Dubai shop fined for not delivering prizes to lucky draw winners

Dubai - The Dubai Economic Department detected the non-compliance by the shop during an inspection.

A shop has been fined for not handing over prizes - smart devices - to the winners of a lucky draw under a promotional campaign run by it. 
The Dubai Economic Department detected the non-compliance by the shop during an inspection and asked it to pay a penalty. It found that the shop - which carried out promotions, and promised to give awards to winners who made purchases to a certain amount - did not communicate it to those who won the prizes, let alone deliver them.
Mansoor Al Shamsi, director of promotional activity at the department of commercial monitor and consumer protection, said that the promotions were carried out following stipulated regulatory and legal procedures, and under the supervision of the inspector-in-charge at the economic department. However, when it came to giving away the prizes, the shop didn't keep its word.
The department inspectors communicated with the winners and came to know that they didn't receive any prize. The owner of the shop was fined since failure to hand over the prizes is a breach of law, Al Shamsi pointed out.
He said that shops must be committed to neutrality and transparency when conducting promotional campaigns. They should ensure that the winners receive the award. He added that the department is auditing a number of campaigns to put an end to manipulation or violation of the procedures and requirements governing the process.
Al Shamsi contended that all traders know that there is a government body to monitor the validity of campaigns and promotions that are carried out. He said that non-delivery of awards affects the confidence of consumers in business enterprises, and leaves them in a state of suspicion, while creating mistrust between the consumer and the merchant. Al Shamsi called on consumers to read the promotions properly and report cases of non-adherence, if any, so that action can be taken.
amira@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai