FTC is sending $18.5 million in refunds to Publishers Clearing House customers over ‘deceptive’ practices: Are you getting a check?

Some good news for Publishers Clearing House (PCH) customers: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said Wednesday that the sweepstakes company is paying for refund checks to 281,724 customers who ordered a product after receiving and clicking on an email, which included “deceptive and unfair” practices, according to the FTC’s allegations.

Here’s what you need to know.

What happened?

Publishers Clearing House, which has been known for decades for its sweepstakes deals and big checks, agreed to pay a total of about $18.5 million in refunds and make substantial changes to its e-commerce operations.

“While we disagreed with the FTC’s assertions at the time, we were glad to have resolved the matter and move forward continuing to do what we do best—provide consumers fun entertainment and games powered by our famous chance to win,” Christopher Irving, vice president of consumer and legal affairs at PCH, told CBS News. Irving added that the current refunds are based on the FTC’s complaint and settlement from two years ago.

Among other things, the 2023 lawsuit alleges PCH misled customers into thinking they had to make a purchase to enter the sweepstakes or to increase their chance of winning, and that the email subject lines were deceptively worded.

The FTC also charged that the company 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.

Here are the three main charges of the FTC’s complaint:

1. PCH targeted older and lower-income consumers, deceiving them into thinking either that consumers could not enter into sweepstakes without purchasing a product, or that their chances of winning would be increased by purchasing products.
2. PCH misled consumers by sending emails with deceptive subject lines that led consumers to believe the email was related to official documents, such as tax forms.
3. PCH added deceptive shipping and handling fees and misrepresented that ordering was “risk-free,” even though consumers who wanted refunds had to return products at their own expense.

What to know about getting a Publishers Clearing House refund check

The FTC said recipients who receive a refund should cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check.

If you received a refund and have additional questions, contact Publishers Clearing House at 888-516-0774 or by email here.

Consumers who have questions about the refund process can also visit the FTC website to view the frequently asked questions. The FTC does not require people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund.

For some context, in 2024, the commission’s actions led to more than $338 million in refunds to consumers across the United States.

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