I share your concern. Christiana. Our subscriptions to the TCS should ensure that we get the full range of puzzles but it doesn't. Regarding the �500 prize cryptic, the entry date is Friday 5th January, not very long if yours has got to travel from Portugal. Roll on, online competition entries!
A while back, there were several occasions when the Sunday puzzles didn't appear online on the correct day, though some appeared later, no doubt after complaints.
I wrote a letter to Val Gilbert, then the Crossword Editor. Though I didn't get a reply, the situation seems to have stabilised and the online crosswords are getting the attention they deserve as a fee-paying service.