ANCHOR LEAD IN:
LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 12 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS SNAPPED DIGITAL PICTURES AND STORED THEM ONLINE. DOZENS OF SITES NOW PROMISE TO HELP YOU ORGANIZE ALBUMS AND HOUSE YOUR FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR FREE. BUT BEFORE YOU CLICK AND SHIP... HEADS UP! EXPERTS WARN MORE AND MORE SITES ARE ADDING LITTLE KNOWN CONDITIONS -AND IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE RULES AND PRECIOUS MEMORIES MAY DISAPPEAR! HERE'S ________.

TRACK ONE Length :10
JAMIE RAY LOVES TO TAKE DIGITAL PICTURES. TO KEEP TRACK OF THEM ALL, SHE SIGNED UP FOR AN ONLINE SERVICE. SHE CAN STORE AND SHARE FOR FREE....OR PURCHASE ANY PRINTS SHE WANTS.

SOT
Key @ :11 Jamie Ray,Stores Photos Online
"I had pictures from my wedding, my bridal shower, from several Christmas parties, birthday parties."

TRACK TWO Length :10
BUT ONE DAY, JAMIE SIGNED ON AND HER PRECIOUS MEMORIES WERE GONE! SHE SAYS THE SERVICE TOLD HER THE ACCOUNT WAS INACTIVE AND DELETED... WHY? BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING OVER THE LAST YEAR.

SOT
Key @ :30 Jamie Ray, Stores Photos Online
"I was not under the impression they would delete them if you had not purchased anything."

TRACK THREE Length :10
PC MAGAZINE'S LANCE ULANOFF SAYS JAMIE'S NOT ALONE. MOST SITES LIST REQUIREMENTS FOR KEEPING ACCOUNTS ACTIVE IN THEIR TERMS AND CONDITIONS, BUT CONSUMERS OFTEN DON'T READ THEM.

SOT
KEY @ :45 Lance Ulanoff, PC Magazine
"They just start using the free storage space, putting up their photos, and every once in a while they get a very nasty surprise."

TRACK FOUR Length :02
THE POLICIES VARY FROM SITE TO SITE.

SOT
Key @ :57 Lance Ulanoff, PC Magazine
"You put up a photo and you visit the site every ninety days. You have to print photos every once in a while, or you have to buy something like a cup."

TRACK FIVE Length :10
TO PROTECT YOUR PICTURES... ON SOME SITES YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR A SUBSCRIPTION ACCOUNT WHERE YOU PAY A MONTHLY OR YEARLY FEE.
BUT WHETHER YOU OPT FOR A FREE OR PAID SERVICE, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS MAKE BACK-UP DISCS.

SOT
Key @ 1:16 Lance Ulanoff, PC Magazine
"Don't consider these websites as the ultimate storage system. It's up to you to store your photographs someplace safe."

TRACK SIX Length :08
JAMIE SAYS SHE SIGNED UP FOR ANOTHER ONLINE SERVICE, SO SHE COULD STILL SHARE PICTURES WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. BUT THIS TIME, SHE CHECKED THE TERMS FIRST.

SOT
Key @ 1:28 Jamie Ray, Stores Photos Online
"There's not as much free space, but at least I know the space I have is guaranteed as long as I sign in."

ANCHOR TAG:
ULANOFF SAYS SITES TYPICALLY WARN YOU BEFORE DELETING YOUR PHOTOS. USUALLY, THEY'LL SEND YOU AN EMAIL OR TWO FIRST.

SOURCE INFORMATION:

Lance Ulanoff
PC Magazine
28 East 28th Street
New York, NY 10016
PR Contact:
Randy Zane
212-503-3535

Lance Ulanoff is the Reviews Editor for PC Magazine. He oversees all reviews for PC Magazine's on and offline content.

Jamie Ray
The original site that Jamie used, Snapfish, says that about a month before deleting an account, it sends two emails. If the user does make a purchase, the account will be erased. If a customer contacts Customer Service within 30 days of the account being closed, Snapfish says it will most likely restore the pictures.