Date of Birth Question

baggins11

Just a quick question.. do you use your real date of birth? I was worried that if i don't and i won a big holiday or something it would make my entry invalid if it wasn't my real date of birth. Do they ever ask for passport or any verification of date of birth?

Does seem dodgy though giving my full details to all these companies - some of which I have never heard of.:eek:

andrew71

If it's a big company that I know are legit I tend to be truthful. If I'm unsure about the company/website I slightly alter my details by a day, month or one year. So for instance if my DOB is 14th August 1985 (it's not btw) I I may put 15th August 1985 or 14th August 1986.
Then if it's questioned I can say it must of been a slip of the finger a genuine mistake.

elsien

I do similar - d.o.b. that's a figure each way on the month and year.
I did win a prize once where they wanted my DOB and I explained that I'd altered it slightly because I had security concerns - wasn't a problem. I figure that generally speaking they just want to check you're over 18.

baggins11

Great thanks andrew71 and elsien. I was thinking of doing the same and just changing one number - I will do that from now on.

Sprinkles84

I am always honest. When I won a car last month I had to send a copy of my driving licence to verify my details and I can't imagine how devastated I'd have been if they turned round and said I couldn't have the prize!

LeeRits

I've always given my correct details, never had an issue or any security concerns and i've been doing it about 3 years.

mjm3346

Always used my correct details and never had any problems from doing so - if I don't like the look of a site I simply don't enter - I don't think most of the ones I enter require DoB anyway.

pate-ci0

I usually put Month/Day/Year instead of Day/Month/Year and if queried (never have been despite having to show proof of age twice) say that I'm used to the American date system rather than UK, and, er, sorry like....

sultanim

I will not give my real DOB just to enter a comp - seems crazy to do so as you have no idea what they will do with your info. I also have a complete fake DOB which I always use, and if it is ever queried will bring up security concerns. I can't imagine you would be refused a prize for this!

sleepyjones

You can generally tell if a competition is likely to ask for ID, generally it'll be an age limited product, ie knives, booze etc ... or if the terms say you must have a passport / driving licence ie a holiday / car competition.

Most of the time I'm honest, but if it's clearly (in my opinion) aimed at a younger audience (be that the prize or more specifically the people that are giving the prize) then I'll knock 10 years off my year of birth and if anyone ever asks I'll just say it was a typo or the mouse must have slipped or something (but generally I'll keep the day / month the same).

Off the top of my head, if it was sporty / exercise, gaming type stuff or if the promoter of the comp was say RealBuzz, Match! magazine or something like FHM (back in the day) then I would consider these brands aimed at a younger audience so I'd knock 10 years off if they ask (assuming I don't think they'll ask for ID because the prize isn't an age restricted prize.)

baggins11

Gosh I hadn't thought of that sleepy! Maybe I should be knocking 20 years off :rotfl: