Question on Duplicates

Eas

Question on duplicate comps...

If you enter your details for a comp before someone points out that it is a dupe, and the site doesn't tell you that you entered before, will you get disqualified?

Barnabysue

It would depend on each comps Terms & Conditions. If they say one entry only then you probably would be disqualified. This is why I don't enter comps as soon as they are posted, particularly at the moment with so many new members trying to help but not searching before posting competitions. A few from 'Spammy' sites have been posted recently and before an older member can point that out people are entering and possibly laying themselves open to SPAM or worse.

Eas

Ok, I think I'll take your advice and start leaving it for a bit, if I'm suspicious at least, I can usually remember the ones I have entered.

One-Eye

1) Some sites will tell you that you've previously entered and won't let you enter again.

2) Some sites will disqualify you altogether on entering a 2nd time.

3) Many sites will just remove your extra entries (as long as you haven't abused it by entering a ridiculous number of times)

4) A few sites will accept multiple entries (either deliberately or because they haven't got the will or capability to check for multiple entries)

5) Some sites only allow one entry per household rather than one per person and could then do any of the above.

6) Some sites only allow one entry per IP address - which could be a problem if you enter on a public network (work, library, hot spot etc.) and could then do any of the above.

You need to watch out for dupes posted on the board - most will be marked up by a regular within 2-3 hours of posting - but also be aware that some comps will be available on more than one site and these dupes are harder to spot (Bauer radio is the most common of these). Another problem is with companies who extend a comp beyond its original ending date and these can get posted as a brand new comp on the forum.

Be wary of entering comps you receive in emails. Companies will still invite you to enter a comp even though you responded to previous emails or entered when it was posted on this forum.

A few competitions will appear on the postal/text part of the forum and will also have an online entry method - watch out for these if you use the postal/text section regularly.