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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want the prize I won??

463 replies

Dogue · 09/12/2022 07:28

In the grand scheme of things I’m probably being petty, but this has really annoyed me -

our village had a Christmas fair last Saturday. On Monday I had a missed call from a mobile number which turned out to be the organisers of the event. I rang back and she said was ringing to tell me I’d won a prize, but that she was out at the moment so didn’t have details but would ring me back in half an hour to let me know.

I didn’t hear back from her on Monday so I called again on Wednesday (didn’t get a chance on Tuesday) and she said the same again - someone would call me back later with details of what I’d won and how to collect.

by Thursday I still hadn’t heard from them so I texted the number about it. I got the reply: “sorry, all prizes had to be collected by Wednesday. We can give you a bottle of Prosecco as a consolation”

I’m so annoyed that I wasn’t given any opportunity to collect my prize on time. From memory the only thing I think I put my phone number down for was when my 6 year old entered the ‘guess how many sweets in the jar’ so I was really excited to tell him he had won. I’m not really bothered about having a massive jar of jellies in my house, but if that’s what we’ve won then it’s what I want! When I told her this she said she would make sure there’s a consolation prize for him too, but that’s no use really as it means I don’t get the loveliness of telling him his guess was the winner.

obviously there are much bigger things to worry about in the world right now, but it’s a bit shit and terrible organisation right??

OP posts:
rosesinmygarden · 09/12/2022 07:30

That's really odd. What's happened to your prize?

ExtraOnions · 09/12/2022 07:33

Under the terms of the Lottery Licence they would have to have applied for, to run a raffle (chair of PSA here), they are obliged to give you the prize that you won. There is no time limit …

Saucery · 09/12/2022 07:33

They should put together another jar of sweets for your DS.

alasangne · 09/12/2022 07:37

Bet they stole it

Original poster
Dogue · 09/12/2022 07:38

ExtraOnions · 09/12/2022 07:33

Under the terms of the Lottery Licence they would have to have applied for, to run a raffle (chair of PSA here), they are obliged to give you the prize that you won. There is no time limit …

Oh ok that is very useful to know! Does that apply even if it was a guessing game rather than a standard raffle?

@rosesinmygarden exactly what I was wondering!!

OP posts:
Tlolljs · 09/12/2022 07:39

Did you ask who received your prize?
Think they should honour it and make another jar of sweets for your ds.

Clymene · 09/12/2022 07:41

What happens to prizes after Wednesday? Do they evaporate or does the organiser get to keep them?

What was the prize??

lap90 · 09/12/2022 07:41

If you really want to pursue maybe screenshot calls you had made to her and say you were never called back as promised, thus not given the opportunity to collect your prize?

Stompythedinosaur · 09/12/2022 07:42

I'd be getting back in touch to say you rang multiple times and we're told to wait to be contacted - definitely off to not give you your prize.

Original poster
Dogue · 09/12/2022 07:46

I explained to her how I had called multiple times and her only response was “I can only apologise” but no explanation. I think I’ll text again this morning and say I’m entitled to what I won and want to know what happened to my prize.

@Clymene they haven’t actually told me yet what my prize is, but the only thing I remember entering is for a big jar of sweets.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 09/12/2022 07:47

Why would they assume you want alcohol?
I wouldn't want Prosecco as an alternative price when the original was sweets. Sorry but they should be giving you a chocolate selection box or something.
Point out this was a prize aimed at children.
I went to a primary school xmas fair the other day and the tombola was 95% alcohol. I don't drink alcohol and also it was at a PRIMARY school. I said "where's the children's prizes?" They just shrugged. I didn't pay to play the tombola. Shame because I have for the past decade.

Clymene · 09/12/2022 07:50

Dogue · 09/12/2022 07:46

I explained to her how I had called multiple times and her only response was “I can only apologise” but no explanation. I think I’ll text again this morning and say I’m entitled to what I won and want to know what happened to my prize.

@Clymene they haven’t actually told me yet what my prize is, but the only thing I remember entering is for a big jar of sweets.

Oh sorry you said that in your OP!

Well that's what you should get them.

Scammy mcscamface ofherwise!

ImNotBella · 09/12/2022 07:51

How annoying. I agree a bottle of wine is not an appropriate substitution if the prize was a jar of sweets.

stuntbubbles · 09/12/2022 07:52

That’s useless! Perhaps they’ve been drinking all the consolation Prosecco?

Dittosaw · 09/12/2022 07:52

Obviously you should have been given the prize you won. No question about it.

PuttingDownRoots · 09/12/2022 07:53

They made a mistake with not answering phone calls. They need to sort it.

APurpleSquirrel · 09/12/2022 07:54

As another PP has said, there are very strict laws governing gambling - which even such basic games as guess the number of sweets technically are. So yes, you should be given your prize, & if they've given it to someone else they should make up another one to the same spec for you out of their own pocket/proceeds.
To the other person above re. Alcohol at a Primary School event - that's fine & normal - however children can't enter/win it. Alcohol tombolas are very popular, hence why it was there. But there should have been other games etc aimed at kids too.

MillyMollyManky · 09/12/2022 07:54

That’s very poor. I suspect they’ve given the prize to the second closest person now- if so, not much you can do. It’s a shame.

PuttingDownRoots · 09/12/2022 07:55

@Needmorelego DDs primary school did a chocolate tombola this year... the kids loved it, it was the busiest stall!

handmademitlove · 09/12/2022 07:58

You only need a lottery licence in specific circumstances - most fairs running these type of 'guess the weight' type things do not need a licence.. But they should still honour the prize.

WeAreTheHeroes · 09/12/2022 07:58

ExtraOnions · 09/12/2022 07:33

Under the terms of the Lottery Licence they would have to have applied for, to run a raffle (chair of PSA here), they are obliged to give you the prize that you won. There is no time limit …

You don't need a licence for this kind of thing if the only way to enter is at the event. If tickets/entries were sold in the run up then that's different.

That said it's poor organisation and I would complain.

UnicornMumcraft · 09/12/2022 07:59

You should get your prize, it’s the right thing to do, but I’d be cautious of quoting lottery license rules etc. If you could only enter at and on the day of the event it’s unlikely they would have needed a license for a game like guess the number of sweets.

Original poster
Dogue · 09/12/2022 08:00

Yeah the Prosecco is no use to me really - I like it, but I’m not likely to crack open a bottle by myself at home. And the only reason I entered anything at all was because my son was so excited another the guessing game and amazed that it was possible to actually win that big massive jar of them!
I’ve just sent another text explaining that I’m entitled to my prize under lottery license laws, so could they please find out what happened to it.

Feel like a bit of a tit being so annoyed about such a small prize, but I think it’s the principle of it that bothers me - would they have done the same if it was a valuable prize??

OP posts:
Original poster
Dogue · 09/12/2022 08:01

Oh right I’ve mentioned the license laws now to them - whoops.

OP posts:
FinalPushh · 09/12/2022 08:06

Have you got a local Facebook page you can comment on to see if they've done this to anyone else? I imagine once it's on Facebook your prize might magically appear again!