Race wants prize money back

Wait until you get your 1099 for the race and have to pay taxes on it....then you wish you would have only taken 1/2

BTW you DO have to report the money as income.

Were you the "Overall" winner? As in, if you are a guy did you win the guys' race as well as beat all the women? If so, even the most logical "alternative" reading of the prize breakdown keeps you the money.

(I'm not for keeping ill-gotten gains - I once sent back a $1700 check to an insurance company since they had significantly over-reimbursed me due to an exchange rate mistake - but them giving you grief and threatening an unlikely lawsuit makes them seem like jerks).

Ignore it.

If they sue you or send a collection agency after you, pay them something.

I suspect they just thought "well, it can't hurt to ask for the money back" and are just seeing what they can get.

If they make an appeal using the charity, just donate directly to the charity.

If I get too much change at the store, I tell them and give it back. If I accidentally wasn't charged for something, I insist on paying it anyway.

But two months later and you've already spent the money, I wouldn't be in a big hurry to pay it back. If it was a couple days after the race, I'd give it back and be understanding and nice about it. But if you don't have it, you don't have it.

the answer2 wrote:

The money is just going to come out of the proceeds that would go to the charity, right?

There are battles in life worth fighting, this isn't one, IMO.

I don't know about the agreement between the charity and the RD. Nor do you. This is a matter to be decided between those two parties. If the RD gave away more than he was entitled to, he should be liable. If the charity wasn't clear on the prize money they permitted to be distributed, that's on them.

Also, let's be clear that charities are businesses just like any other. People use the word "charity" as if it should imply that the entity is naive and can't be expected to fend for themselves. I've worked for non-profits myself, and I would expect a non-profit to be just as competent as a for-profit at negotiating with third parties (e.g. RDs) and protecting their own interests.

Sub-hobby Jogger wrote:

I typically would give the money back in a situation like this, but nice guys finish last , so there wouldn't be any money to give.

First of all, this is the funniest response so I want to give credit.

My impulse if they are aggressive and threatening is to threaten to sue back for your legal defense costs.

They don't advertise for their charity up front. You have to dig around to find out that this is to Save The Ocean.

Now, by advertising prize money and having fast runners they are bringing more attention to their event which brings in more money.

This generated well over $100,000.

They have costs. This event wasn't timed for free. The race director likely did not do this for free.

Since they brought up the law suit first, I don't see their legal standing based on they way they promoted the prize structure.

And believe me, their charity has some overhead costs that goes right into some people's pockets so don't think they have a moral high ground.

Those that think he should give back for moral reasons can go donate money themselves to help out.

He didn't take form the charity, the charity just didn't receive as much as they would have. But I feel like the RD also didn't receive as much as he would have because of their own mistake.

If it's not a nonprofit, which many are claiming, then I wouldn't pay it back. It drives me nuts when people take out .org email addresses to act like non profits when in reality they are for profit.

I've changed my tune. Don't pay it back.

I agree with what you're saying, if you want to take it to the letter of the law, you're probably right. My point is simple - why would you go through all that hassle? If we're talking about 300 bucks here, I'd just pay it back and move on with my life, that's not worth the hassle. Legality aside, we're talking about getting paid money to run here. Running is supposed to be fun.

I think it is entirely possible that the race expenses are coming due and they are in the red. I find it stunning that they would triple down on the $1800 figure - online advertisement, post-race photos and winner's check 30 days later via snail mail and then have the audacity to claim a mistake. At best it is extraordinary incompetence, at worst it is an attempted form of theft.

Perhaps LetsRun should threaten to do an article about this. I'm sure the race/RD doesn't want negative publicity. Maybe it would help them to back off.

I think you could pay them $1 and be done with it as far as a judge is concerned.

From their website:

"10 Mile total prize money: Overall Male & Female

1ST PLACE – $1800

2ND PLACE – $1000

3RD PLACE – $700"

It doesn't specify the particular break down of how much the male will get vs female winner will get, and it's not required they pay the same to men/women.

It could be male winner: $1799, female $1

Since you already spent the money...Promissory Estoppel BOOM you win!

I can't imagine any winning argument that they would have for you to pay the money back. As for the moral argument--ask yourself why do they give out prize money? To help themselves in someway--either through more or better runners or just attention. They took a picture of you with the check (for allegedly the wrong amount). If this is a contract--they got the benefit of the bargain. Don't pay it back. I think had they come to you with "hey we made a mistake and could you please help us out"--we are singing a different tune, Instead they were aggressive and threatening. You get more flies with honey than vinegar. Screw them!

I finished in the top 3 at this race a year ago. I received the full amount listed on the website and it was listed the exact same way. They did not split it between men and women. Absolutely do not give it back. This race gives out an absurd amount of money for a costume contest. If they can afford that you should get the money promised.

rojo wrote:

If it's not a nonprofit, which many are claiming, then I wouldn't pay it back. It drives me nuts when people take out .org email addresses to act like non profits when in reality they are for profit.

I've changed my tune. Don't pay it back.

Thank you. Yes. I was surprised at first when you said give it back.

Brojos is there anyway you could contact this race director or do a story on this?

The "right" thing to do is for the race to honor its agreements

Primo Numero Uno wrote:

I finished in the top 3 at this race a year ago. I received the full amount listed on the website and it was listed the exact same way. They did not split it between men and women. Absolutely do not give it back. This race gives out an absurd amount of money for a costume contest. If they can afford that you should get the money promised.

Exactly- the race is just trying to retroactively take advantage of runners this year

after carefully reviewing their website, I'm changing my vote too. Its pretty clear they want the prize money to look like its more than it actually is.

Not legally blinding wrote:

"Twelve states provide that the individual is not liable for the amount of overpayment if recovery would not be in good conscience, as long as there is no showing of fraud or intentional misrepresentation or nondisclosure....

AK, AR, CA, FL.... "

The background rule is that you are always liable for overpayments. The "against conscience" exception is narrow and applies only where repayment would work a hardship, i.e., you're in a significantly worse situation having to pay the money back than you would have been if you hadn't been paid in the first place.

Bullet the Blue Sky wrote:

Websites have typos and are not legally binding.

Yes, they are, depending on the circumstances. The text of websites can frequently form the basis for a contract, and even when it doesn't, it can certainly support a claim for misrepresentation.

800 dude wrote:

The background rule is that you are always liable for overpayments.

Yes. But you need solid proof to demonstrate over payment.

Can the plaintiff prove their case?