Please help keep Free Entries for TV Competitions

AshCan

ITV seem to have taken a step backwards in time with their viewer competitions by changing to postal entry for the free entry route required by law, ("Tipping Point" viewers competition of the 20th of May 2013)

It may be that the intention of ITV management is to reduce the number of free entries by changing to this low-tech method. The Gambling Act though clearly states that when a Non-Skill “Lottery” exists there must be a free alternative route to entry and that route must be: “NO LESS CONVENIENT THAN THE PAID FOR ROUTE”

A possible long walk to a post box for each entry is NOT at all convenient in any way compared to a text message or phone call and I encourage other Compers to send a complaint to: viewerservices@itv.com

Incidentally Channel 5 seem to have adopted a similar "Free" postage route with their competitions so if you have the time why not send a similar complaint to: customerservices@channel5.com

AshCan

ITV seem to have taken a step backwards in time with their viewer competitions by changing to postal entry for the free entry route required by law, ("Tipping Point" viewers competition of the 20th of May 2013)

It may be that the intention of ITV management is to reduce the number of free entries by changing to this low-tech method. The Gambling Act though clearly states that when a Non-Skill “Lottery” exists there must be a free alternative route to entry and that route must be: “NO LESS CONVENIENT THAN THE PAID FOR ROUTE”

A possible long walk to a post box for each entry is NOT at all convenient in any way compared to a text message or phone call and I encourage other Compers to send a complaint to: viewerservices@itv.com

Incidentally Channel 5 seem to have adopted a similar "Free" postage route with their competitions so if you have the time why not send a similar complaint to: customerservices@channel5.com

mjm3346

AshCan wrote: »

ITV seem to have taken a step backwards in time with their viewer competitions by changing to postal entry for the free entry route required by law, ("Tipping Point" viewers competition of the 20th of May 2013)

It may be that the intention of ITV management is to reduce the number of free entries by changing to this low-tech method. The Gambling Act though clearly states that when a Non-Skill “Lottery” exists there must be a free alternative route to entry and that route must be: “NO LESS CONVENIENT THAN THE PAID FOR ROUTE” Does not have to be if they offer the postal route.

A possible long walk to a post box for each entry is NOT at all convenient in any way compared to a text message or phone call and I encourage other Compers to send a complaint to:

Incidentally Channel 5 seem to have adopted a similar "Free" postage route with their competitions so if you have the time why not send a similar complaint to: [EMAIL="customerservices@channel5.com"]customerservices@channel5.com[/EMAIL]

Channel 5 have done that for as long as I can remember.

Itv are not usually a non-skill lottery, there is a question to answer but in any case postal entry is deemed an acceptable "free" entry method.

mjm3346

Gambling commission document


http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/PDF/prize%20competitions%20and%20free%20draws%20-%20the%20requirements%20of%20the%20gambling%20act%202005%20-%20december%202009.pdf


If they don't offer this as a method of entry

a letter sent by ordinary post, again whether first or second class post

then the method they they offer must meet the following

or some other method which is neither more expensive nor less convenient than entering by the paid route. Again this method must be charged at the ‘normal rate’; there can be no additional payment over what it would normally cost to use that method of communication

but as long as they offer the postal route they are fine, by offering the on-line option they are going beyond what they need to do.

AshCan

The Gambling Act gives guidance in this and a competition is deemed to be a lottery when when there is neither a question asked or the answer is ridiculously easy.
A free route has always been necessary for the ITV competitions and as such a precedent has been set by them supplying a one similar to the paid route. For them to now restrict the FREE route to postal entries is clearly not fair.

mjm3346

AshCan wrote: »

ITV seem to have taken a step backwards in time with their viewer competitions by changing to postal entry for the free entry route required by law, ("Tipping Point" viewers competition of the 20th of May 2013)

It may be that the intention of ITV management is to reduce the number of free entries by changing to this low-tech method. The Gambling Act though clearly states that when a Non-Skill “Lottery” exists there must be a free alternative route to entry and that route must be: “NO LESS CONVENIENT THAN THE PAID FOR ROUTE” Does not have to be if they offer the postal route.

A possible long walk to a post box for each entry is NOT at all convenient in any way compared to a text message or phone call and I encourage other Compers to send a complaint to:

Incidentally Channel 5 seem to have adopted a similar "Free" postage route with their competitions so if you have the time why not send a similar complaint to: [EMAIL="customerservices@channel5.com"]customerservices@channel5.com[/EMAIL]

Channel 5 have done that for as long as I can remember.

Itv are not usually a non-skill lottery, there is a question to answer but in any case postal entry is deemed an acceptable "free" entry method.

mjm3346

Gambling commission document


http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/PDF/prize competitions and free draws - the requirements of the gambling act 2005 - december 2009.pdf


If they don't offer this as a method of entry

a letter sent by ordinary post, again whether first or second class post

then the method they they offer must meet the following

or some other method which is neither more expensive nor less convenient than entering by the paid route. Again this method must be charged at the ‘normal rate’; there can be no additional payment over what it would normally cost to use that method of communication

but as long as they offer the postal route they are fine, by offering the on-line option they are going beyond what they need to do.

mjm3346

AshCan wrote: »

For them to now restrict the FREE route to postal entries is clearly not fair.

They are perfectly entitled to do so, it fully complies with the GA and there is nothing to make a valid complaint about.

(and this is not the first time they have done it either)


(request made to move thread to chat corner or delete as same thing posted there)

AshCan

Going beyond what they need to do? Tell the disabled and bed-bound that. If you think it is unfair please complain if you think it is fair just don't bother. I'm wasting my time here.

mjm3346

AshCan wrote: »

Going beyond what they need to do? Tell the disabled and bed-bound that. If you think it is unfair please complain if you think it is fair just don't bother. I'm wasting my time here.

Complaining because you don't like it is up to you but that is quite different to trying to get people to make complaints on the basis a law is being broken when it is not.

LadyMorticia

AshCan wrote: »

Going beyond what they need to do? Tell the disabled and bed-bound that. If you think it is unfair please complain if you think it is fair just don't bother. I'm wasting my time here.

Please excuse my ignorance, but does this mean that the postal entry will be instead of the online entry?

I really hope not. I'm disabled and am housebound most of the time.