Royal Show prize money hold ups again

Some of you may remember back in 2007 there were significant delays with sending out prize money from the Royal Show. Well, sadly, the same issue appears to have raised its ugly head again this year.

A number of Taking Stock followers have raised the question with me in the last few weeks and with a small amount of prize money due myself, I thought I’d give RASE a call to investigate the delay. Royal Show exhibitors may not be expecting cheques similar to multi-million pound lottery wins, but as the UK’s biggest retailer reminds us ‘every little helps’.

So, how did the phone call go? Well poorly would be the best summary. Basically, according to the polite lady who answered the telephone, some prize money has been paid and they “hope to pay the rest by the end of the month”.

Please note the careful use of the word hope in that sentence, they’re not promising it will be paid by then, just hoping it will. I’d hazard a guess that most exhibitors are hoping it will be too!!

It’s a shame RASE has failed in this exercise again as it really does create a bad feeeling and for many their last memory of the Royal Show will be RASE’s inept failure to pay prize money in anything like a reasonable timescale! And all this at a time when RASE is about to start consulting on its plans for a livestock event in 2011.

Equally annoying was the fact that during my brief conversation with RASE this afternoon was there any interest shown in ascertaining who I was so the query could be followed up. Customer service was sadly lacking I’m afraid. I don’t think I’ll be holding my breath waiting for the cheque to drop through the letter box.