Help - didn't get kit for comp win ...

[mimi]

Hi all, not quite sure where to post this as a newbie, so starting here!  I won a Facebook "vaping kit" competition with a small vaping company in Wales at Christmas (Vape For Life) and after messaging them my details, they messaged back asking me to buy a set of e-liquids for £10, then they would send me the kit before Christmas.  I told them I had no need for the liquid as I could use my husband's and they replied "OK".  Needless to say, I received no kit and messaged them again, but got no reply.  I then left a message on their Facebook page, but this was deleted and they also blocked me from being able to message them again.  I'm pretty sure this was a "Like and Share" comp. and there was certainly no mention of having to make a purchase to enter the comp.  Although I'm not desperate for the kit, I don't like what they've done and don't like to think of them trying to get away with this again.  Any thoughts on what I could do, or should I just forget about it do you think?

Thanks for any feedback x

[a1laserboy]

Sounds pretty poor

Is there any way to see the competition and rules still? or did they remove all trace of it after the prizes were 'won'?

[mimi]

I've searched and they seem to have deleted all trace of this particular competition.  I'm sure there weren't any "rules" as such, you just had to Like and Share (same as so many Facebook comps.).

They do seem to run a lot of comps. - there are other ones showing, but not for the kits.

[a1laserboy]

not a lot you can do by the sounds of it apart from not purchasing anything from them in the future.

[Deleted]

sounds like a scam to me!

[Deleted]

I wonder how many other "winners" were offered the "Buy our eliquid and we might send your prize" offer?

I would highlight this scam on facebook and ask all my friends to share.

[Deleted]

exactly what I was thinking ffs (freefromsmoking and the other)

[Carpe Vapor]

There's a few on their facebook page, but no proper rules/terms etc.

[a1laserboy]

I saw one that was 'won' on the 13th of december and it said don't forget to buy some juice when you come to collect your prize (or similar).

They seem dodgy to me.

[raid2506]

Personally mimi, I would send an email to advise them that you will be persuing this matter further.
Inform them that if you do not receive your goods within x days you will have no choice but to inform Facebook, Trading standards and the Police Electronic Crime Unit.
(As well as every forum, group etc that you can find)

It doesn't matter that you didn't buy a ticket to enter, a free entry counts the same as buying a ticket according to the Gambling Commission (prize competitions and free draws act 2005)

(If you still have the original message where they offered to send your prize if you purchased something then they may wish to avoid a case for attempted fraud or breach of the Gambling act).

In the CC box put the email for your local trading standards to show you mean business.
Trading standards may or may not care but it will give the company something to think about.

You may also wish to inform them that you aren't making threats but protecting your rights as consumer.

You can probably find an email template online somewhere.


Failing all that I know a bloke who can fix problems

[djs]

Just tell them you are on various vaping forums.

Pay up or face 17,250 dislikes on the media that sells more e-cigs than the crappy book of face.

Forums rule. Vape on!

[Deleted]

Really sorry if they've reneged on that, mimi, not good.

Maybe they've taken note & made changes as on their FB page dated 6th January there's a post that reads....

"2 USB passthrough 900mah lithium battery and charger cable up for grabs
Starting 10 am 7/01/14 you must purchase 4 liquids £16.99
Bargin!!"

Before that on the 17th of December they had.....

"SHARE OUR PAGE AND YOU TO COULD BE OUR LUCKY CUSTOMER TO RECEIVE OUR SURPRISE XMAS GIFT , JUST FOR YOU, SO BEGIN SHARING AND ENJOY THE REWARDS , WITH VAPE FOR LIFE"

You've now got the word out for folk to be careful.

And I'm so pleased I can't be bothered with FB!

[amygx]

Did they notify you as being a winner via facebook? if so why don't you forward the message to facebook support/complaints and tell them they scammed you. It definitely sounds like a scam to me, its like those Nigerian spam emails that say you've won a million pound but in order to claim it you have to send ten thousand pound to release it. Hate scammers, f**k them, f**k them up the a** .

[mimi]

Thanks all for the great replies! Only just got to view most of them as been having connection problems. I think I'll try emailing them first (if I can find their email addy), just to put the frighteners up them. Probably all they need to come up with the goods ...

Thanks again!

Mimi x