‘This was out of our control’: Kamloops YMCA-YWCA says Dream Home refunds dependent on third parties

KAMLOOPS — It’s been two weeks since the Kamloops Y Dream Home Lottery tickets sold out on May 6.

Before the holders of the 18,000 tickets find out if they’ll win the $700,000 plus home in Westsyde, the Kamloops YMCA-YWCA hopes to have refunds for those who purchased tickets but never received them.

Bryce Herman, Y Dream Home Lottery spokesperson, said he has heard the frustrations from residents who purchased Dream Home Lottery tickets after they had sold out and haven’t been refunded yet.

However, he noted it’s all dependent on the third parties providing the services: Darelle Media Inc. that handles tickets, and Moneris that handles financial transactions.

“They have a cap of refunds that are given within a 24-hour period. We’ve asked for an expansion and today we’ve received no reprieve on that,” Herman said. “As much as you hate to point fingers, the reality is it’s a third party that’s providing the service. We are extremely sorry. Understand there is no value in it for us to be upsetting any single one of those [ticket purchasers] in any way, shape or form. This was out of our control and we will do everything in our power to fix it.”

Herman said the daily cap that can be refunded is around $5,000 a day and there are around 170 transactions that need to be adjusted. The Kamloops Y sold individual tickets for $100 and packs of five tickets for $400.

Until then, Herman said the Kamloops Y is in daily communication with Darelle Media Inc. and Moneris, that are in contact with the B.C. Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch.

“We appreciate [the buyers’] patience and understanding as we make our way through this process. We’ll certainly be looking at things very differently as we move forward.”