Belinda Kaye of Dexter had been writing poetry since high school but never tried to be published until she encountered a contest in a poetry magazine. The contest offered: “Send us your best poem today. You could win up to $500 and see your work published in our annual issue.” Kaye should have been suspicious when the “contest” required a $15.95 entry fee. But she was confident of her chances because her poems always had received rave reviews from family, friends and even her high school English teacher.

So she submitted her poem “Love Wanting” with a check for the $15.95 to a company called New Writer’s Showcase in Boca Raton, Fla. Several weeks later, Kaye received a confirmation letter from the magazine complimenting her for her “excellent work” and promising it would send her a winner’s check soon. Kaye was excited; she surely could use the $500 in winnings.

The company went on to say that her poem had been chosen from thousands of entries to be placed in a publication that would be distributed throughout the United States and that she could purchase an “advance” copy of the annual issue containing the winning entries, including her own, for $22.50. The magazine reminded Kaye of how proud she would feel to see her name, town and the state of Maine listed in a national publication in recognition of her writing skill.

Our aspiring poet laureate was flattered that a national publication thought her writing good enough to place in a nationally distributed book. Besides, she thought, “If I already won $500, it can’t hurt to pay $22.50 for the magazine.” She promptly sent her check to New Writer’s Showcase.

Then, hunched over her word processor with a renewed sense of purpose, Kaye waited patiently for her $500 winnings to arrive. When she hadn’t heard from the company for more than three months, she wrote asking when her check would arrive and when the winning poetry collection would be published.

Another month passed, and still no response from the company. So Kaye wrote the company another letter, this time sending it return receipt requested. This latest letter was returned to her mailbox several weeks later marked “refused.” She then called information to request a telephone number for the magazine. There was no listing for the business. It was only after contacting the Better Business Bureau and attorney general without success that Kaye decided to write Northeast COMBAT-Maine Center for the Public Interest for assistance.

We promptly contacted New Writer’s Showcase on Kaye’s behalf saying that since our client had been promised a check, we expected the company to honor its word by forwarding her winnings and a publication date for the poetry anthology.

Soon after, Kaye called to say she had received a check for $5 (not $500) in payment for being a winner in the poetry contest, along with the company’s promise that the annual issue would be mailed within 30 days.

Though disappointed, Kaye acknowledged that the words “up to $500” in the contest rules didn’t promise $500 to every “winner.” She thanked COMBAT for contacting the company on her behalf. Several weeks later, she received a paperback “Book of Winners” that hardly seemed worth $22.50.

Many slick companies offer “vanity” printings such as New Writer Showcase’s annual edition. These books often appear in a “Who’s Who” format and are little more than an opportunity to flatter your own ego.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT-Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded non-profit consumer organization. For help and information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.