MTN will appoint a panel of experts to review recent media reports indicating entrants in its latest competition have duped the system.
While the company has not withdrawn the competition, it has decided to look deeper into the matter. “MTN will appoint a review panel consisting of external experts, including a consumer representative, to review the recent allegations and the promotion in its entirety,” it says.
MTN launched the competition at the end of April to celebrate its 15th birthday and it is expected to run until 9 August. The competition is a quiz-based system where entrants answer questions via SMS to gain points, with SMSes costing R7.50 each.
The more points accumulated, the more likely the entrant is to win a prize. On offer is an HP Mini-Note PC daily; a Toyota Fortuna, given away every Sunday; and a R1 million house as the competition's grand prize.
The competition was initially lambasted as a lotto-style service and is being audited by SA's National Lotteries Board. The board was unavailable for immediate comment this morning to determine the legality of the competition.
MTN has indicated it invited the board to investigate the matter. “This is a game of substantial skill and, therefore, does not require permission to be sought from the lottery board. We have sought legal advice and we are comfortable that we are not in breach of the lottery regulations,” the company noted in an earlier statement.
Waiting for results
Competition entrants have renewed their outcry, after it was alleged that several winners have had access to a list of entrants and each person's score. Several contestants have also indicated winners were possibly friends or family of someone at MTN.
Customers are fuming over the possibility, because some have spent up to R20 000 on SMS entries. The winner of one Fortuna noted he spent R50 000 to win the car. The competition's terms and conditions state: “The promoter is not responsible for entrants overspending by sending too many SMS entries.”
Some MTN customers have contacted ITWeb to determine whether the competition is legitimate.
Despite the complaints, MTN has decided to continue the competition; however, it says it will not discard customers' concerns. “MTN views the recent media allegations regarding the 15-year anniversary promotion as unfortunate, and would like to assure its customers that the allegations are being taken seriously.”
According to the company, the results of the review panel will be made public as soon as the investigation is complete. “The findings of the review panel will be released as soon as possible, hopefully within the next week.”
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