Top Cashback Sites Article Discussion

markieteeee

JDPower said:

markieteeee said:

I would have thought it's okay to discuss cashback sites on this thread without being met with patronisation (or, seemingly, anger).  The balance has noticeably changed -  purchases declining or tracking at a much lower rate used to occur occasionally but now they occur in the majority of occasions, so it's worth mentioning to users. 

There's no patronisation or anger in my replies to you. Any seemingly basic advice I gave was to help you or anyone else reading, not to patronise. You're a new member who signed up to discuss this, so none of us have any idea how much of the site's advice or guides you have read, or how much understanding you have of how the cashback sites work. Better to offer advice unnecessarily than to say nothing.

It's your experience that purchases are declining or tracking lower in the "majority of occasions". That the majority of their (apparently) 5 million users aren't seeing that suggest either a technical issue your side or, more likely, you've sadly been unlucky. All my replies to you have been to offer advice with your actual cashback issues, or to help you understand the sites themselves. If all you wanted was an echo chamber to complain about cashback sites with other people and don't want actual help, this is probably the wrong place.

"If all you wanted was an echo chamber to complain about cashback sites with other people and don't want actual help, this is probably the wrong place."
Hahaha.  Clearly you don't know how your posts look. 
I actually thought you were angry at the other user, who I also tried to help, albeit in a friendlier manner.   Re-read the thread when you're feeling calm.  I feel like they will have gone away feeling shouted down.
As for me - as I mentioned, I've been a user of cashback sites since 2007.  And a member of here since before then, as this is where I discovered them.  I'm very happy with the money I've made from purchases I would have made anyway, as I also mentioned.  So no, I'm not a new member who signed up to discuss this.  My TCB account had stopped working and there was no reply from them,  so I came to MSE as a trusted site to ask if anyone else was having the same difficulty.  I couldn't log in as my account was linked to an obsolete e-mail, so I couldn't reset either.  I simply set up a new username - you couldn't have known this so of course, so I accept your point that you were trying to be helpful (but it just adds to the amusement).
But either way, my observations and experiences stand and might be helpful to someone too. 

clive0510

you probably all seen the advert on tv for topcashback and some of you may of signed up for it,which is what I'm thinking of doing. I know the good points because the bloke on the advert told me. so just wondering what are the not so good points?. 

jim1999

Not a con, but they don't guarantee payments, and my experience is that if the retailer refuses to pay the cashback they just throw up their hands and give up.  I would expect them, where retailers have rejected payments without good reason, to ensure that the customers get the payment or sever the agreement, but unfortunately they just accept it and tell the customers that there's nothing that can be done.

Legitimate business decision, but it's very frustrating for an occasional user of the site.

mp3pek

I've been going via Top Cashback to Hermes to book multiple deliveries since late May. I've booked 70+ deliveries through this method and they have mostly now moved from pending to confirmed. Now the first four on the list have been declined. Can't see anything in the terms and conditions that would affect them. Does Hermes ever actually pay cashback?

onesixfive

Top cashback used to be a good payer, but lately they dont pay for up to 20+ weeks following the transaction. Plus if you use discount codes they dont pay at all! Sometimes you are better off using the discount codes and getting the immediate benefit. 

JDPower

onesixfive said:

Plus if you use discount codes they dont pay at all!

To be fair that is stated in the T&Cs of every single retailer page on the site, and applies to all cashback sites that I'm aware of.

Hadenoughofitall

I am having a problem with Quidco. I have had an account with them for about two years but rarely use them due to the ridiculous waiting time to get my money. I waited ten months for £1.23 from a Travelodge booking. Anyway three months ago i used them for a purchase that promised me £48. I did everything exactly right but this is what they sent me
 "On this occasion, the retailer has declined your cashback claim stating that you didn't meet the terms and conditions of the offer. This could mean that the product purchased wasn't eligible for cashback or that the specific terms listed on the retailer's Quidco page weren't met. Due to this, we will not be receiving the commission and we are unable to pass this direct to you as cashback." This is of course !!!!!!. I followed the instructions very carefully. It is not my problem if they are being messed about by the seller. My contract is with Quidco and i expect them to pay me. Can i make a claim in the small claims court? I don't see why i should allow them to rip me off.

Hadenoughofitall

jim1999 said:

Not a con, but they don't guarantee payments, and my experience is that if the retailer refuses to pay the cashback they just throw up their hands and give up.  I would expect them, where retailers have rejected payments without good reason, to ensure that the customers get the payment or sever the agreement, but unfortunately they just accept it and tell the customers that there's nothing that can be done.

Legitimate business decision, but it's very frustrating for an occasional user of the site.

But surely the buyers contract is with the cashback site. For example if you owe me £100 and somebody else owes you £100 it is not acceptable for you to refuse to pay me just because you haven't been paid. The two debts are not connected.

Money_savvy_2

Cashback payouts from Top Cashback is inconsistent. My partner and I both took a Three mobile contract out within a couple if weeks of each other. He received his cashback; 9 months on and I've yet to receive mine despite several chases. I wouldn't use a cashback site again.

JDPower

Money_savvy_2 said:

Cashback payouts from Top Cashback is inconsistent. My partner and I both took a Three mobile contract out within a couple if weeks of each other. He received his cashback; 9 months on and I've yet to receive mine despite several chases. I wouldn't use a cashback site again.

So instead of having a chance of some money back, you'd rather have zero chance? Interesting logic.