Help Required...

McFitty_2

Hi All,

I recently posted up a thread about a chance to win £500, but it got classed as spam and removed!

I'm just interested in how I get around this problem for my future topics... as there's no point in being here if I cant share my finds!!

Any help or pointers would be gratefully received!

Cheers,
Rachel x

mpython

Were you to benefit from people entering? Or was it your own website/ company?

Savvy_Sue

mpython wrote: »

Were you to benefit from people entering? Or was it your own website/ company?

If it wasn't, then it could have been just a mistake, or something in your original post looked spammy or dodgy in some way. Abuse should be able to confirm one way or another, although it can take some time to get back to you.

Meanwhile keep posting, people tend to be more suspicious of 'odd' posts from new people, I'm afraid.

mpython

McFitty wrote: »

In the meantime could one of you look at the offer (http://www.ultimate-competitions.com/Free-Money) and tell me which is the best forum for this type of auction / competition. Its totally free... so I thought maybe freebie?

Sorry Rachel, I don't think that's a suitable comp for this site. As well as giving them your CC details and encoraging people to spend more money entering, from their T&Cs (my emphasis):-

8.2 By completing and submitting an entry or bid on any auction organised by us, you consent to us using your personal data for the following purposes: (i) performance of these Terms and Conditions by us, our suppliers and any third party acting on our behalf; (ii) our own internal marketing and promotion; (iii) the marketing and promotion of the companies and organisations attached to this auction (including, without limitation, suppliers, advertisers, sponsors, charitable organisations).

I'll ask for them to be added to the list of dodgy comp site in the comps Q&A section.

McFitty_2

mpython wrote: »

Sorry Rachel, I don't think that's a suitable comp for this site. As well as giving them your CC details and encoraging people to spend more money entering, from their T&Cs (my emphasis):-

8.2 By completing and submitting an entry or bid on any auction organised by us, you consent to us using your personal data for the following purposes: (i) performance of these Terms and Conditions by us, our suppliers and any third party acting on our behalf; (ii) our own internal marketing and promotion; (iii) the marketing and promotion of the companies and organisations attached to this auction (including, without limitation, suppliers, advertisers, sponsors, charitable organisations).

I'll ask for them to be added to the list of dodgy comp site in the comps Q&A section.

Hi,

I've signed up and entered the free auction... and I didn't have to submit any credit card data! The only information they asked for was Name, Address, DOB and email address!

I agree with you that their job it just to encourage people to pay to enter there other auctions... but what about the "Gambling Introductory Offer Loopholes" section of this forum... Isn't the point of all the "loopholes" to get people to spend more! As long as this link is posted with a reminder that paid competitions are never moneysaveing... I cant see an issue with it..

That 8.1 (i) Seems to be a pretty standard t&c doesn't it? Without it... they wouldn't be able to contact the winner!!

I am in the process of contacting them about (ii) & (iii)... As I have signed up to the site and ticked "No" to their newsletter... So they are a little confusing... I'll post back as soon as I have an answer!

Thanks again for all your help.

Rachel x

VelvetGlove

mpython wrote: »

8.2 By completing and submitting an entry or bid on any auction organised by us, you consent to us using your personal data for the following purposes: (i) performance of these Terms and Conditions by us, our suppliers and any third party acting on our behalf; (ii) our own internal marketing and promotion; (iii) the marketing and promotion of the companies and organisations attached to this auction (including, without limitation, suppliers, advertisers, sponsors, charitable organisations).

I'll ask for them to be added to the list of dodgy comp site in the comps Q&A section.

Thanks for the heads up on this thread mpython I've had a look at the site & the info in 8(iii) are standard across sites which have led to a lot of unwanted spam in the past so I've added it to the list of those companies in the Comping Guide so hopefully newer compers don't get caught out with it

McFitty_2

McFitty wrote: »

I am in the process of contacting them about (ii) & (iii)... As I have signed up to the site and ticked "No" to their newsletter... So they are a little confusing... I'll post back as soon as I have an answer!

Hey Everyone,

Here is the reply I received yesterday from the support team...

Hi Rachel,

Firstly I would like to apologise for any confusion caused by our general terms and conditions of entry.

I have had a look over terms 8.2 (ii) & 8.2 (iii), and can only think that this was our legal team getting a bit over excited. I have added this issue onto our internal changes list and will hopefully have this issue rectified within the next few days.

I would like to make it clear that we will only ever contact our customers on an "opt in" basis and will only share customer details with third parties where it is necessary to do so for the performance of our terms and conditions (as in 8.2 (i)) or if our customers have given us prior permission to do so. (i.e. As we run charitable auctions, we may add an "opt in" box at the point of entry to see if you wish to be contacted by the connected charity)

I'm sorry for any inconvenience caused by our misleading terms and conditions and hope that I have managed to answer all of your questions. If you require any more information please don’t hesitate to contact us.

I wish you the best of luck with all your future bids.

Kind Regards,


Mark Shaw
Ultimate Competitions Support

I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt as I haven't received any spam since I've signed up!

Rachel x

Edinburghlass_2

I think you misunderstand slightly, your competition is considered spamming MSE and hence has been removed twice now.

McFitty_2

VelvetGlove wrote: »

Thanks for the heads up on this thread mpython I've had a look at the site & the info in 8(iii) are standard across sites which have led to a lot of unwanted spam in the past so I've added it to the list of those companies in the Comping Guide so hopefully newer compers don't get caught out with it

Hi VelvetGlove,

I just noticed your post and I don't agree with you or mpython on adding them to the list of spamming companies... as they haven't spammed!

I've not had an issue... Have you? Have you heard of anyone else having an issue?

As for the comment above the list of companies... "...have come to our collective attention as sites that, when used for comps, seem to generate lots of unwanted postal, email & phone call attention." Since when has two peoples views been a collective attention?

I personally think abusing your trusted opinion to bad mouth companies it totally wrong and is something that shouldn't be tolerated on MSE. This sort of behaviour undermines all the other good, well resurched, helpfull topics on here!

Rachel

McFitty_2

Edinburghlass wrote: »

I think you misunderstand slightly, your competition is considered spamming MSE and hence has been removed twice now.

Hi Edinburghlass,

Firstly, as I have previously stated... I am not connected in anyway to this company.

And secondly... Twice? I've only had one post removed!

Rachel x

mpython

Rachel,

I don't understand why you are getting so worked up over this and are defending a company that you have no connection to.

You've only been registered with them a couple of days and you think that's sufficient evidence to allow them to be promoted on MSE? Whereas their T&Cs say that by entering you give them permission to pass on your details. Their reply to you doesn't change that fact. As well as using the fees paid to enter competitions as a primary source of revenue, they sell on your details.

VG can speak for herself, but the quote you use from the comping rules is that the spammy site list is the product of the collective wisdom on MSE, not just VG and myself.

Why not just enjoy the 100s of free to enter, and spam free, competitions listed on here every day. Have a chat in the compers inn and you'll see that we're really a friendly bunch.