Over the last several weeks I've noticed a blue post card in my mailbox on occasion telling me I've won some amazing prize and I need to call some 1-800 number to claim it. I think I've received about 3 notices in the mail. I always glanced at it and said to myself "Riiight." Then I would throw it in the recycling bin.
Once home from vacation on Wednesday, I checked my messages on the machine. One of the messages said:
"Mizz Woodbury, I'm calling in reference to a drawing entry form you filled out about 6 months ago. We've tried to reach you by mail, but have been unsuccessful. Please Call Mark Hart at the verification department to claim your prize that is ready for pick up. Oh, and congratulations."
Uhhhh?
I was pretty paranoid that this was some sort of scam or trick to buy a timeshare or a life long membership to Quixtar or something. I figured that in order to "verify" who I was, Mister Hart would ask me my social security number, address, birthdate, and expect me to blindly offer it over the phone and steal my identity. My curiosity was peaked though.
I called the number and after pushing a series of buttons with voice automated prompts from some company I don't remember the name for, I left a message for the myseterious Mark Hart from the verification department.
Yesterday I answered the phone from a 404 area code and "Mark Hart" was on the other line. He congratulated me on winning a new Lincoln Navigator and Sony plasma flat screen TV. I remained non emotional, waiting for him to say I could pick them up after I gave my firstborn or something.
He said first, he needed to verify a few things about me and then I would be able to pick up my prizes. Sounded easy. I waited.
"Okay Mizz Woodbury, First thing is I need to make sure you are between the ages of 28 and 64 in order to be eligible to claim your prize."
I laughed, "No, I'm not."
Mr. Hart was speechless. Finally after a moment he said, "Really? Oh. Well that really is too bad. I am so sorry. These prizes and the entry was based on a specific targeted market and I am afraid you don't qualify for the prize."
The disappointment in his voice was actually convincing and after he kept talking in circles about how sorry he was I started to believe I may have actually won something and it wasn't just a fruad. So I attempted to "win back" my prize:
"My husband is between the ages of 28and 64. Does that help?"
"Mizz Woodbury, I'm afraid that this entry was to target a specific demographic and the sponsors are quite strict on their rules. You AND your husband must fit the demographic. I am so sorry."
"Oh, okay. Thanks anyway."
Too bad I'm not a little older. Otherwise, we'd have a lovely gas guzzler in our driveway and something besides Kyle's laptop to watch a movie on. Well, maybe. Okay, probably not, but it's fun to think about.
2 comments:
I got these kind of calls all of the time when I lived at Courtside because my name was on the phone. To get my prize I always had to be 25, married, and make over 35k per year. No, no, and no, I would laugh as my trip to Vegas was pulled out from under my feet yet again. . . This is Gibby by the way, and I found your blog from my hotmail. You and your family look great!
That is annoying! I'm sorry you din't win, but the gas guzzler is mostly a blessing I am sure!
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