JEDDAH, 12 February 2007 — The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) yesterday intervened in a dispute between a woman and a company that had failed to award the woman a brand new BMW that she had won in a raffle at a shopping mall nearly four months ago.
Saleh Al-Turki, chairman of the JCCI, personally intervened on behalf of Najat Omar Kamreegh who complained to him last week about the treatment she got from the company.
The company had organized a raffle for the car at a Jeddah shopping centers four months ago and had subsequently announced that Kamreegh was the winner of the grand prize but failed to award the car.
In turn, Al-Turki bought the car from BMW dealers Al-Naghi and handed the keys to Kamreegh and took full responsibility saying the chamber is responsible for approving and supervising such contests. He also added, “The company has one month to repay the JCCI the price of the car or face court.”
Speaking to Arab News, Kamreegh said, “I participated in the raffle at one of the shopping centers over three months ago and a week later the company called me and said I had won the grand prize: a 523 BMW. But then they kept ignoring my calls to deliver the car.”
Last week she decided to complain to the chamber. “I’m so happy with the chamber’s decision. I didn’t expect it. I wish I hadn’t waited this long to approach it,” she said.
On its part, Al-Naghi Company said it is also satisfied with the JCCI’s swift action. “Establishing credibility is very important for us. This decision benefits us and the customer,” said Kamal Momina, regional manager of the Al-Naghi Company.
“The car remained on display with the promoting company for over four months without payment, not even a down payment. We finally had to withdraw the car from it,” said Momina.
According to Commerce and Industry Ministry regulations, chambers are responsible for approving and supervising contests. “Companies organizing contests should provide proof of ownership of prizes in order to be approved to be able to organize a contest. In this case we made an exception for this company and that was a mistake and we take full responsibility,” said Mostafa Sabri, secretary-general of JCCI.
“We contacted the company but had no cooperation. Now, either they repay the chamber for the car that is priced over SR134,000, or we’ll take it to court and maybe process other punitive measures. We want to establish the credibility of these contests,” said Sabri.
