Won a prize but is it a con?

[Mered]

I won a runners-up prize in a competition, which is a day-long session of race driving tuition. At first the prize seemed pretty good, as below:-

"As a runner up you will be coached on how to drive like a professional racing driver, starting off in BMW M3’s the team will coach both through practical and theory sessions the art of racing. This unique and exclusive session will give you an in-depth knowledge of what it takes to be in the shoes of Hamilton and Button and experience the high octane thrills of professional race drivers.
The session will include:

All vehicles
Safety briefing
Familiarisation laps
Safety equipment
Professional Instruction
Fuel
Track Time
Tea / Coffee and light refreshments"

When I phoned to book though, the guy said the only thing not included is a one-off fee for public liability insurance and 'membership' to some motorsports club they are involved with, at a cost of £199. They wouldn't let me take out my own insurance and insisted I had to pay to claim my prize. Also, he seemed to imply that I would only be going in the BMW, when the competition and website mentioned going in other more powerful vehicles.

Does this seem like a con? I went from being quite pleased with the prize to very annoyed, as I wouldn't expect to pay anything even as a runner-up. I'll not name the company just yet, but wondered what people think. I'm going to email them to try and get the cost waived.

[Krikkit]

Sounds like a con to me! Did you enter any competitions where that was the prize?

[daemon]

Motor racing equivalent of 'you've won a free holiday' timeshare con.

[jagracer]

Mered said:

Does this seem like a con?

Yes, or rather you are paying full price for your prize but it's being disguised as insurance, that's if it even exists.

[Eighteeteewhy]

Someone else on here has also won this prize.

[itz_baseline]

If you have to ask it most probably is a con.

Sounds like one of those 'The Sun' holidays for £9.50 which turn out to be £150 by the time you have paid for all the 'must purchase' things added on.

[CraigyMc]

Scammier than this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAvwV_hXrcM

[MX7]

Con.

[Mered]

Yeah, definitely entered the competition. The closing date was beginning of December last year, but they only contacted me this weekend, which seems very strange.

Nowhere on the competition did it mention paying the membership fee.

[Monkeylegend]

itz_baseline said:

If you have to ask it most probably is a con.

Sounds like one of those 'The Sun' holidays for £9.50 which turn out to be £150 by the time you have paid for all the 'must purchase' things added on.

Oh no they don't.

[Luke.]

Read this:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Mered]

Thanks everyone, looks like I wasn't so lucky after all! Definitely won't be bothering with this, and I don't feel so bad now I know it was more of a spam thing.

[soad]

daemon said:

Motor racing equivalent of 'you've won a free holiday' timeshare con.