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Baskin Put on 'Ice' for Lying on Raffle

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/02/123_61053.html

By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

A local court confiscated four air conditioning systems from the headquarters of a Baskin Robbins' branch in Seoul, the nation's most popular ice cream franchise, last Thursday for not abiding by its ruling to compensate a customer who was duped by the company's lucky-draw event policy last year.

The confiscated items are worth far more than 1.08 million won, the initial amount of compensation that the ice cream company was required to pay.

According to the Seoul Central District Court, 37-year-old Choi Su-jin filed a suit against BR Korea, the Korean operator of the U.S. ice cream maker, last year, when the company did not give her a round-trip voucher to Japan she won through its lucky-draw event.

Choi said in her suit that BR Korea refused to provide her the trips during the Christmas holiday, citing a "golden weekend."

According to the original policy for the promotion, there was no restriction on the length of the stay or the travel dates. The company also tried to only pay for a one-night stay at a hotel. The airline that has a contract with BR Korea for the promotional event only flies between Seoul and Japan three times a week, meaning at least a two-night stay is required per visit.

It was later revealed that BR Korea changed the conditions after the event was closed and told Choi that the company was to provide only a one-night stay from the beginning.

"They have tried to dupe me by manipulating information that they do not allow trips during holiday seasons and that they could only pay for a one-night stay in Japan. Luckily, I had a computer screen capture of the original campaign," she was quoted as saying to Yonhap.

Choi, who was a lawyer, sued the company and the court ordered BR Korea to pay her 1.08 million won in compensation for a round-trip plan ticket to Japan and hotel fees. But the company had delayed their payment and Choi asked the court to forcibly get her the compensation.

"A lucky-draw event should be regarded as a contract, not a charity to consumers. However, what they have shown me is disrespect and humiliation. I chose to sue them to alarm them of such values," she added.

BR Korea is an affiliate of confectionary giant SPC Group, which owns Paris Croissant, Shani and many other dessert-confectionary franchises here. BR Korea was jointly established by the SPC and Britain-based Allied Domecq. It currently runs Baskin Robbins and Dunkin Donuts here.

According to Yonhap News Agency, BK Korea planned the event upon sponsorship from the carrier. However, things became confused, which has caused some apparent problems. The company had reportedly tried to settle the matter with Choi, but she refused.

The Korea Times requested an explanation from BR Korea, but has not received a response so far.

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