Cashback article discussion

Doc_N

Topcashback are paying out, despite the problem - I imagine Quidco will be obliged to follow suit. If they don't they're going to lose an awful lot of customers:

"We wanted to keep you informed of an important event which has happened very recently. On Friday 16 July 2010, one of the major tracking networks (DGM), which is used by all major UK cashback sites, was put into administration. This is obviously a major issue for our business and potentially for our members, as it makes it very likely that a large amount of cashback commission will not be forthcoming for retailers who operated via DGM.

To explain in a little more detail, all of the retailers on cashback sites have their commissions tracked and invoiced by various different tracking networks. It is these tracking networks that then pass over the commission to us - at which point we pass all of it over to you as cashback. This particular tracking network runs many programs - so many of the merchants accessible via cashback sites would have been tracked and billed via DGM.

At Top Cashback, it is important to us to always remember our Fair Play policy and put our members first. We have therefore decided, in line with our Fair Play policy, that it is more important to look after our members than it is to maintain certain other non-essential expenditures.

We have therefore identified marketing budget which we can use in this instance, to make sure that none of our members lose outTop Cashback Top-Up on these transactions (up to 10% extra), then that should also be included as normal." as a result of this affiliate network going into administration. In other words, where due you can expect your affected transactions to proceed through to Payable status as normal. If you were due to receive a bonus

Jamopy

I'm trying to set up a broadband and phone bundle with talk talk and using the topcashback site but have hit a problem. I need a new phone line but the only option the website gives me is to phone up their sales team and arrange it that way.

I'm guessing that doing it over the phone would lose my cash back, and also last time i spoke to them on the phone they were only offering 24 month contracts rather than the 18month contract they have on their website.

Any thoughts?

MWH1

Quidco have recently led me on a merry dance after I queried an item which should have tracked for a bank account I set up with Santander (worth £45 cashback). They initially explained that queries have to be raised inside 7 weeks. I sent them an email saying I was very disappointed as this isn't clear and they responded with the following:- Could you please confirm with me the exact day that this purchase was made as the previous maxium time that this merchant had previous to the changes was 12 weeks. If this is still within the time frame then we will be able to raise the cashback query on your behalf. The purchase was inside 12 weeks, but Quidco have now pulled the rug out from underneath me asking me to start by filling in a form (after well over a week of emailing) which they could have done at the outset. After again expressing my disappointment, they have now stated that they can no longer help with this enquiry.

This isn't the first time I've had problems with Quidco. Last year I used them to order an iphone and they gave me around 60% of the cashback owing. I had to raise queries with them to gain the full amount. From now on it's TopCashBack all the way, who in my experience have been ultra reliable. I would not recommend Quidco to anyone and can only echo a lot of the other feedback I have read exists around this organisation.

edi79

Someone please tell me what is the best (if any) cashback site accepting customer from outside UK ?

thinkbig_3

I am new to cashback and bought AA car insurance with quidco in April which at the time looked successful. However I have not received anything. On their site it says that going through comparison sites (which I did) may mean cashback going to the comparison site. Is this not a major problem? Is there any way I could get money back from comparison site?

mpedant

After 3 great years, I've had loads of problems with Quidco recently. Transactions being declined for totally spurious reasons, that sort of thing. In particular an A&L current account (£45) and recently 3 Mobile (£48).

No idea whether the problem is with Quidco or unscrupulous merchants dangling carrots they have no intention of ever allowing us to eat. But it seems to me high time that one of the top consumer sites (hint hint) produces a guide to the consumer protection legislation surrounding the cashback industry. Maybe even campaigns in favour of fair play for the powerless individual!

As it stands, there seems to be nothing to stop an unscrupulous merchant from offering generous cashback to draw in business, waiting until our rights to cancel their service have elapsed, and then decline the cashback. When we query it, they give any reason they like (it doesn't seem that it has to be a true reason) and decline the query. Where is our protection as consumers against this?

Just have a look at the QuidCo Moan Zone (via the "community" link on their homepage) to see how much of a problem this is becoming.

Miser_maz

Been using Quidco for a few years now but have increasingly noticed a frustrating issue.

Presently I am awaiting payment for Sky installation. The transaction tracked okay and Quidco received the payment from Sky in early August, however Quidco have still not forwarded the payment to me yet. If they have received the money almost 2 months ago, why are they still holding onto it and not passing it onto the customer?
Anyone else had this experience?

poppy10_2

Miser_maz wrote: »

Been using Quidco for a few years now but have increasingly noticed a frustrating issue.

Presently I am awaiting payment for Sky installation. The transaction tracked okay and Quidco received the payment from Sky in early August, however Quidco have still not forwarded the payment to me yet. If they have received the money almost 2 months ago, why are they still holding onto it and not passing it onto the customer?
Anyone else had this experience?

Quidco are hardly paying anyone these days, I'd switch to an alternative cashback provider.

Doc_N

Just to echo the posts above, I've ceased to trust Quidco at all in the light of recent experiences. Everything I do now goes through Topcashback (no annual fee, unlike Quidco) and so far as I'm concerned Quidco's history.

armoured-smiler

Also Martin point s out 'Warning! Don't use cashback sites to store money. ' but also beaware of Paypal as I believe your money is also not covered if they go bust.