It’s Settled, PCH Consumer Protection Program is Unparalleled

It’s been long settled that Publishers Clearing House (PCH) is best known by consumers for our unbeatable magazine and merchandise offers, our famous Prize Patrol, Big Checks and over $223 million in sweepstakes prizes awarded. While we’re in agreement with consumers that these promotions are among the most well known parts of our company, we are just as proud of a unique and not so well known consumer protection program that PCH voluntarily created over 10 years ago.

We call this program the “High Activity Customer” (HAC) consumer protection program. The purpose of this program is to contact customers with unusually high order amounts by phone or mail, seeking to make sure they know that no purchase is necessary to enter and win and to collect information to assist them if they have trouble understanding. Unlike the corner Mom and Pop shop, our company does not have the advantage of “looking over the checkout counter” to observe clues and hear comments that might alert us to a customer who is confused or who may need extra assistance. It was with such recognition that PCH implemented the HAC program. As far as we know, this unique program was the first of its kind in the direct marketing industry and is now permanently in place as part of the PCH attorney general settlements.

Under the PCH HAC program, active customers are contacted by phone and/or mail and asked a series of questions to ensure they are purchasing for the right reasons. If a problem or concern is detected, Publishers Clearing House will assist the consumer and then permanently remove him or her from our mailing list.

We want to make sure that people have fun playing the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes and that if they buy something from us it’s because they want to take advantage of the fabulous deals on our quality merchandise and popular magazines. We go out of our way to make sure that’s the case.

So when you think of PCH, we hope that you now know we’re more than just exceptional deals, terrific offers and an exciting sweepstakes. We hope you’re in agreement that it’s settled, our comprehensive consumer protection program to detect vulnerable consumers is one of the unique unknown facts of Publishers Clearing House that we’re proud of developing and implementing.