Just won a car - but not entirely happy

Just won a car - but not entirely happy

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soupdragon1

Original Poster:

3,966 posts

96 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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rix said:
Subscribed - really interested out of curiosity as to whether there could be any 'claim' from a legal perspective. On the one hand you could say you've suffered no loss, on the other you could say you're £25k down! Maybe citizens advice or trading standards for some freebie semi qualified opinion or a solicitor if you're prepared to spend? How about a small claims case for not much outlay?
Thats something worth looking into perhaps. On one hand, I would feel like a bit of a cock for complaining about a free car and on the other hand, wondering if the draw/advertising campaign was a bit misleading from the start. I genuinely have been buzzing for the last couple of weeks, but now - just a little deflated.

soupdragon1

Original Poster:

3,966 posts

96 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
zedx19 said:
What happens if the car turns up and is knackered? Needs x amount spending on it to make it roadworthy?
That's partly why its taken so long for me to get the car - It was away getting polished and checked over to make sure it was running well. So it 'should' arrive in good nick.

soupdragon1

Original Poster:

3,966 posts

96 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
soupdragon1 said:
Its got a 6L petrol engine.
I can't believe any proper company would give away a car like that these days - unless they were trying to provoke publicity. Made doubly likely by the first bill a £5K verion of a £100K car throws up will probably write it off.
100%. Gearbox or something goes and its good night....

ElectricSoup

8,202 posts

150 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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This motor sounds like a candidate for the Smoker Barge thread. Get thee over there, OP.

shalmaneser

5,930 posts

194 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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Right I've done some googling but can't find anything? This is a good PH Challenge! Who can find evidence of the competition?

I reckon it's an old Merc personally...

Shuvi McTupya

24,460 posts

246 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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S100HP said:
Could you be an arse and chuck it into a specialist garage and get them to give it the once over with a fine tooth comb and then ask the supplying company to cover the inevitable work required?
This would be my way of thinking. If they tell you the gearbox is about to fail I am sure you could encourage it to fail on day one of ownership and then go all sad face on them..

soupdragon1

Original Poster:

3,966 posts

96 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
Or maybe I should just go back to the company and say look, really pleased to win - but you made me believe I had won a fantastic car....but actually, its a shed. Surely in the spirit of your company, you could throw in a Brucie Bonus to make me feel better?

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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soupdragon1 said:
Or maybe I should just go back to the company and say look, really pleased to win - but you made me believe I had won a fantastic car....but actually, its a shed. Surely in the spirit of your company, you could throw in a Brucie Bonus to make me feel better?
Is £5k for free not enough for you? #SadFace

shalmaneser

5,930 posts

194 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
If it's really that st take the car and put it on ebay. 7 days later you've got £5K (or whatever) which you can spend on something good.

Or give it to me!

Blib

43,793 posts

196 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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How about you wait for the car to arrive, post pictures of it on here, allow us to get all overheated about it and then, when we get bored, we advise you to sue everybody?

Or spin it over to a dealer and earn 4-5k for nothing?

soupdragon1

Original Poster:

3,966 posts

96 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
shalmaneser said:
If it's really that st take the car and put it on ebay. 7 days later you've got £5K (or whatever) which you can spend on something good.

Or give it to me!
Quite a few on Ebay....no completed sales though.

On another note, Ebay's probably a good place to start my cassette collection for the stereo smile

Looking for:

Stop crying your heart out
Fast car
Cry me a river
Winner takes it all

Cry me a river

Funky Squirrel

365 posts

71 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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I'm going for an old lexus Ls600 or a Scania v8 truck?

67Dino

3,581 posts

104 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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This is not acceptable business practice and I would think you’ve got the basis for a complaint here. You are owed 30k and have been given 5k so you appear to have been robbed of 25k you are rightly due.

Few thoughts:
- Don’t think the complaint is an Advertising Standards Authority one, but suspect Trades Descriptions Act (which has more teeth). Citizens Advice or a lawyer can advise.
- I believe the fact that the competition is free is irrelevant. In fact, retail competitions need to be free or else the providers have to meet Gambling legislation.
- I also wouldn’t accept the argument that “it was free, so stop complaining”. They’ve not just misled you, they’ve misled everyone who entered the competition, and gained your attention to their brand and activities under false pretences.

Personally, I would find some proof of the mention of 30k, write to the company concerned raising your issue, and ask for something specific by way of compensation eg 25k cash. I would state clearly that if they do not make good their error, then you will take legal action and put it in the public domain. Good luck!

Edited by 67Dino on Monday 19th August 16:12

soupdragon1

Original Poster:

3,966 posts

96 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
Funky Squirrel said:
v8 truck?
Warm....ish

soupdragon1

Original Poster:

3,966 posts

96 months

Monday 19th August 2019
quotequote all
WinstonWolf said:
soupdragon1 said:
Or maybe I should just go back to the company and say look, really pleased to win - but you made me believe I had won a fantastic car....but actually, its a shed. Surely in the spirit of your company, you could throw in a Brucie Bonus to make me feel better?
Is £5k for free not enough for you? #SadFace
If thats the way it turns out, of course, I'll be happy. Not sure how long it would last, but I would get some fun out of it for sure.

Its only £325 tax and £420 insurance so apart from the high fuel cost, would be a cheap runaround until it breaks. The kids are gonna love it too so yes, always look on the bright side!

clarkmagpie

3,559 posts

194 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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Looking forward to seeing this pan out!

Integroo

11,574 posts

84 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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soupdragon1 said:
Warm....ish
P38 Range Rover

EDIT: Missed the bit about a 6l engine.

V8mate

45,899 posts

188 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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I can't see how this falls foul of PH naming and shaming rules. It's a public competition and the OP was the winner. It's all a matter of public record.

Anything else is just opinion; the OP's included.

Snubs

1,166 posts

138 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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soupdragon1 said:
Funky Squirrel said:
v8 truck?
Warm....ish
I'm going for ML63 AMG.


Integroo

11,574 posts

84 months

Monday 19th August 2019
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There are only three cars with a 6l engine on AT for less than 7k

CAT D LPG converted Cadillac Escalade for 6,995
Audi A8 W12 with 'minor faults' for 4,000
MB CL600 for 6,950

What could it possibly be ...