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
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.