Warning: TV TXT competitions

**Phurrball** · 12th January 2007, 11:39

Originally Posted by LilSel

I have seen those ad's a few times... $3 a text... 5 multi choice questions... (not just one!)... and then it says 5 times a month... (snippy)

I did that maths too. Like any promotion, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is...next step, read the fine print to confirm that it is too good to be true.

The real winners are those with the smarts to avoid entering into contracts like that. Most txt participation in any TV programme, ad, or poll carries a surcharge - you'd think people would have woken up to that by now - like you say GR81 - NZ Idol...

**LilSel** · 12th January 2007, 11:42

Exactly Phurrball!!... Entering any competition by text and only expecting to pay .20c is daft...

**Flyingpony** · 12th January 2007, 11:48

Did you also notice that those ads to not contain any information as to when the price draw will be held! ?

I also noticed a lack of internet or phone numbers of the business running them, unless of course, they were present but I couldn't read it - the writing is very small!

The board cast authority should force companies which advertise their terms and conditions to use a full screen without scrolling, big writing of say 30pt font, and have this displayed for at least 10 seconds. That way everybody will be able to read it.

**sunhuntin** · 12th January 2007, 11:52

i can read it fine at 2 meters on a 14" tv.....however i forget where im up to with each add and have to start from the beginning.

id say they deserve to be sucked it...its so obvious its a scam. these same people likely took a $3000 money order from nigeria and sent $30,000 back. dipsticks.

**ManDownUnder** · 12th January 2007, 11:59

I don't like the combination of devices used.

They put the fine print on the screen at the same time as the competition (in the case of the hidden word one). The warning is there, but they require you to look elsewhere while it's on... etc.

I agree with the complaint.

**Phurrball** · 12th January 2007, 12:05

Originally Posted by Flyingpony

Did you also notice that those ads to not contain any information as to when the price draw will be held! ?

I also noticed a lack of internet or phone numbers of the business running them, unless of course, they were present but I couldn't read it - the writing is very small!

The board cast authority should force companies which advertise their terms and conditions to use a full screen without scrolling, big writing of say 30pt font, and have this displayed for at least 10 seconds. That way everybody will be able to read it.

Hmmm...quite right.

Even a large message stating where (eg: URL, 0800 number) full T&Cs could be found would be sufficient.

When you enter into such a competition, you are usually deemed to have read and understood the T&Cs - a bit difficult if those advertising obfuscate when it comes to those T&Cs. That said, you'd expect the 'average' person to know better when it comes to txt promotions - These ads prey on the less than average perhaps??

I remember an old judgment of Lord Denning, where he stated that any term in a contract that was unusually onerous needed to be explicitly drawn to the attention of the other party - he suggested a 'red hand' next to the term in question. Perhaps why complaints against such promotions stand a chance...

**GR81** · 12th January 2007, 12:12

Originally Posted by Phurrball

Even a large message stating where (eg: URL, 0800 number) full T&Cs could be found would be sufficient.

then no one would enter! haha

flyingpony... there is a 0800 number at the bottom.

**sunhuntin** · 12th January 2007, 12:19

Originally Posted by Phurrball

Hmmm...quite right.

Even a large message stating where (eg: URL, 0800 number) full T&Cs could be found would be sufficient.

When you enter into such a competition, you are usually deemed to have read and understood the T&Cs - a bit difficult if those advertising obfuscate when it comes to those T&Cs. That said, you'd expect the 'average' person to know better when it comes to txt promotions - These ads prey on the less than average perhaps??

...

but how many people in nz are less than average? ive seen at least 6 threads on trademe about this in the last few days, and most of people in them had been sucked in....thats a large number of people!

fools and their money are soon parted.