Quick query re comp end dates

I-Owe-You

Are companies allowed to extend comp end dates once live/they've publicised an end date on T&Cs? I appreciate there's not much that can be done about it but I've seen it happen a lot recently and it got me thinking...

I've entered a couple of comps for a not massively popular event which is location specific (no travel or accom included) so understandably it's not attracting that many entrants...one was due to close early last week and another on Friday but upon checking for winner announcements both have been extended.

I understand companies run comps for promo purposes & to gain clicks, likes & follows but does anyone know officially what the rules are or can companies extend/close early as they see fit?

Not grumblin' just wonderin'!

Cheers!

sleepyjones

CAP Code 8.17.4e: Unless circumstances outside the reasonable control of the promoter make it unavoidable, closing dates must not be changed.

I-Owe-You

Thanks so much for the info sleepyjones!

mjm3346

Depending how their T&C's are worded they might be better off cancelling the competition and running another one if that's what they want to do.

sleepyjones

"circumstances outside the reasonable control" could really be anything though ie The form / app wasn't working for the first week, the question was worded badly etc, so it'd be pretty hard to argue the fact should you want to file a complaint on such an issue.

I think this is one of those rules that are there for piece of mind but are easy to circumnavigate (not sure that's the right word).

hamsterfan1

huh the mag dailies seem to be doing that on at least one comp all the time

I-Owe-You

I know its really annoying, I mostly enter and forget so any win notification is a lovely bonus to my hobby but for prizes I'm super keen on (like the location specific one) I tend to check back to see the winner announcements.

I'd just noticed "great news guys we've extended our competition another week!" an awful lot recently and wondered about the rules around this.

I wish the companies would abide by their own T&Cs!

Thanks everyone for your replies

mjm3346

Maybe they should make them "conditional competitions".
Some FB competitions are dependant on reaching a certain number of likes by a set date/time so they could set a minimum number of entries target and not award the prize unless they reach it - if the target was not reached then extending the date would be to everyone's advantage and unlike now not disadvantage those who had already entered which is the bit the ASA don't like - from a previous judgement

we considered that by changing the closing date in this way, consumers who participated within the original terms were disadvantaged because they would be competing against a greater number of entries