According to Rocky Mountain News, Centex Homes and the Denver Newspaper Agency have screwed up a promotion and caused a family that won a new home great sadness.
The article does a poor job of explaining the details of how the promotion went wrong. Apparently finalists in the contest were given a key to the home and more than one key fit the door.
The promotion’s official rules stated that in the event of a “malfunction,” a random drawing would determine the outcome. That secondary drawing has now taken place and a different winner has been announced.
“Who gives you a house, a brand new house, and then takes it away from you?” Veronica Baca said. “It’s unbelievable.”
[via Romenesko]
[UPDATE] ABC’s Denver affiliate also has the story with a few more details, but no clarification as to how the error occurred.
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CENTEX OFFERS ADDITIONAL HOME IN DENVER CONTEST
DENVER, Nov. 8, 2007 — The Denver division of Centex Homes has offered to give a house to Veronica Baca, one of the original finalists in a disputed home give-away contest in Denver. In addition, the Company has offered to provide furnishings for the home and payment for all reasonable legal fees that Mrs. Baca has incurred.
“We’re working directly with Mrs. Baca and her family. We expect to sort out the details and wrap this up very quickly,” says Bill Anner, division president for Centex Homes in Denver.
The Centex House Party, a home give-away promotion, generated more than 250,000 entries from the greater Denver area over the summer. Officials with the Company did not learn that the initial results of the finale were disputed until two days later. The established rules of the contest required a second random drawing to resolve the dispute and determine the ultimate winner of the contest home in Brighton, near Denver. Mrs. Baca did not win the second drawing.
“It was important to follow the letter of the rules for a fair contest. Now we’re going to honor the spirit of the contest and do what’s right for Mrs. Baca and her family,” Mr. Anner says.
“We never intended for the contest to end this way. We understand the thrill and expectation the contest created for Mrs. Baca, and we understand the disappointment Mrs. Baca and her family have endured. We regret it’s taken this long to work through the process, but now we’re working directly with Mrs. Baca and her family to put them in a new home as quickly as possible,” Mr. Anner says.
“No one expected this kind of result, but we would rather have two happy winners in this situation,” says Doug Barnes, executive vice president of Centex Homes’ northwest region, which includes Denver.
Thanks Eric, it’s nice to see someone take my advice for a change ;->