Will I Be Disqualified for Using Roboform?

Question: Will I Be Disqualified for Using Roboform?

Are you worried about Roboform disqualification? Roboform is a very useful program that helps people enter sweepstakes by filling out forms for them. This ensures that you don't make a typo in your entry information, and helps you enter more sweepstakes in the same amount of time. But do sweepstakes sponsors disqualify you for using this software?

Answer: As with most disqualification questions, the answer depends on the specific sweepstakes sponsor. Almost all sweepstakes include verbiage in their rules that looks something like this:

Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any entry that it believes contains obscene, offensive or inappropriate content, that does not comply with these official rules, or that is not consistent with the spirit of the contest.

That basically means that the sponsor can disqualify you for any reason, including using Roboform, without telling you about it in advance. However, most sponsors won't disqualify you unless you break a guideline specifically mentioned in their rules.

There are three rules that appear, at least on the surface, to be related to using Roboform to enter. These are:

• No Automatic Entries. This rule usually covers automatic sweepstakes services where the participant does not have to visit the site to enter. Roboform users visit the sweepstakes sites, although they do not enter their information by hand. Therefore, this rule usually does not apply to Roboform users.



• No Scripts, Macros, or Bots. Technically, this rule does apply to Roboform, which is a macro program. However, most sponsors intend this to cover automatic sweepstakes services, as above. Therefore, this rule might or might not apply to Roboform users. The only way to be sure is to contact the sponsor, or to take your chances with disqualification.



• Entries Must be Manually Keystroked or Entered by Hand. This rule means that you must type the entry forms by hand, without the use of any aids including Roboform, the fill-in feature of Internet Explorer, etc. This rule definitely excludes Roboform users.

The good news is that very few sweepstakes sponsors really mind if you use Roboform to enter. After all, you are still visiting their website and you still have the chance to read their promotional information and purchase their products. Therefore, your chances of disqualification, especially if you read the rules before entering, are very low.