'Free auspicious abalone specially for OCBC Cardmembers. Simply charge $1,388 nett - including a minimum of $80 nett spent at Caltex - to your OCBC credit card from Jan 1 until Feb 15, 2008, and get this free OCBC New Boon Abalone gift set worth $62.50. To redeem this exclusive gift, present your original OCBC credit card charge slips at selected Caltex station by 15 Feb 2008.'

After asking the cashier wether the $80 nett must be for purchase of petrol only, the answer was any item as long as it was $80 nett. There was no mention of limited stocks or while stocks last. I started charging my expenses to my wife's card, hoping that I could qualify to redeem the gift set before Chinese New Year.

When I finally met their conditions, that is, charged $1,388 nett to OCBC card and $80 nett in Caltex, I found out that the redemption was over as all the 3,000 gift sets have been fully redeemed.

When I asked the cashiers how this could happen, their reply was that many customers were also disappointed and that I should complain to OCBC.

Can the relevant parties explain?

Chua Chew Huat