Skip to main content

Cookies on BBB.org

We use cookies to give users the best content and online experience. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to allow us to use all cookies. Visit our Privacy Policy to learn more.

Cookie Preferences

Many websites use cookies or similar tools to store information on your browser or device. We use cookies on BBB websites to remember your preferences, improve website performance and enhance user experience, and to recommend content we believe will be most relevant to you. Most cookies collect anonymous information such as how users arrive at and use the website. Some cookies are necessary to allow the website to function properly, but you may choose to not allow other types of cookies below.

Necessary Cookies

What are necessary cookies?
These cookies are necessary for the site to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you that amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

Necessary cookies must always be enabled.

Functional Cookies

What are functional cookies?
These cookies enable the site to provide enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies, some or all of these services may not function properly.

Performance Cookies

What are performance cookies?
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.

Marketing Cookies

What are marketing cookies?
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant content on other sites. They do not store personal information directly, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser or device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
      Country
          Country

          Find a Location

          Publishers Clearing House LLC has 4 locations, listed below.

          *This company may be headquartered in or have additional locations in another country. Please click on the country abbreviation in the search box below to change to a different country location.

            Country
            Please enter a valid location.

            Business ProfileforPublishers Clearing House LLC

            Marketing Programs
            Multi Location Business
            BBB accredited business

            Current Alerts For This Business

            Government Action: BBB reports on known government actions involving business’ marketplace conduct::
            FTC Takes Action Against Publishers Clearing House for Misleading Consumers About Sweepstakes Entries

            The following describes a government action that has been resolved by either a settlement or a decision by a court or administrative agency. If the matter is being appealed, it will be noted below.

            On 6/26/2023, Publishers Clearing House (PCH) has agreed to a proposed court order for an FTC lawsuit that will require it to pay $18.5 million to consumers who spent money and wasted their time, and make substantial changes to how it conducts business online. In a complaint against PCH, the FTC charges that the company uses “dark patterns” to mislead consumers about how to enter the company’s well-known sweepstakes drawings and made them believe that a purchase is necessary to win or would increase their chances of winning, and that their sweepstakes entries are incomplete even when they are not. The FTC also charges that the company has added surprise shipping and handling fees to the costs of products, misrepresented that ordering is “risk free,” used deceptive emails as part of its marketing campaign, and misrepresented its policies on selling users’ personal data to third parties prior to January 2019.  Many consumers affected by these practices are older and lower-income.

            The FTC charges that PCH used dark patterns—manipulative phrasing and website design—to  convince consumers that they needed to buy a product of some kind to enter the company’s sweepstakes or increase their chances of winning. Instead, the complaint charges, consumers enter an arduous journey through pages of advertisements and sales pitches before they can actually enter the sweepstakes. The advertisements allegedly use tricky wording that conflates ordering and entering to lead consumers to believe they must make a purchase to enter, or that purchasing will increase their chances of winning a sweepstakes, neither of which is true. Once consumers have navigated through the pages to reach the actual entry form and complete their entry, though, the complaint charges that PCH begins sending emails making them believe that they must complete a “final” or “last” step to complete their entry.

            The FTC’s complaint charges that where PCH included disclaimers or clarifying information on shopping pages, it was in small, light font, below the “call to action” buttons, and overlooked by consumers. Beyond the company’s deceptive cycle of emails and webpages, though, the FTC’s complaint charges that PCH employed other unlawful practices, including:

            -Failing to disclose the true price of goods: The complaint charges that PCH hid from consumers who made purchases on their websites shipping and handling costs – which averaged over 40% of the product costs – until well after the purchase was complete and it was too late for consumers to stop a shipment.

            -Deceiving consumers about “no risk” purchases: The complaint charges that PCH promised consumers that purchases from their site were “risk free,” but failed to inform consumers that they would be responsible for paying the return shipping on unwanted products.

            -Using misleading email subjects: The complaint charges that PCH used email subject lines that were deceptive, with subject lines like “High Priority Doc. W-34 Issued” or “W-19 Notice – Step 3 of 3 INCOMPLETE,” leading consumers to believe the email was related to a tax form or official requirement. But the documents referred to in these subject lines were complete fictions and nothing in the emails themselves even referred to these forms.  Numerous consumers clicked on these emails and purchased products or lost valuable time clicking through website pages.

            -Having misleading statements in its Privacy Policy: The complaint charges that PCH had a statement in the middle of its privacy policy prior to January 2019, which stated that it did “not rent, license, or sell” consumer data to third parties. The complaint charges that, in fact, PCH has shared consumer data with other marketers, advertisers, and publishing companies to target consumers with third-party ads.

            PCH agreed to settle the FTC’s charges that it violated the FTC Act and CAN-SPAM Act, and a proposed court order would require the company to turn over $18.5 million to the FTC to be used to refund consumers and make a number of key changes to its email and internet operations:

            -Stop deceiving consumers about purchases and sweepstakes: PCH would be prohibited from implying that that a purchase is required to enter a sweepstakes or that a purchase will increase the chances of winning. -Separate sweepstakes from sales: PCH would be required to clearly distinguish on its entry and order forms information related to entering and ordering.

            -Make clear disclosures: PCH would be required to make clear, conspicuous, and unavoidable disclosures on every shopping page that a purchase is not required to enter a sweepstakes and that purchasing will not help a consumer win, and include a link that will take consumers directly to a page where they can enter the sweepstakes without any sales messaging.  And in many cases, the company would be required to obtain a consumer’s express acknowledgement using a checkbox or similar means that ordering will not help them win and will not improve their chances of winning.

            -Stopping Surprise Fees: PCH would be required to clearly disclose the full price of any item it lists for sale, along with any additional fees for shipping and handling before a consumer commits to purchasing the item. PCH must also clearly disclose cancellation and return policies. -Stop deceptive emails: PCH would be prohibited from sending emails with deceptive subject lines and other conduct that violates the CAN-SPAM Act.

            -Destroy consumer data: PCH would be required to delete all consumer data that was collected prior to January 1, 2019. PCH would also be prohibited from misrepresenting the extent to which PCH collects and shares consumer data.

            -Preserve records: To help prevent further use of dark patterns, the order requires PCH to preserve records of any market, behavioral, or psychological research, or user, customer, or usability testing, including any A/B or multivariate testing, copy testing, surveys, focus groups, interviews, clickstream analysis, eye or mouse tracking studies, or analyses regarding consumers’ impressions of any ads, marketing, or promotions of sweepstakes or products.  

            Additional business information

            Additional Info:
            Consumers that have concerns about communications (mail/emails/texts/phone calls) that claim affiliation with Publishers Clearing House (PCH) should review the company's Consumer Fraud Protection page for guidance and tips. The link to that page can be found here: https://info.pch.com/fraud-protection
            See all additional business information

            At-a-glance

            Customer Reviews

            2.61/5stars

            Average of 194 Customer Reviews

            Customer Complaints

            304 complaints closed in last 3 years

            65 complaints closed in last 12 months

            BBB Rating & Accreditation

            Accredited Since: 4/2/2015

            Years in Business: 71

            Customer Reviews are not used in the calculation of BBB Rating

            Reasons for BBB Rating

            Overview

            Publishers Clearing House operates from its corporate headquarters on Long Island, New York. This firm markets household merchandise and discount magazine subscriptions offers by mail and via its web site. Promotions and billings are handled by PCH, while magazines are mailed directly by the publisher.

            Business Details

            This is a multi-location business.

            Find a Location

            Publishers Clearing House LLC has 4 locations, listed below.

            *This company may be headquartered in or have additional locations in another country. Please click on the country abbreviation in the search box below to change to a different country location.

              Country
              Please enter a valid location.
              BBB File Opened:
              12/1/1962
              Years in Business:
              71
              Business Started:
              2/14/1953
              Business Incorporated:
              10/22/2002
              Accredited Since:
              4/2/2015
              Type of Entity:
              Limited Liability Company (LLC)
              Additional Contact Information

              Fax Numbers

              • (516) 883-5769
                Primary Fax

              Phone Numbers

              Customer Complaints

              304 Customer Complaints

              Need to file a complaint? BBB is here to help. We'll guide you through the process. How BBB Processes Complaints and Reviews

              File a Complaint

              Most Recent Customer Complaint

              08/17/2023

              Complaint Type:
              Advertising/Sales Issues
              Status:
              Resolved
              Please stop sending me your paperwork, information saying I won something that I don&#**;t recall ever entering.
              Read More

              Customer Reviews

              194 Customer Reviews

              What do you think? Share your review.

              How BBB Processes Complaints and Reviews

              Start a Review

              Most Recent Customer Review

              Kimberly H

              5 stars

              02/18/2024

              I have been playing lotto, games for many years now. In the most recent I have WON a total of $525. A couple of 5$, $10 and then $500 for getting the ball number.Yes I'm on their site!I won't do the survey's for possible SCAMS! or anything that moves me to a third party sites!You need to pay attention to all the small print on everything you do especially on-line!They're pricing on items show an * means shipping and tax added.

              Local BBB

              BBB Serving Metropolitan New York

              BBB Reports On

              BBB reports on known marketplace practices.

              BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes.

              BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. However, BBB does not verify the accuracy of information provided by third parties, and does not guarantee the accuracy of any information in Business Profiles.

              When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.

              BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. If you choose to do business with this business, please let the business know that you contacted BBB for a BBB Business Profile.

              As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business.