Online Raffle Site

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Hi all

Bit of advice please as I can not find anything on the internet relating to governance of online Raffle.

 

The Gambling Comission do not require these such sites to be licensed if they offer a free entry route or a element of skill (such as answering a question correctly).

 

Bank (starling) refusing to refund as MasterCard (who supply the debit card)  state "When disputing transactions we have to follow specific rules set by MasterCard.

Based on further investigation, we will unfortunately be unable to dispute these transactions at this time.

This is because the service was provided by the merchant which entailed depositing of funds and facilitating wagering (buying raffles).

As the merchant has provided this service, we have no chargeback rights to dispute this payment."

 

my issue is with one site which looked at first legitimate but lots of things have happened since entering competitions:

1) Draw dates constantly extended.

Original Draw dates December constantly changed again should of ended today but extended to march.

 

2) terms & conditions amended on 5th Feb which amended the Maximum extension period from 7 days + 4x7 days maximum extension to 28+ 4x28 days.

3) Messages, emails unanswered.

Questions and comments about the draws deleted off Facebook & blocked from further commenting/messaging

 

4) positive reviews made by family members and employees of owners other companies

 

5) winners previously associated with the owners companies

 

There is one negative review, bs people have commented on this stating the same issues but are blocked from writing a review but able to comment on the negative review (?)

 

Any advice or is it a case of Action Fraud.

[dx100uk]

and what is it they have actually done to you?
taken money for a raffle that was due on xxx date and keep putting the draw date back?

 

 

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That's correct.

Keeps extending.

Past it's original T&C's - blocked from commenting / contacting the site/Facebook page.

Owner of the Raffle site has multiple businesses (car sales & repairs are two)

[dx100uk]

but this 'delay' has not cost you more money ....?

 

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The way the site is being run there are no intentions to hold the draws.

 

Original T&C's permitted the operator of the site to extend the draws to the end of January.

This date passed with each competition marked as Closed awaiting draw, only to have a new active timer for another 28 days - meaning they broke the original terms and conditions.

 

Then 5th Feb, he updated the terms and conditions which now means he can extend to around May.

 

Surely the original T&C's for competitions prior to 5th Feb change must be adhered to?

 

Is there a governing body that monitors this, or can someone just create a site and have no intentions to hold draws & keep extending the draw date beyond the t&C's?

 

[dx100uk]

you didnt answer my question..

T&C's are just, that , terms and conditions, as with PPI they can be challenged.

 

about time we named these fleecers so people can do their own research.

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I invested £100 into the raffle site (I am on others which operate as expected and have won a few prizes)

I've not invested anything further but others are still being fobbed off by this person.

 

The site is called Ryan's Raffles

https://ryansraffles.co.uk/

 

The Facebook page of which im blocked for commenting/messaging & leaving a review is:

https://www.facebook.com/ryansraffle

 

If you take a look at the reviews you can see how he's asked if there's an issue but then no response. Also shows negative review with other person who is experiencing the same.

 

[honeybee13]

He seems to have dozens of raffles. Which one is the problem please?

 

HB

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See attached 

The dates shown are competition start date and end date.

I do not have screenshots from December as I didn't think anything was untoward.

Entries purchased November for December (Christmas) Draws.

After the draw date they were extended week by week but then exteded by 28days as we his new T & C's.

 

Other people have also been impacted and posted asking when the tool sets, cars etc are going to be drawn only to have the comments deleted. 

He will reply sarcastically in the early hours and then delete his comments. (See also attached)

[honeybee13]

Thank you. I'm not excusing him but it sounds as if he's postponing draw dates because the amount that's come in doesn't cover the prize. Of course he'll expect to make a profit but I've no idea what is a reasonable profit on a raffle.

 

I'm amazed that this doesn't seem to be regulated.

 

HB

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1 hour ago, honeybee13 said:

Thank you. I'm not excusing him but it sounds as if he's postponing draw dates because the amount that's come in doesn't cover the prize. Of course he'll expect to make a profit but I've no idea what is a reasonable profit on a raffle.

 

I'm amazed that this doesn't seem to be regulated.

 

HB

Terms and conditions state if less that 70% of tickets have been sold the a cash prize of 70% of ticket sales will be awarded.

 

This was in the original and current terms & conditions.

 

If a raffle has a Skill based element (question is required to be answered) and there is. Free entry route the Gambling Comission do not require it to be licensed.

 

However, there have been users posting that they did the postal entries and not one of them has been awarded an entry ticket - he says they didn't do it correctly and deletes the comment. 

Requirement for postal is Postcard with name address, email, mobile and competiton name and answer. (Not hard is it?)