Just won a car - but not entirely happy

Just won a car - but not entirely happy

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Discussion

soupdragon1

Original Poster:

3,966 posts

96 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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As strange as it sounds, I've won a car - I should be happy, right?

Well, I am happy, a bit, because I won a car....but

Backstory:

Entered the comp to win a car (free entry - nothing to lose, why not!)

Prize draw was done by a very well known, and fairly large company, with a presence in pretty much every high street in the UK

I won it a few weeks ago and car is getting sent to me soon

During the draw (broadcast live on social media) they pulled my name out, and said I won the car, and said it was worth about £30k

Queue joyous celebrations, telling everyone in work, all my friends, family etc....missus already making plans on what we should do with the windfall

Find out today, the car is worth about £5k tops (I had been asking for a couple of weeks for info on the car so that I could get quotes for insurance and find out the tax cost but only got word today - not sure why they waited so long to tell me)

Obviously, my hopes were raised that I had won something of significant value and while a £5k car is better than a poke in the eye, the gloss of what I thought I had won has been tainted a fair bit. Delving into the T's and C's of the competition, the small print says what the car is, and what age it is so in that respect, they've met their T's and C's

I haven't went back to them yet, but not sure whether I just accept it for what it is, or whether to complain that I (and I guess the watching general public) have been misled somewhat. I was celebrating winning a £30k car but can't help feeling a bit of foul play with the prize draw, this reputable company claiming they are giving away a £30k car when really, its not even worth anywhere near that.

Thoughts?

loafer123

15,404 posts

214 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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Is it worth less because it is second hand, or because it is a lease?

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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What is the car? Is it second hand?

StevieBee

12,795 posts

254 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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Sounds very odd that a major brand should promote a prize of a second hand car!

The key is whether you were attracted to the competition on the basis of the prize being worth £30k - in other words, this is stated clearly in the promotional bumf - or does the advertising state the prize being worth £30k when new?

Regardless of the T&Cs, I would have thought that if the prize won isn't the prize offered then you do have some rights to remedy but you need to satisfy yourself that the advertising that attracted you to the draw was incorrect or deliberately misrepresented what the prize would be.


soupdragon1

Original Poster:

3,966 posts

96 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
Its 2nd hand - which was pretty clear as these cars are about £80-£100k new. I can't really say what the car is right now, otherwise it would be easy to ascertain who the company is, and its not within forum rules to bring unwanted negative attention to companys on here.

Shakermaker

11,317 posts

99 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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Clothing company that isn't as trendy as it once was and now worn mostly by dads wanting to reclaim their youth by pretending they live for the surf?

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
soupdragon1 said:
As strange as it sounds, I've won a car - I should be happy, right?

Well, I am happy, a bit, because I won a car....but

Backstory:

Entered the comp to win a car (free entry - nothing to lose, why not!)

Prize draw was done by a very well known, and fairly large company, with a presence in pretty much every high street in the UK

I won it a few weeks ago and car is getting sent to me soon

During the draw (broadcast live on social media) they pulled my name out, and said I won the car, and said it was worth about £30k

Queue joyous celebrations, telling everyone in work, all my friends, family etc....missus already making plans on what we should do with the windfall

Find out today, the car is worth about £5k tops (I had been asking for a couple of weeks for info on the car so that I could get quotes for insurance and find out the tax cost but only got word today - not sure why they waited so long to tell me)

Obviously, my hopes were raised that I had won something of significant value and while a £5k car is better than a poke in the eye, the gloss of what I thought I had won has been tainted a fair bit. Delving into the T's and C's of the competition, the small print says what the car is, and what age it is so in that respect, they've met their T's and C's

I haven't went back to them yet, but not sure whether I just accept it for what it is, or whether to complain that I (and I guess the watching general public) have been misled somewhat. I was celebrating winning a £30k car but can't help feeling a bit of foul play with the prize draw, this reputable company claiming they are giving away a £30k car when really, its not even worth anywhere near that.

Thoughts?
So you've won something worth £5k completely free and you're unhappy? Sheesh...

Harry H

3,379 posts

155 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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I can't honestly believe that someone on PH would talk about winning a car and then fail to mention what type of car it is.


Sheepshanks

32,530 posts

118 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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Need more details - if £5K is the value of the car, that's not far above a banger these days. Struggling to imagine any company would give one as a prize as cars of that value are a can of worms.

If everything about it led you believe it was a £30K prize, I'd be pretty miffed. Maybe that it was free gives them a get-out?


ETA in light of later info: car worth £80-100K now only £5K?? Are they supplying a long warranty?

Edited by Sheepshanks on Monday 19th August 15:29

Jasandjules

69,825 posts

228 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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A 100k car now worth 5k? That would have to be old and ropey......

soupdragon1

Original Poster:

3,966 posts

96 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
StevieBee said:
Sounds very odd that a major brand should promote a prize of a second hand car!

The key is whether you were attracted to the competition on the basis of the prize being worth £30k - in other words, this is stated clearly in the promotional bumf - or does the advertising state the prize being worth £30k when new?

Regardless of the T&Cs, I would have thought that if the prize won isn't the prize offered then you do have some rights to remedy but you need to satisfy yourself that the advertising that attracted you to the draw was incorrect or deliberately misrepresented what the prize would be.
Yes, I certainly thought the prize was a much higher value and you could say that it was promoted as such. However, it was free to enter. You had to answer a question (which it wouldn't have been possible to know the answer to) and those that guessed correctly, all names went into a hat. Then the draw was broadcast live on social media.

Lots of people entered, lots of people watched the draw and then they said what the car was worth - £30k. Which is pretty much in line with what you would think a used one would be (but not, as it turns out, one that is a fair bit older than my teenage son!)

LordGrover

33,531 posts

211 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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Nothing’s for free. At the very least they have his name and contact details.

Sheepshanks

32,530 posts

118 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
I think I'd be calling the Daily Mail and practising my sad face (sadder than you have already).

soupdragon1

Original Poster:

3,966 posts

96 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
Harry H said:
I can't honestly believe that someone on PH would talk about winning a car and then fail to mention what type of car it is.
Unfortunately, If I tell anyone the car, I pretty much reveal the company, and thats not allowed on the forums.

BaronVonVaderham

2,316 posts

146 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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£90k car that is now worth only £5k?

It must be absolutely ancient!

I’m thinking it’s an old range rover or something German with at least a v8.

soupdragon1

Original Poster:

3,966 posts

96 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
loafer123 said:
Is it worth less because it is second hand, or because it is a lease?
Yep - 2nd hand.....but VERY 2nd hand!!!

soupdragon1

Original Poster:

3,966 posts

96 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
BaronVonVaderham said:
£90k car that is now worth only £5k?

..... with at least a v8.
Thats the bit that makes me smile - can't wait!

Shakermaker

11,317 posts

99 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
soupdragon1 said:
Harry H said:
I can't honestly believe that someone on PH would talk about winning a car and then fail to mention what type of car it is.
Unfortunately, If I tell anyone the car, I pretty much reveal the company, and thats not allowed on the forums.
Ah come on, tell us! just quickly before the mods notice

Christmassss

650 posts

88 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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Sounds like a CL500

Accelebrate

5,244 posts

214 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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Cheeky... But it's still a win. Stick it on eBay and go on a nice holiday or similar.