I frequently get asked if using RoboForm is against contest rules because most official rules have a clause similar to this: Use of any automated system to submit an Entry is prohibited and will result in disqualification.
Clauses like this came about because there were companies you could pay to enter contests for you. It’s why companies that host giveaways now have CAPTCHAs, require you to log in, and have migrated to social media, among other measures, to prevent the use of these types of programs. RoboForm is no different from the auto-complete or auto-fill feature in your browser, which isn’t an automated system; that’s why I use RoboForm with confidence. YOU have to select the option of filling out the form on your computer, as it is based on your IP address.
Concerned, Matthew left the following comment on my How to Enter 100 Contests in an Hour blog post:
Definitely read the rules, as an RBC contest I entered prohibits the use of form-filling software and specifies manual keystrokes.
“8. Online entries must be made by the original, manual keystrokes of the individual entrant. Use of mechanical assistance, form-filling software, or robotic assistance is prohibited. Online entries generated by script, macro, robotic, programming, or any other automated means are prohibited and will be disqualified.”
So, I went looking to see if any recent contests had a similar clause and found one.
Entries must be manually key-stroked by the entrant; use of automated entry devices or programs, or entries by third parties are prohibited.
Now, if I spotted any type of manual keystroke clause in the rules, I would manually enter it. I would also make a note where I save my daily sweepstakes (browser bookmark, spreadsheet, or notebook) so I wouldn’t use RoboForm in error for this particular giveaway. (You can learn step-by-step how to organize your sweepstakes so you don’t disqualify yourself in my book How To Win Cash, Cars, Trips & More!)
Along a similar line, Suzanne asked me:
Many contests state that you will be disqualified if you use autofill programs. I know that they cannot tell if you typed the words yourself or used a program. I get that, but there is talk that they can tell by the speed that the form is filled out, i.e., it is just seconds between the form appearing and the submit button is hit. Do you have any comment on that?
Yes, I do. I don’t worry about it, and you shouldn’t either.
Why?
Remember, there is a difference between an automated entry and autofill. The automated entry would be similar to a bot that was programmed to go to a specific website, fill out the form, enter, and go to the next giveaway. Autofill, similar to your browser or RoboForm, is only completed after you manually go to the website, manually select your autofill option, and then click enter.
I believe that the lawyers who write the contest rules are confusing autofill with an automated entry. I have spoken with many sweepstakes agencies, and they prefer the autofill option because it leads to fewer errors. If you make a typo and are a potential winner, and they cannot contact you, they will move on to another potential winner. They hate doing that. They want the entrants to win. I also know that adding a component to a contest that tracks keystrokes or a timer on a webpage is an additional cost to running a contest. Many companies have tight budgets, so adding on a component like that is rarely done.
All that said, if you are concerned, conduct an experiment. This hobby is all about trying new things as it’s always evolving. Enter all your giveaways using autofill or RoboForm, making note of the ones that have the manual clause. Then, in the following 30 days, enter all your giveaways manually. Which method garnered you more prizes?
As for me, I always use RoboForm and consistently win. So for all the other seasoned sweepers I know. However, you have to make this hobby your own, so choose the method that is right for you.
Let me know what your experience has been with entering and winning using RoboForm.
Hi Carolyn,
I worked for several years at a company as a programmer and developed sweepstakes for very large clients including Maybelline, Kodak, etc. Prior to the drawings, I would “scrub” the database to remove duplicate entries and entries that did not follow the rules. If I noticed a large number of entries coming from the same referring URL or IP address, I would check it, and if it was a “RoboForm” type site, I would remove their entries prior to the drawing. I am sure that many smaller sweepstakes do not check for this, but that was my experience and I wanted to share that with your readers.
Thanks,
Christine DeGraff
Websketching Web Design
A Web Designer’s Blog
Here is the difference between what you were doing and RoboForm. If I am entering a contest, each day from my computer, using RoboForm to fill out each online entry form, it isn’t going to be lumped in with a mass group with the same IP address as it is an auto-filler not auto-entry. Therefore, if I followed the rules, and wasn’t using auto-entry software, I would not be disqualified, even after a data scrub (aka a de-dupe) according to your description. I worked for the largest advertising agency in Canada with clients such as Kraft and General Motors, and we were only interested in removing cheaters, not how someone filled out the online entry form.
Is auto complete ok?
Yes. It’s a lesser form of a form-filler as you cannot use it to organize your contests and sweepstakes.
Thanks for posting, Carolyn! We appreciate the recommendations and advice to your users.
I have been using RoboForm extensively for years as both a password manager and form filler for online sweepstakes entries (and similar forms), if I have ever been disqualified for using RoboForm I have not been notified of it and have had much more frequent success since adopting the software.
Hi Carolyn
I realize this thread is VERY old so hopefully you can still answer some of my questions regarding this topic. When I first started doing sweeps I would use the Google Chrome Auto Fill feature but I noticed that each of the lines would turn yellow and since I wasn’t sure if that was going to come across to the agency responsible for the sweep as either Yellow, Gray, or God-forbid, blacked out all together, I subsequently opted to start entering everything by hand and honestly I am feeling frustrated and angry doing sweeps and I shouldn’t be. Because I spend soooo much time doing data entry for Hearst sweeps (for example); I feel like every entry I’m doing is unfairly balanced because I know 99% of sweep hobbyist use an Auto-fill or Roborform to complete probably 10 to my 1 entry but at the same time I don’t want to be disqualified for Hearst’s very vague “cheating” rules. I did get a hold of a Customer Service Rep from Woman’s Day mag and she didn’t see where the rules disallowed Auto-Fill but she wasn’t “sure”…again, I NEVER can get a straight answer…ugh!!!
I do know for a fact that since these posts are pretty old, many companies have implemented software that definitely tracks your keystrokes now in 2017 as often I will see my font and/or the box I’m entering in turn from Red to Black (for example). And another thing they are doing is choosing random boxes to check for keystrokes as some will be just black font and then all of a sudden it will change red again until I’ve keyed in the full answer in the box. So for sure, they must be tracking keystrokes now. And honestly, I don’t care on most of them, it’s keying in all of the Hearst entries, I guess, is the main one that is so time consuming and frustrating for me. But I can only assume of Joe Blow small business has implemented a keystroke software, surely a company as large as Hearst must have something, don’t you think?
Buuut, they don’t say anything in their rules, that I can find, that says anything about automated, macro, manually keying…yadayada, you know the verbiage. It’s their “rule” that says they will disqualify for cheating, well…what the heck does that cover???!! Do THEY consider shortcuts like auto-fill programs as cheating, I would say probably yes since they want their “customers” to spend as much time on their page as possible, hopefully surfing around and buying something and you know as well as I that with Auto-Filling you just don’t do that and that’s why “they” don’t like “us” lol.
I’m sorry for rambling on about this but I’m frustrated because I have worked on sweeps for hours and hours a day for 6 months and won ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! I don’t know if I’m just wasting all my time on magazine sweeps that have horrible odds of winning, I know, but I have done hundreds and hundreds of other sweeps from all the various sweepstakes websites and still NADA. So I just clench my teeth as I’m typing away saying to myself, “everyone else uses Roboform and their life is easier and they win all the time because they can enter so many, why don’t you just do it?” Well the answer to that is in my previous paragraph about the font color changes. I never would have discovered that companies are using that software had I use an Auto-Fill and now I know that it’s “randomly” out there, I’m too nervous to not enter manually. So, I’m sure you can tell by my rant that I’m frustrated and I’m sorry I’m probably coming across like I’m some sort of sweepstakes addict, but I’m not. I am disabled so I have a LOT of spare time on my hands to do sweeping and because I enter so many I really thought by now I would have seen something in my mailbox or email. Soooo, long story short, any advise from the Queen would be most appreciated. Hope to hear from you! Until then, take care!
Sylvia, I will blog a proper response as you are not alone.
Where is the link to that blog? I need to know the same thing. Will I be disqualified for using google chrome auto fill???
Here is the link you are looking for: https://contestqueen.com/2015/chrome-autofill-vs-roboform/