Syrupvermont,
According to Vermont?s Consumer Fraud Act - Rule 109, games of skill,
contests, sweepstakes or give-away promotions cannot require you to
purchase something or to pay an entry fee or service charge in order
to enter or to remain eligible. Putting postage on your SASE is
considered an entry fee or service charge..
?Vermont?s Consumer Fraud Act also encompasses an Attorney General
Rule regarding promotional games. Under this rule, games of skill,
contests, sweepstakes or give-away promotions cannot require you to
purchase something or to pay an entry fee or service charge in order
to enter or to remain eligible.?
Vermont Comisión on Women
http://www.women.state.vt.us/legalrtw.html
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Here's the official wording from VT's Consumer Fraud Rule 109:
( Section B is relevant to your question.)
CF 109 (Contests and Prizes)
SUBJECT: CONSUMER FRAUD - CONTESTS AND PRIZES
ATTORNEY GENERAL - CONSUMER FRAUD DIVISION
ADOPTED PURSUANT TO 9 V.S.A. SECTION 2453(c)
RULE CF 109
CF 109.01 Contests
CF 109.02 Prizes
CF 109.01 Contests.
It shall constitute an unfair and deceptive trade act and practice in
commerce under 9 V.S.A. Section 2453(a) for any person to solicit any
other person to engage in any kind of a game of skill, contest,
sweepstakes, give-away or other promotion which:
(a) is deceptive or misleading as to chances of winning, the number of
winners, the value of the prizes, or the availability of the prize;
(b) requires any kind of entry fee, service charge, purchase or
similar consideration in order to enter or to continue to remain
eligible; or,
(c) uses publications, literature, written or verbal promotion that is
false, deceptive or misleading.
Office of the Attorney General - Vermont
http://www.atg.state.vt.us/display.php?smod=127
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?Consumer Fraud Rule 109 regarding Contests, states: "It shall
constitute an unfair and deceptive trade act and practice in commerce
under 9 V.S.A. section 2453(a) for any person to solicit any person to
engage in any kind of game of skill, contest sweepstakes, give-away or
other promotion which: ?
?(b) requires any kind of entry fee, service charge, purchase or
similar consideration in order to enter or to continue to remain
eligible?
Vermont Retailers
http://www.vtretailers.com/faqs.htm
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From a thread from Fatwallet forums:
?Anyone know anything about the legislation in VT that allows them to
skip the stamp on the SASE? ?
?Vermont is one of a handful of states that have extra consumer fraud
procedures in place for contests, promotions, sweepstakes, etc. The
unique thing about VT is that they're the only state that specifically
has in writing that they prohibit charging an entry fee or requiring
purchase to enter any game of skill, contest, or sweepstakes. This
came from Vermont's Consumer Fraud Act in 1967. It was originally
created because of a lot of statewide conspiracies and consumer fraud
in VT. Obviously, the McDonald's Monopoly game is a loophole of sorts,
and not the real purpose the law was put into effect.?
(?)
?Apparently, having to put 37˘ on your SASE is considered an entry
fee. Putting postage on the outer envelope, however, is not an entry
fee. The difference is that once your envelope gets to the P.O. Box,
it's in McDonald's possession, and once that's the case, if you pay
money (in this case, a 37˘ stamp on your SASE) it's considered an
entry fee. In other words, once they have it, they're physically able
to send the game pieces out to you, and this VT law states in such
circumstances, consumers shouldn't have to pay anything.?
Fat Wallet
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/arctextthread.php?catid=45&threadid=372884
Search terms used:
Vermont contests sweepstakes regulations rules sase
I hope the information provided is helpful!
Best regards,
Bobbie7 |
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