · 18/12/2012 11:48

Ooh that's bad of them

FeckOffCup · 18/12/2012 11:57

YANBU to be pissed off. What was the raffle to raise money for, that would have a bearing on whether I was going to ask for the money back or not.

happyinherts · 18/12/2012 12:02

It's fraud. You enter a raffle with a chance of winning something which obviously hasn't happened in this case.

You might as well have posted a fiver down the nearest drain although you have the knowledge that your donation will reach its cause

YANBU to be pissed off. I think most of us would be. You just have to bear in mind whether it's a good idea to complain being that the money will go to its intended cause and you may not have won anyway....

GoodKingWenSOLOslas · 18/12/2012 12:07

You need to mention that you saw them and that all those unentered ticket monies should be returned to the people that thought they were entered!

samandi · 18/12/2012 12:14

Sorry but I would definitely mention it. As another poster has said it's actually fraud.

samandi · 18/12/2012 12:17

At least if the money isn't returned that is.

elizaregina · 18/12/2012 12:20

Its fraud - people are entering in good faith.

You need to tell them you saw the money and tickets and yes - return to the people.

The money will go to a good cause BUT it was GIVEN with the agreement that they would be entered into a competition, that is how the money was given over in the first place - and the agreement BEHIND CLOSED DOORS was broken!!

Therefore the money should be returned.

IT WILL THEN be back down to the moneys owners - whether or not they will give it anyway.

But that decsion is not the schools to make.

It must be returned to its owners.

elizaregina · 18/12/2012 12:21

do it quickly before they open all the enveloped and mix up the money!!!

elizaregina · 18/12/2012 12:25

Stuff

Its not really your descion to make on other peoples money.,

You may not want to ask for your money back, but you have witnessed a crime - you have to alert the perpertrators - and ask them if they are going to return the money to the people who werent entered or some how let the paretns know ...then all hell may kick off.

There is a credit crunch on at the moment and with xmas money is flying out left right and center - you dont know the circs of people giving that money - they maybe couldnt afford it - but felt guilted into it or obliged not that that matters is THIER MONEY.

Its not something I would want on my consiounce.

If it was me as a parent, I would ask for it anyway - to teach them to take more care next time.

you couldnt get away with this in a buisness enviroment.

JenaiMathis · 18/12/2012 12:25

I'm feeling especially thick. What actually happened? You paid for £5 worth of tickets and they're giving you £2 back?

FivesGoldNorks · 18/12/2012 12:27

I think that's just what happened to be written on one of the other envelopes. A few people, OP included handed in envelopes containing the tickets that were meant to be put in the draw (and that IS draw, not drawer Xmas Wink) that were left in a pile on a desk

JenaiMathis · 18/12/2012 12:45

So I imagine sombody forgot to enter these tickets, and they'll return the cash.

I assume the names are on/in the envelopes otherwise if they had been entered nobody would have known to who any prizes were going. Alternatively, were they actually entered but the person administering the raffle hasn't removed the cash from the envelopes yet?

I'd make sure everything was clear before calling Anne Robinson tbh.

JenaiMathis · 18/12/2012 12:48

Hang on, I'm still not getting this am I?

How does the OP know the tickets weren't entered? Confused

FivesGoldNorks · 18/12/2012 12:51

Envelopes were full I assume?

RobotLover68 · 18/12/2012 12:53

There are VERY strict guidelines surrounding raffles - you have to have a licence if the tickets are being sold in advance of the draw date - does the school have this?

You can sell raffle tickets without a licence as long as the raffle is being held same day

I'd have to say something - the school can get pulled up by the council for this

Original poster
StuffezLaBouche · 18/12/2012 13:00

Sorry for being unclear,
I bought a fiver's worth, and my envelope was unopened in the pile with my name and £5 on it. Others' envelopes were there with their names and their amount - I just used £2 as an example, sorry! The envelopes were unopened and were in the tray that's for 'stuff that's come in.' IYSWIM.

The admin chap has gone home ill this morning so probably was feeling under the weather this morning, hence the cock up happening. The money is going to school fund, so I most likely wont ask for it back. I will mention it to the Head though and leave it for her to decide whether she returns money to parents.

I'm very surprised to learn you need a licence for this kind of draw - I'm fairly certain we don't have such a thing. Are councils strict on this kind of thing? No school I've ever worked in has mentioned needing a licence to do raffles!

OP posts:
ChristmasJubilee · 18/12/2012 13:06

JenaiMathis read from the top again. If you still don't get it - best give up.

OP YANBU please say something. Ds's school send home £10 of tickets for each child to 'sell'. I always return the stubs with £10 as we don't really have anyone to sell them to. I don't expect to win anything but would be very annoyed not to be entered.

FivesGoldNorks · 18/12/2012 13:07

I have been on too many pedantry threads. "in a draw" is making me gnash my teeth despite the fact it is correct :o

Original poster
StuffezLaBouche · 18/12/2012 13:09

Or 'in a Chester draws,' Five.

Christmas Jubilee, that's actually convinced me to say something. A tenner is a lot of money!

OP posts:
elizaregina · 18/12/2012 17:13

stuffez

a pound is alot to alot of people at the moment too! it all adds up, money for xmas - money for extra food - any extra exepnses people may in cur at this time of year etc..money for teachers - money for rafflles -tons of kids parties - un expexted breakages etc etc it all - adds up.

backforhelp · 18/12/2012 17:22

We had this once at our old primary school. I was nothing to do with the raffle as such but part of my job meant I was meant to be banking the money along with other money for other things. When I was given these envelopes with tickets still in, I made a point of speaking to the people looking after the raffle and then we went round offering to refund them all (about 15 people). Most just said "keep it as a donation" but I didnt want anyone to say we hadnt done the right thing and word to go round about anything like that. I would say something to them and if you are willing to donate it, say that as well but they should at least offer it back to people. (we did have a licence - it was an annual one which covered a few raffles and things).