So I won this Nano from Virgin... but I can't claim it. What should I do?

[TooNice]

I just got a text message from Virgin saying that I'd won a Nano. I had completely forgotten that I entered a competition sometime back (a month?), one of those "text to enter a draw you are unlikely to win" type of thing. It didn't cost the world to enter, and I was kinda bored that evening when I walked past Virgin Megastore.

Anyway, first impression was "sweet - I didn't really look to get a Nano, but it's a nice almost freebie". The text asked to text back with my address and the item would be shipped back to me.

Great. Except that it doesn't work. Everytime I try to send a text, I get a "sending failed" error. There is no tech support here. Is it worth dropping by my local Virgin Megastore and see what they can do, or is this a lost cause? I don't want to give up too easily, since the odds of winning a prize draw is.. super rare, and a Nano is not exactly an item with hardly any value.

[ajbrun]

Go into your local store and see what they say .

[5lab]

yeah 2nd'd - you should be able to get a contact number off them. if they blank ya, go in saturday afternoon and winge louder

[sybrows]

If I had won a Nano from Virgin I would be up at a silly time on a saturday demanding one off the shelves from Branston

BrOw

[KW1816]

I just got a text message from Virgin saying that I'd won a Nano.

Sure it's not a scam ??

[TooNice]

Nah, it's legit.

Basically, this promotion appeared around the time they gave out free SIMs. I spotted the competition from a poster prior getting the free SIMs and entered from my Orange phone. Not against the rules, I just ended up paying a bit more to enter (like 10p instead of 3p).

They sent the winning message to me, and I am supposed to text them back with my address. Everything was legit. The problem though, is that while I was able to text them on the same number to enter the competition, I was not able to text back to claim it.

So I just got back from Virgin. Their customer service sent me to Orange shop (2 stores away), who sent me to Orange customer service over the phone, who found a number related to the competition number (they are apparently some kind of "gateway" company that sits between Virgin/other companies & people entering the competition. I called them, but they said yes they have a log of the text message saying I'd won from Virgin, but they can not do anything about it. Then I called Virgin customer service, who suggested that I use the free SIM card I got from them to text. I am skeptical this would work, since they probably validate the entries using phone numbers (unless there is another way for them to ID my phone.. which I doubt). The customer service at the store told me to bring the SIM back, and they'll see if they can change the number from the Orange number I entered with, to the Virgin Mobile number I have. Perhaps they didn't anticipate a non Virgin customer to win.. Dunno, but I'll give this a shot.

[TheAnimus]

You could try a letter to virgin HQ (who i'm guessing were running the comp) sent recorded. Keep a copy of said letter too.

Always works wounders, even if you get it sorted before then, they might appologise and give you something for your time + costs incured

[Ruggerbugger]

I'd second the letter to head office idea. I had a problem with a lost £25 credit from Vodafone once. Despite spending the weekend on the phone to customer "services", I only got my money and airtime ([lus extra) back when I got the MD's corporate address from the internet and wrote to him directly. Perhaps you should try it?

[pr0p4g4nd4]

Well done, I hope you get it in the end

[randomJ]

Sweet Ive never ever won in a competition - ive entered so many ive given up now. Guess im not lucky

Hope you get your nano mate!!