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AIBU?

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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:
alasangne · 09/12/2022 09:40

What has the war in Ukraine got to do with it? Unless the sweets have been donated to Ukraine?

SmileyClare · 09/12/2022 09:42

Remembering shit things happening in the world doesn’t cancel op’s issue but it gives perspective to her upset and outrage.

How is op supposed to “escalate” this? It’s a little village fete. Take it to the small claims court? Harass the volunteer by phone and text?

Op can’t you buy your son a jar of sweets and tell him it’s the prize?
It’s annoying but at least he won’t be disappointed!

EmmaAgain22 · 09/12/2022 09:46

was this just a village fete run by volunteers? Any money involved?

if it's just volunteers and no profits, then it seems they did their best.

SittingTrot · 09/12/2022 09:47

If you can afford it just buy your son a massive jar of sweets. As long as he gets his 'prize' he'll be happy
That would be my only concern and they could fuck any fund raisers/donations from me after that

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 09/12/2022 09:49

billy1966 · 09/12/2022 08:42

I play a bit of tennis and "prizegate" is a story from ten years ago.

Tickets were sold during a Closed tournament within the club as part of normal fundraising.

On the last night the tickets were drawn and Marie won first prize. She wasn't there but got a call to tell her.
She was delighted.

A few days later she called into the office and got her prize, a hamper thing with biscuits, chocolates and a couple of bottles of wine, the usual.

She was delighted apparently...until

A week later someone mentions the fab prize of a lovely racket and bag!!!

Apparently her prize had been taken by the second prize winner who was the daughter of a committee member.

There was absolute murder over it.
Letters to the committee.
Formal complaint.
Integrity of the process.
And as for the gossip, really unbelievable.

Obviously the prize was replaced, huge formal apology given to Marie, and from then on all prizes were named clearly beforehand.

The committee member resigned and his poor wife was mortified.

It left a really bad taste in the mouths of other committee members who had not been there as they were furious at being associated with such behaviour.

Probably sounds a bit petty to some but this is STILL talked about anytime fundraising is being planned.

I wouldn't let this go.
They have a responsibility to insure the prize gets to the right person when people pay money for tickets.

This sounds like the opening of an episode of Midsommer Murders! Or at least a subplot.

BringBackFoilWrappers · 09/12/2022 09:50

I'd make a Facebook post and include them in it if possible and say they basically didn't let you collect your prize.
If people take your money for raffles it's the same as making a business transaction imo.

Greydogs123 · 09/12/2022 09:51

It's a bit off if there was no mention at the time of entering that there was a time limit on collecting your prize. I don’t think you’re wrong to pursue it - I would point out the poor organisation and how off putting it is, you’re not likely to enter something again.

Rogue1001MNer · 09/12/2022 09:52

It's the injustice that rankles, isn't it!

FatEaredFuck · 09/12/2022 09:54

From experience all the rules in locally run volunteer events are because someone, somewhere came to the pompous opinion of someone feeling wronged/displaced/outraged.

At the time, as an organiser I was normally quite aggrieved at the "busybody" - but now on reflection it's easy to see that it does make things fairer. It's better to do the right thing in the right way. They are volunteers, it is for charity, and they have probably tried their best - but they need to do better if they're asking people for cash.

You following up may be a nuisance, but they wont make the same mistake next year and wont let anyone else down.

Bookworm20 · 09/12/2022 09:55

That is really bad. Obviously not the worst thing going on, but when you win a prise you should get that prise! Your son would have been so excited to know he had been the winner!

And probably something he would remember for a long time!

The fact they did not at any point during your calls tell you about the very small window for collection, and also did not make themselves actually available to allow you to collect is totally all on them and they should fix it.

And most people would wait a day or 2 for a callback, so as not to seem pushy. I know I would. However if she'd said, it needs to be collected by wednesday you'd of definitely chased it more!

I bet you are not the only one who hasn't been given their prise, OP! If they couldn't call you back for a jar of sweets you can bet they didn't call anyone else back for something bigger.

ABBAsnumberonefan · 09/12/2022 09:56

I mean I get it’s annoying but the Prosecco probs cost more than the jar of sweets 😂 it’s not worth the time you’ve spent chasing and thinking about it tbh

NotSorry · 09/12/2022 09:56

MumEeeee · 09/12/2022 09:35

As a Ukrainian family I think I have my own excellent fundraising idea:
For a small fee one of us will attend trips or events organised and attended by people who’ve annoyed you this year guilt tripping saying ‘don’t you know there’s a war in Ukraine…?’. Say their Christmas dinner, and we’ll shout ‘There’s a war on! Yet you sit idle?! Stuffing your face?’ Etc.
Proceeds to Ukraine.

🤣🤣

AngelDelightUK · 09/12/2022 09:57

That would’ve really annoyed me, it’s not like you didn’t try to collect it.

I’m a petty so and so though so I wouldn’t let it drop!!

Greyarea12 · 09/12/2022 09:59

I think you have have right to be annoyed and I think you should stand up for yourself and your son. The volunteer could of gave every prize winner the same line and therefore has kept all the prizes I think you should inform the school/parent Council, whoever it is that organised it, that this is how prize winners are being treated. Failing that, I would be sharing a message on fb. I wouldn't care how small the prize is, that belongs to you & your son and effectively she has either stole it for herself or gave it away to someone else and it's not on. They way she has avoided your messages about the prize and not called you back tells me she has done this on purpose for her own gain.

Bookworm20 · 09/12/2022 10:00

I'd also say you will come and collect your consolation prise. And then when you get there to collect, don't leave until you have all the information as to what actually happened to your prise. I'm sure it didn't go up in a puff of smoke at the strike of midnight on wednesday and that your ds does not want alcohol! (Little ds will be very unimpressed getting something he can't drink for x number of years) and that you'll wait while they go out and buy a replacement jar of sweets.

MmedeGouge · 09/12/2022 10:00

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

This times ten!

RoyalCorgi · 09/12/2022 10:02

Of course, in a way this is a trivial matter. But in another way it isn't. As a society we operate on trust - we expect other people to play by the rules. That is why lots of us got so angry when government members broke their own lockdown rules, or gave big PPE procurement contracts to their mates.

It is pretty shitty to enter a prize draw and then not be given the prize you've won - particularly as no explanation has been given, which suggests something dodgy is going on. The OP entered the draw in good faith, so it should be operated in good faith. The organisers are presumably relying on her thinking "I won't make a fuss because I don't want to look as if I'm greedy or getting things out of proportion." If they get away with it, it gives them the incentive to try it again next time.

prh47bridge · 09/12/2022 10:02

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 …

A raffle at a fair is classed as an incidental lottery and does not need a licence provided it is not the main purpose of the event, the money raised is not used for private gain, tickets are only sold at the event, there are no cash prizes and all prizes are given out when the results are drawn - uncollected prizes are not carried over to a future event.

This lottery may not have needed a licence. If it did, they are in breach of the terms of the licence. If it did not, they appear to have breached the terms allowing them to run a lottery without a licence. They gave OP no opportunity to collect her prize. It is not clear what has happened to the prize, but it belongs to OP. If she took this to the small claims court, I would expect her to win.

MyNameisMathilda · 09/12/2022 10:10

I can't believe people are making such a strop about this. It is exactly this kind of behaviour referring to laws etc which put people off volunteering for events like this. FGS it's a jar of sweets.

prh47bridge · 09/12/2022 10:10

Just to add, if it were me, I would be clear to the organisers that they appear to have broken the law. If they held a lottery licence, they are in breach of the terms of the licence. If they did not, they are in breach of the conditions for running an unlicensed lottery. I would insist that they give me the prize I won or, if they were unable to recover the original prize from whoever they have given it to, an exact replacement.

Maybe it is petty, but OP (or her son) won a prize. She should get what she won.

stuntbubbles · 09/12/2022 10:10

MumEeeee · 09/12/2022 09:35

As a Ukrainian family I think I have my own excellent fundraising idea:
For a small fee one of us will attend trips or events organised and attended by people who’ve annoyed you this year guilt tripping saying ‘don’t you know there’s a war in Ukraine…?’. Say their Christmas dinner, and we’ll shout ‘There’s a war on! Yet you sit idle?! Stuffing your face?’ Etc.
Proceeds to Ukraine.

GrinGrin

ShandaLear · 09/12/2022 10:11

Newcatbrowntail · 09/12/2022 08:39

I actually feel sorry for the poor volunteer. She’s done her best unpaid in her own time now she’s probably going to have to spend her own money on making up another prize . You’ve already got and accepted a bottle of Prosecco, let it go

So you’re saying it’s ok to be incompetent and/or deliberately break the rules if you’re a volunteer?

SmileyClare · 09/12/2022 10:11

she has done this on purpose for her own gain Confused

MyNameisMathilda · 09/12/2022 10:12

Yes - sod the funds that they were raising for - maybe some swings or some benches or whatever as long as the OP gets her jar of sweets and as for comparisons with Covid lockdowns....give me a break!

MyNameisMathilda · 09/12/2022 10:13

ShandaLear · 09/12/2022 10:11

So you’re saying it’s ok to be incompetent and/or deliberately break the rules if you’re a volunteer?

Show quote history

Volunteers are only human and yes they may be "incompetent". The whole lot of them may be but they tried their best.

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