Customer ReviewsforConsumer Choice Award

I received a notification via *** that I had won the 2022 Consumer Choice Award in the category of Gift Baskets from this company. I was positively thrilled and sent out social media posts and added the photo of my win to my website. There was nothing in the documents I received that stated I needed to pay anything (I still have the document). I started receiving cease and desist letters from this company because they basically said that I couldn't advertise that I won or tell anyone unless I paid them between $2000 and $15000 dollars. They said I had indeed won the award fair and square, but I could not advertise it without paying them or they would sue me. (They have thus far sent me two cease and desist letters because I had the announcement on my website). I think others should be aware of the deceptive practices of this business. I have removed the award notice from my site, as I do not want to be associated with this deceitful company.

I am the President of Consumer Choice Award (CCA). Cherylann S. has left out key information in her post. She is correct, we did send her 2 "Cease and Desist" letters. The first asked her to remove our LOGO from her website. She found the logo on the internet, and illegally copied it and posted it on her website. The second asked her to remove a LOGO that she created with the name Consumer Choice Award on it, to imply that this was an official CCA logo. CCA is very clear about what we do. We state clearly that we are a Marketing Company. Our model is simple. We pay a company called Advanced Symbolics to provide us with "Online Reputation" in about 200 Business Categories, in the Markets in which we do business. We then offer those companies the opportunity for us to help them market the fact that they have been identified as the Consumer Choice Award winner in their respective business category. Businesses are under no obligation to pay us anything to market them, unless they choose freely to do so. What they can't do, is either illegally take our LOGO off the internet, or create a facsimile designed to gain an association with our company. That was the issue we had with Cherylann's company's actions.

It is a shame that you continue to make up propaganda ***************************************************. You are totally false in claiming I downloaded your image from the web, as I stated to you in my email dated Nov 10th: "I can confirm removal of the image you are referring to. Just to clarify, the image I used was a photo of the hard copy award documentation I received from you. I simply took a picture, edited it to crisp it up and deleted the background, so I was not in violation of your copyright or trademark."
When I initially spoke to Jerrott M., he confirmed that I had won the award. I was told that the document and award I received was mine, REGARLESS and that it could be used as I wished. I chose to take a photo of my award and then edit it in photoshop. That is what I displayed on my site. When asked to remove it, I did. Then I created my own logo. At this point I wanted nothing to do with your company, so I was not trying to imply anything. I was trying to acknowledge receipt of an award, which Jerrott had confirmed I had won.
I was told that you offered "programs" to help me advertise my win if I so chose. What I didn't understand at the time was, I won the award, but you would attempt to sue me, if I told anyone about it unless I paid you. Paying someone $2000-$15000 to say you won an award, in my humble opinion, is flagrantly dishonest. Trust me, I want nothing to do with your company or your definition of "reputation". As far as I am concerned I have been a victim ********* and I am embarrassed that I was so naive.