Parry Sound man among those falsely told by Tim Hortons that they won a boat
Tim Hortons says human error is to blame for some customers thinking they had won a boat in a recent digital roll up to win contest.
On Wednesday, thousands of customers across Canada received emails telling them they had won a $55,000 boat and trailer, only to get a second email hours later informing them of a technical error.
The initial email from Tims Rewards showed a recap of winnings in the recent digital campaign, and then a congratulatory message with a picture of the boat and trailer.
Cory Attamanchuk of Parry Sound said he was skeptical after the first email -- and annoyed by the second.
“If you’re paying for a piece of software to be developed in a digital infrastructure to create these applications on iPhone and Android and online, then you need to be held accountable for what gives in that software,” Attamanchuk said.
“You are held accountable for the mistakes made by your employees.”
In an email to CTV News, Tim Hortons said their intent was not to mislead anyone.
“We developed a roll-up-to-win recap email message with the best intentions of giving our guests a fun overview of their 2024 play history,” the company said in a statement.
“Unfortunately there was a human error that resulted in some guests receiving some incorrect information in their recap message.”
At least 1,200 people got those emails and they’re now part of a Facebook Group contemplating legal action against Tim Hortons.
“Perhaps maybe even setting a precedent that these companies and corporations have to oblige by in order to promote change in the way digital apps and digital versions of what we always grew up with as analog, need to change,” Attamanchuk said.
Toronto lawyer, Ari Goldkind said there are laws about mistakes and he doesn’t think there’s anything to hold Tim Horton’s accountable for the error.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“An error happened, our laws really do address for those errors,” Goldkind said.
“Maybe there will be a law firm that wants to take it up because the PR value of it to their name will get them out in the broad media spectrum, but I don’t see any judge or any court saying ‘Hey Tim Hortons, you have to head over to Bass Pro Shop and buy 100,000 boats.”
This isn’t the first time an error has occurred with the digital roll up to win contest.
Last year, a group of players was incorrectly told they won the $10,000 prize. They were offered $50 gift cards as compensation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre unrepentant over calling Trudeau 'wacko' as his MPs say Speaker should resign
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he does not regret calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko,' and now his MPs are renewing calls for the House of Commons Speaker to resign, this time over ordering the Official Opposition leader to leave the chamber.
Is it cold, flu or norovirus? Symptoms explained
The highly contagious norovirus is spreading across Canada, with some symptoms overlapping with other viruses. CTVNews.ca spoke with a health expert to find out how you can tell you have norovirus, the most common form of stomach flu, and what to do if you have it.
Ontario's police watchdog continues probe of high-speed pursuit involving fatal crash
The investigation continues into a collision that killed two grandparents and their infant grandchild during a high-speed police chase on the wrong way of Highway 401 east of Toronto.
Stranded cruise passengers in Spain race to catch up with their ship
A month after eight Norwegian Cruise Line passengers were stranded in Africa when their ship left without them because they were late getting back, a U.S. couple – ages 84 and 81 – were also left behind by the cruise line in Spain.
London Drugs expected to give update on store status following 'cybersecurity incident'
Days after dozens of London Drugs locations closed due to a 'cybersecurity incident,' a spokesperson for the company says an update on the stores' status is expected Wednesday morning.
No criminal charges after 4 newborn bodies found in Boston freezer
A prosecutor in Massachusetts won't seek criminal charges against anyone, two years after four newborns were found in a freezer in a South Boston apartment.
Anger can harm your blood vessel function, study shows
Stress and anger can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health, studies have shown. New research points to just how the mechanism may work.
Freeland leaves capital gains tax change out of coming budget implementation bill, here's why
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Ontario woman surprised after 20-year-old fines suddenly tank credit score
An Ontario woman says that she was shocked when fines from 20 years ago suddenly tanked her credit score last week, but the situation may not be as unusual as it seems, according to at least one debt expert.