Consumer Alert
Publishers Clearing House deceived consumers about their sweepstakes contests, FTC says
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It’s illegal for a company to tell someone to pay to enter a sweepstakes contest, or that buying something increases their odds of winning. You might not be surprised if a fly-by-night contest promoter deceived people by saying these things. But would you expect a well-known company that’s been running sweepstakes for decades to deceive people?
The FTC says that Publishers Clearing House used language and designs on its website and in its email marketing that tricked consumers, including many older adults, into believing they had to buy things on the PCH website to enter a sweepstakes. Or that doing so would improve their chances of winning a prize.
Customers who did buy something on PCH.com were in for a few surprises. (And they didn’t involve someone arriving at their door with a giant check and a TV crew). The FTC says
- PCH hid shipping and handling fees that added an average of 40% to customers' orders.
- PCH's claims that orders were risk free were bunk. Customers had to pay the shipping costs to return merchandise.
As part of a settlement, PCH agreed to pay $18.5 million to provide refunds, among other things. Not every Publishers Clearing House customer will be eligible for a refund. Learn more about PCH refunds.
If you’re considering participating in a sweepstakes contest, here’s what to know:
- Real sweepstakes are free and by chance. It’s illegal to ask you to pay or buy something to enter.
- If you sign up for a contest, the promoters might sell your information to advertisers. If they do, you’re likely to see targeted ads online and get more junk mail, telemarketing calls, and spam email.
- Scammers try to trick you into believing you won a prize. Never share your financial information or pay fees, taxes, or customs duties to get a prize.
Learn more about recognizing prize and sweepstakes scams. And if you see a prize scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
This blog post was updated on July 6, 2023 with information about refunds.
Scams
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I got a call from them saying I won
$2.5 millon dollars an a new Mez Bend go to store an get a card for $900.00 on one and one for $500.00 they told me who would be delivering it and what day .This is a joke an spam never heard from them again since I WOULD NOT GO GET THEM any money .
In reply to I got a call from them… by Betty
That is a scam they never call. I have been playing off and on since 1970, I have won 3 x not a lot but highest amount was $550.
I ha rule ever order says on there ordering does not increase your chance of winning.
In reply to I got a call from them… by Betty
As above, I have just been contacted by the supposely PCH same way. Saying I won $2.5 million and new Mez Bend and wanted $199 in gift card. I got the cheaper offer I guess. I told them to call back, they never did. I blocked them anyway. It’s a SCAM THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.
So how do I collect from Publishers Clearing House, I have been trying them since 2007 and spen a lot of money
I would like to be included in the lawsuit Settlement
In reply to I would like to be included… by Wayne
I don't know for certain, if I sent Publishers any money.
In reply to I would like to be included… by Wayne
I have a product that I am unable to use. So far, no instructions RE return & credit. Frustrating!
In reply to I would like to be included… by Wayne
I would like to be included in the lawsuit
In reply to I would like to be included… by Wayne
I would like to be included.
So what happens with the $18.5 million dollars? Are customers who have bought from them reimbursed for the outrageous shipping charges?
I bought from them for year and still do occasionally. And what aggravates me along with the high cost of shipping and handling is that it still takes weeks to receive orders.
They do not use that money they get for shipping and handling to use UPS or FedX to ship to customers in a few days. They use the slowest means possible through USPS.
In reply to So what happens with the $18… by Christopher Spencer
PCH agreed to the proposed court order that requires the company to turn over $18.5 million to the FTC. The money will be used for consumer refunds.
In reply to PCH agreed to the proposed… by FTC Staff
How will the FTC refund the $18.5 million to consumers? If there a form to be included? My parents have been doing this for years. They would like to be included in the list for refunds.
In reply to PCH agreed to the proposed… by FTC Staff
hi,I want to be included on that 18.5 m payout to their customers,man if i missed on envelope to mail back out i,d be out of the running,yea i bought stuff,shipping fees and the stamps,geez what a waste of $$$
In reply to PCH agreed to the proposed… by FTC Staff
been a PCH customer for many years where can I find the form?
Who gets the $18.5 million dollars?
I always saw the notice that buying something would not increase my chances of winning. I have never bought anything and have never won anything.
I am very confused reading this article. I say this statement because it clearly states on the PCH website that marketing a purchase does NOT increase your chances of winning that purchasing makes no difference in winning. I feel like this article is a little bit bias and incorrect. While I do agree that PCH uses wording that makes it appear like you have won something when I'm fact they are just trying to get you to enter a contest or play a game or one of a number of things they offer online, however I've never been made up feel like I've had to purchase anything. As a matter of fact I've actually received prize winnings from PCH. Not a much winnings but still I've won.
In reply to I am very confused reading… by Debbie Peterson
I agree..... Years back I contacted some of the winners. The majority did NOT make any purchases. All advertising is "deceiving" .....
I’ve bee entering PCH sweepstakes and occasionally making purchases for 40 years. I have never thought they expected you to buy anything to enter and it is clear about the postage cost for the shipment (info on the order form). I’ve always looked at the cost to rerun something as the cost of trying it out. I’ve never won anything, of course.
I use to play PCH and was told I had to buy something.
Had someone saying they were Danielle Lam from PCH, but they wanted $100.00 to claim a grant from the government but the website on Facebook was a fraud.
I have entered PCH sweepstakes since 2013. They want you to buy but they never said I had to buy to enter and always said purchasing did not enhance my chances to win. My only complaint is that their charges are on the high side.
It would be nice if they reimbursed those trusting elders their monies back.
In reply to It would be nice if they… by Richard
PCH agreed to the proposed court order that requires the company to turn over $18.5 million to the FTC. The money will be used for consumer refunds.
In reply to PCH agreed to the proposed… by FTC Staff
So when will I get my refund?????
In reply to So when will I get my refund… by Nettie Anders
The 12th of never I bet no one other than the FTC ever sees a penny of that money just like they don’t win any PCH contests or lotteries
Publisher Clearing House hypes customers up to the point of spending all their leisure time on the website making u think that your participation will help u win. All the time putting products up for u to buy and printing that making a purchase does not cause u to win anything yet, on the other hand telling u that one purchase can add your claim to win the sweepstakes. It is all a game to them and the products are of low quality.
I never saw anything from PCH that said you had to buy something to enter the sweepstakes. Read the words carefully.
I knew it; I knew it!!!!
I entered this for absolutely ages and I normally bougt something as I felt this was necessary somehow. Are they being sued???? Hope so. I feel so very stupid.
Thank you for this most interesting article.
Had NO idea it was a scam. Boy do I feel stupid.
Never won a penny but someone appeared every year.
0 9
Yes I was suckered in many times. Did anyone ever win? They claimed they did on their TV commercials as well.
Danielle Lam, Todd Sloane, Dave Sayer, Deborah Holland, Maryann Carter, 'CasinoWorld Cassie', 'Brooke (O'Keefe) & Lauren'!!!
"We trusted You!; We believed in You!" *heavy sobbing* >:-(
If that's deceiving why not go after the lottery agency's aswell ... At least you buy a product from PCH and get it...
Whether you are gullible enough that your going to win... Lottery tickets are flashy to.. it's all taking chances at something ..
P.S.
Just wondering where that 18.5 million in fines is going???
Sounds similar to the scratch tickets and lottery!
Who gets the 18.5 million??
In reply to Sounds similar to the… by Debra Gonsalves
PCH agreed to the proposed court order that requires the company to turn over $18.5 million to the FTC. The money will be used for consumer refunds.
Always get calls from out of country stating they are certain people who work for PCH and that I have won a prize. Hogwash.
Why are they still in business if you know this?
I remember back in the day (late 70's early 80's I ordered JET and ESSENCE MAGAZINE for a chance to win that prize!!! I didn't know Ed Mcmahon wasn't the spoke person!!!! HA! HA!!
I don't like the facts that they sometimes just have some items on back order and would ship a partial order and you are being charged for shipping separately, or how about not shipping anything until the whole order is ready, and when the order is out of stock they will send you something you didn't order. When you call to make a payment customer service representative didn't pay for the orders that you have already received and want to charge you for orders you have not received any the account get confusing to the customer. I'm getting a little bit tired of trying to be the accountant for them.
It peaked my curiosity when they kept sending mailers stating the deadline was just around the corner repeated months apart from each other. They made it sound like the merchandise was very inexpensive and yet a a very good product. When I calculated the entire price,it was no different than Walmart or Target. I knew my chances of winning were nil so I just tossed them mailing after a while. I even had a man call me acting like he was the CEO of Publisihers Clearing House but I caught him in his act.
I have participated online but rarely purchased anything and if you look there is a statement that states no purchase is necessary to enter and does not enhance your chance for winning. Of course this may not be as noticeable as people would like and yes the shipping is a rip off and you don't even know how much it is going to be until you click on it and it finalizes without you having a chance to authorize the shipping/total amount. I've had to call to cancel an order when I saw it cost more to ship than the item. I have not ordered from them in years as their prices are not that great for the items they sell and shipping is ridiculous. I do better ordering from Walmart and Target.
Please Help: I am a Disabled senior: who believed I win PCH, because they said it would increase my chances the more I purchased. They flooded me with mail / products to purchase:they said more chance to win. Their products, didn't always function, didn't work, and sent things I didn't order. The products were cheap Looking and weren't always the same as the pictures. I called their customer service: they would say my chance to win Increased with an order. I spent hundreds & hundreds. Finally I stopped
I have items still in the packages.
Add me
Why did it take sooo long for Consumer Alerts/FTC to figure out PCH is CROOKED!!!!
They have been taking advantage of the public for years. Shut ‘‘em down for good!
How can you sign up for the settlement?
After spending money on items that turned out to be poorly made and not being able to return items, customers should be able to get some of their money back concerning what alot of us thought might be deceiving wording is actually back by FTC.
In reply to After spending money on… by Crissy
PCH agreed to the proposed court order that requires the company to turn over $18.5 million to the FTC. The money will be used for consumer refunds.
In reply to PCH agreed to the proposed… by FTC Staff
Is there somewhere we can give our names the week could be included in this settlement of how they really deceived us. They sure deceive me for years and I feel stupid.
Who gets the 18 million?
The more information to learn the better understand how sweepstakes play works in order to avoid scammers hand.
Thanks this information.