Shop fined for not delivering prizes to lucky draw winners

dubai — A shop has been fined for not handing over prizes to the winners of a lucky draw under a promotional campaign it ran. The prizes were smart devices.

The Dubai Economic Department (DED) detected the noncompliance during an inspection and asked the shop to pay a penalty. The shop, which carried out promotions and promised to reward the winners who made purchases up to a certain amount, did not communicate it to the winners, let alone deliver them.

Mansoor Al Shamsi, director of promotional activity at the commercial monitor and consumer protection department, 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 shop owner was fined for the failure, Al Shamsi stated.

He said that shops must be committed to transparency in promotional campaigns. The DED is auditing a number of campaigns to put an end to manipulation or violation of the 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. Non-delivery of prizes affects the confidence of consumers in business enterprises, and leaves them in a state of suspicion. Al Shamsi called on consumers to report cases of non-adherence, so that action can be taken.

DED communicated with the winners and came to know that they didn’t receive the prizes.” Mansoor Al Shamsi, DED