How to spot a trustworthy competition site: a 12-point check

The competition market has grown fast, and the barrier to entry is low: a template website, a payment account and a photo of a car. Most operators are honest small businesses, but some are badly organised and a few are outright scams. Because there is no licence to check, you have to do a bit of homework yourself.

Who is behind it?

1. A registered company. The footer or terms should name a limited company with a registration number. Look it up on the free Companies House register and check the company is active, how old it is and who the directors are.
2. A real way to get in touch. An email address at least, ideally with a response time. Be cautious if the only contact is a social media inbox.
3. A consistent history. An operator that has run competitions for a while will have past draws you can see. Brand-new sites are not automatically bad, but they have less to lose.

How is the competition run?

1. Maximum number of entries stated up front. You cannot work out your odds without it, so a site that hides it is hiding the most important number.
2. A clear plan if tickets do not sell out. Good terms say whether the draw goes ahead anyway, whether the end date is extended, or whether a cash alternative or reduced prize is offered.
3. A transparent draw method. A live-streamed draw using a random number generator or a third-party draw service, with the ticket number and first name or initial of the winner published afterwards.
4. A real free entry route, as explained in our postal entry guide.
5. A per-person ticket cap. Limits per person reduce the chance of one person buying most of the tickets.

Is the prize real?

1. Clear photos and descriptions that match. For a car: registration, mileage, MOT and service history. For tech: model and storage, not just "latest phone".
2. Who owns the prize? Look for a statement that the prize is owned outright, or how it will be sourced.
3. Cash alternative terms. Many car prizes offer cash instead. Check the amount and whether it is your choice.

Is paying safe?

1. Card payments through a recognised processor. Paying by card gives you chargeback rights if a prize is never drawn. Be very wary of sites that only accept bank transfer, cryptocurrency or gift cards.

Reviews help, but read them carefully. A wall of five-star reviews posted in a single week is less convincing than a steady trickle over several years, including some honest complaints and how the operator responded.

Quick traffic-light summary

General information only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Questions or corrections? [email protected]