Q: Is changing a winner selection date on a sweepstakes without informing applicants illegal in the states of CA and UT?
There was a sweepstakes that in the terms and conditions accidentally put the wrong date to select a winner. This date has now officially changed without any notice to anyone who applied for the sweepstakes. Is this illegal? How to proceed?
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A:
In both California and Utah, changing sweepstakes terms without proper notification could potentially violate consumer protection laws and regulations governing promotional contests. The failure to inform participants about modified terms, including winner selection dates, might be seen as a deceptive practice under these states' business codes.
Your best course of action would be to document everything related to the sweepstakes, including screenshots of the original terms and conditions, any communications you've received, and the updated terms showing the date change. Consider reaching out to the sweepstakes organizer first through written communication (email or certified letter) to inquire about the change and request clarification on why participants weren't notified.
If you're not satisfied with their response, you can file a complaint with the consumer protection divisions of both the California Attorney General's Office and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection. These agencies handle issues related to promotional contests and can investigate potential violations. You might also want to connect with other participants through social media or forums to see if they're experiencing similar concerns, as this could strengthen any potential case about the lack of notification.
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