Help!!! I won...but now what?

M

mcubed

New member
I won the grand prize in this sweeps (see letter below) but I LIVE in LA, so I cannot complete the flight portion of the trip. I sent them an ameil (also below) is there any other advice you can give me so I don't lose this prize? Thanks so much!!!

My reply: Hello -

My name is XXXXXXXX and I just rec'd this letter from you (see below). My issue is I LIVE in LA so it's not possible for me to fly in and out of LA. I can attend the movie premier, no problem, but is there an option for me since I cannot fly to where I already live and not have to decline this fabulous prize??? Is it possible to receive an airline/hotel credit to use at another time? I can be reached at XXXXXXX if necessary.

Thank you for your assistance in sorting this out!


:confused:


We're happy to let you know you’re a winner in the Cinemark Dracula Untold Sweepstakes! You've won a Trip for two (2) to Los Angeles to see Opening Night of Dracula Untold which has an approximate retail value of $5,445. Congratulations!

Trip package includes: Round trip, coach-class air transportation for two (2) from a major airport near your home to Los Angeles, CA; three (3) nights' accommodations at a hotel; two (2) tickets to an opening night viewing of the Dracula Untold movie on October 16, 2014 at the Cinemark 18+XD at the Howard Hughes Center in Los Angeles, CA and $1,500 spending money. You must travel on October 15, 2014 and return on October 18, 2014 or prize will be forfeited.

To confirm your win, please complete a Declaration of Compliance ("Declaration"). The person who will be traveling with you must complete the Travel Companion Liability & Publicity Release. If your travel companion is under 18 years of age, you must be their parent or legal guardian and complete the Under 18 Travel Companion Liability & Publicity Release on their behalf. Both forms are available online by clicking here.

Please fully complete the Declaration and return a signed original to HelloWorld, the administrator of this promotion. You'll find the mailing address and fax number on top of the Declaration. It must be received within 5 calendar days of this email. If you do not return your Declaration within this timeframe, we will need to draw another winner.
 
Read the full rules but usually there is a line stating that there will be a token amount added for transportation if you live close and the airfare is just not useable
 
OK, I found this in the rules....should I just fill out the declaration of compliance and hope for the best or wait a couple of days for the reply? Thanks for your advice, guys.

If in the judgment of Sponsor air travel is not required due to winner’s proximity to
prize location, ground transportation will be substituted for round trip air travel at Sponsor’s sole
discretion. Sponsor will not replace any lost, mutilated, or stolen tickets, travel vouchers or certificates.
Sponsor is not responsible if the viewing of the Dracula Untold movie is delayed, postponed or cancelled
for any reason, in which event that portion of prize is forfeited in its entirety and no substitution will be
provided except as in Sponsor’s sole discretion. Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”): $5,445. Actual value
may vary based on airfare fluctuations and distance between departure and destination. Winner will not
 
Congrats on a big win! I'd fill it out and send it in. I think they'll arrange ground transportation from your home to the hotel and back, maybe even from the hotel to the theater and back depending on how far apart they are. Then they'll give you (2) tickets to the movie and most importantly, they're going to give you a check for 1500 big ones for popcorn and a Coke Sweepstakes!! I guess you could check into the hotel but not necessarily stay there for the 3 days if you'd rather just stay at home after the movie. But all in all sounds like a great weekend getaway even if you live close.
 
Congrats on a really great prize! Just be sure they adjust the ARV of the prize so when they send you your tax forms next year, you don't get stuck paying taxes on the value of the flight you didn't take! :)
 
kdh58 said:
Congrats on a really great prize! Just be sure they adjust the ARV of the prize so when they send you your tax forms next year, you don't get stuck paying taxes on the value of the flight you didn't take! :)
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How do I go about doing that? ^^^^ Thanks everyone for the words of wisdom. I have 5 days to return the declaration so I think I am going to allow them a few days to respond to my inquiry. If I don't hear back I will just send everything in and hope for the best! Grateful for the win regardless! Thanks again....
 
I just went through this on a trip i won to kansas City. I live in kansas City so they gave me a rental car. I told them i would not need a rental car and they threw in a $200 Visa card. I also did not need the hotel and they gave me a $400 Visa card. i kept and used the basketball tickets and another Visa gift card for food. See what they offer and it may be negotiable! Congrats!
 
PS: You only have to pay tax on the "fair market value". Do your homework on what this would cost and document everything you find. Also, they may not tell you that until you formally "accept" it. I personally would rather pay tax on a gift card than hotel/rental car that I don't need.
 
Congrates on your win! I live about an hour north of NYC and have won "trips" to NYC that have included airfare. Typically, they will send a car service or limo to pick us up or I have received a check to cover expenses to get to the city because flying isn't an option this close. I enter the NYC trips so I can have a great night out, be close to home and no flying LOL
 
peg1209 said:
I just went through this on a trip i won to kansas City. I live in kansas City so they gave me a rental car. I told them i would not need a rental car and they threw in a $200 Visa card. I also did not need the hotel and they gave me a $400 Visa card. i kept and used the basketball tickets and another Visa gift card for food. See what they offer and it may be negotiable! Congrats!
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OK, sorry! One last question...a win like this is new to me so there is a learning curve :o How and to whom do you tell you this to? Do I fill out the documentation and send it in to Eprize and then wait for them (sponsor or Eprize???) to contact me to tell them I don't need air/hotel or ground transport? Thanks so much for your help with this.
 
mcubed said:
OK, sorry! One last question...a win like this is new to me so there is a learning curve :o How and to whom do you tell you this to? Do I fill out the documentation and send it in to Eprize and then wait for them (sponsor or Eprize???) to contact me to tell them I don't need air/hotel or ground transport? Thanks so much for your help with this.
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The link I posted has this:

amyshulk said:
Information courtesy of this link ~ How to Dispute an ARV on Your Sweepstakes Taxes

When you win a sweepstakes prize, you are only required by the IRS to report the fair market value (FMV), not the sponsor's approximate retail value (ARV); but how do you go about finding out what the FMV is and how do you handle the difference on your taxes? Find out here.

How to Dispute an ARV on Your Sweepstakes Taxes
Click to expand...



If the ARV is High, Contact the Sweepstakes Sponsor

If your FMV is significantly lower than the published ARV, contact the sweepstakes sponsor and politely ask them if they can lower the value when they send out their 1099 forms at the end of the year. Many sponsors will do this automatically.

In the case of a vacation prize, ask the sponsors to substantiate the prices. Oftentimes they will receive discounted vacation packages, which can lower the FMV even farther than you expect.
 
Thanks so much, Amy. I didn't realize what you posted earlier was a link! *LOL* Fingers crossed, people! I am turning in my paperwork today! Thanks, everyone for your advice and input.
 
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