A Delhi resident, Aviral Sangal, recently voiced his frustration online after fintech company CRED cancelled his Rs 3.25 lakh jackpot prize due to a "technical glitch." The incident, which involved multiple high-value items, has sparked a significant outcry on social media, raising questions about the reliability of digital jackpot systems.
The Winning Moment
Aviral Sangal, who seldom participates in such jackpots, decided to try his luck with CRED's Friday Jackpot. To his surprise, he won a MacBook, iPad, AirPods Max, and a TUMI bag, collectively valued at Rs 3.25 lakh. Overwhelmed with joy, Sangal completed the required paperwork and submitted his PAN details for tax deduction at source (TDS).
The Disappointing Call
However, his excitement was short-lived. Sangal received a call from CRED informing him that the jackpot had been cancelled due to a "technical glitch" affecting the prizes of around 200 users. CRED offered to refund his points and provided Rs 1,000 cashback as a goodwill gesture.
Social Media Outcry
Sangal took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disappointment. He posted, “Even though I usually do not fall for the @CRED_club jackpots, yesterday I just played the Friday jackpot without having any hope of getting anything meaningful. But I scored the JACKPOT and it wasn't a small one. It included a Macbook, Ipad, AirPods Max and a TUMI bag worth INR 3.25L.”
Community Reaction
Several other users echoed Sangal's sentiments, sharing similar experiences on social media. They posted screenshots of their supposed winnings and detailed how they were informed of the jackpot cancellation hours later. The general consensus among the users was one of frustration and disbelief, questioning the credibility of such digital jackpot systems.
CRED's Response
In response to the backlash, CRED issued a statement citing a "bug" that impacted the jackpot results. The company apologized for the inconvenience caused and reiterated its commitment to fair play and transparency. However, many users, including Sangal, were not satisfied with the explanation or the Rs 1,000 cashback gesture, which they found inadequate considering the value of the cancelled prizes.
Conclusion
The incident has cast a shadow over CRED's jackpot system, leading to a wave of skepticism among users. While the company has promised to rectify the issues, the affected users continue to seek more substantial resolutions. The situation serves as a reminder of the challenges and pitfalls of digital reward systems and the importance of maintaining user trust.