On-line Surveys - is Ciao at it?

gruel

I subscribe to a few online surveys which promise small amounts of money for completion - usually 40p to just over a pound.

Some such as -Purepoints and YouGov have always paid me. However, I have started a lot of surveys for Ciao and given a lot of responses/nformation(ie answered a lot of questions about certain products) when suddenly I get a message saying either 'This survey has now finished' or "we already have enough resposes from people in your profile" and then the survey closes and no payment is made.

I always attempt to complete surveys on the day of sending so am amazed that the time period can suddenly be up.

Yesterday I had a survey about cameras. This had a promise of 1.37 to be paid for completion. I got quite a way through it and even took the trouble to find my digital camera as they wanted to know the model number. As soon as I had given this information I was told that they had enough people in that profile group.

A couple of days before there was a survey about printer supplies and again after several questions when I told them which products I used, they had enough responses from people in my profile group.

I smell a rat! Anyone else finding the same with Ciao?

Little_Penguin_2

This has always been the case with Ciao, that you answer loads of preliminary questions and then told that you aren't suitable. However, after a few months I got a few that I did qualify for, so it does happen, and they do pay well if you are lucky enough to complete them.

mongo_bongocat

I think the rule of thumb with CIAO! surveys is that for every ten survey invites you receive, you'll only ever be able to get to the end of one. This is frustrating and probably encourages people to just make up their answers.

Rachie_B

ive found this too !!

lightspeed research has been the best for me so far and pays out in gift vouchers (minimum 500 points but you get 125 points for every sucessful survey completed)

taxiphil

This has been a very controversial issue with Ciao members for a long time.

Ciao have always refused to give any assurance that information gathered prior to "screening out" the participant will be deleted. Hence they are gathering a great deal of information for free by stealth and deceit.

Personally I boycotted Ciao surveys a long time ago in protest at this, and also at the appalling way they run their website and treat some of their members.

lidlest

Yes, I too delete ciao surveys now. They take too much information before screening you out. I prefer panels like quickwise that still pay up or pay a little bit if you are screened out. It's just fairer all round.

mongo_bongocat

I must admit that I've made a good few quid out of CIAO! over the last few months (i.e. probably £40 for a handful of surverys and opinions) so I can't knock them too much. I agree with Rachie B - Lightspeed are very good payers: I've built up £20 in a month or so.

DisneyKatie

I think all it is is that so many people are registered on Ciao as it is one of the most well known paying survey sites, so as you are rushing to complete the survey, so are thousands of other people