Parent Media Group, Inc.

Review: I am signed up with [redacted], so I am accustomed to getting emails advertising products and services from baby center "partners," all of which seem legitimate. Today, I received such an email advertising the search for the Cute Kid of the Year, which was a contest to win a $25,000 college fund. I clicked the link, went to the website [redacted], and followed the instructions for entering the contest. It was not until AFTER I uploaded my child's picture, name, and birthdate, as well as my name, address, email address, and phone number, that I was brought to a page indicating it would cost $19.95 to enter the contest. I was appalled that they waited until after receiving not only my personal information, but information and a picture about my child, that they informed me I would have to pay for the entry. I thought maybe I had missed something since I did this on my phone, so later I went to my computer and tried the same thing. Certainly, I thought, the entry was already made, and the money was for additional services. No, the same thing happened. I was given the choice of entering the advertised contest for a fee, or a free contest of which the prize was a $250 gift card. I decided I didn't want to do business with this organization, and tried to delete my account. I found where I could edit my account, but there was no opportunity to delete it. I saw both copies of the picture I had uploaded stored in my account. I have no idea whether they are visible. I tried to find contact information to inquire about deleting my account and to complain about the misleading advertising. I could not find any "contact us" or similar sections. At the very bottom, there were several links, but some of them were covered by an unusual advertisement that was an image overlaying the entire bottom of the page. I tried to click on the "about us" link, which was not at all covered by the ad, several times, but kept being brought to a page advertising cover girl.Desired Settlement: The email I received advertising the contest made no mention of a fee, nor did the initial pages as I went through the process of entering. They now have all my information for a contest I do not wish to enter, and I have no way to contact them. I demand that all my personal information, my child's information, and any copies of my child's picture be permanently removed from their database immediately, and not shared with any other entity.

In addition, while I am not an expert on the laws of advertising, I find this operation fraudulent, and would like to see an investigation into their practices.