Topcashback Questions & Answers

POPPYOSCAR

james985 wrote: »

I purchase AA roadcover every year. In January I saw that TCB were offering £35 cash back for getting my cover through them. The price of the membership Approx £100 was no better than going through the AA website itself.
Before I purchased I contacted TCB and through their email system was told how it worked. After I purchased the AA cover I contacted them again to see how long I was to wait for my cover.
It was then that the opaque workings of the TCB sytem was explained. Essentially TCB every few months will ask the retailer for it's commission from punters who ordered through them. The retailer may or may not decide to comply and pay this commission to TCB who them may or may not pay the punter.
So after after 5 months I contacted TCB to see where's my cash back
and was told low and behold that there had been a mistake and the AA couldn't pay out as it hadn't got my code number, now I would have to wait another 3-4 months for them to make a claim.
After thinking about this, I will tell you how I think TCB really works...
TCB have an arrangement with retailers like the AA who will pay TCB a small commission for sales through it's site. Obviously TCB cannot pay you the commission in whole and direct to everyone or it would make no money. Because it doesn't promise customers cashback or even pretend that it definitely receives commission from retailers -it will aggregate it's commission then only pay out a proportion. As can be seen from this website MSE that says 40% of people get cashback. It's actually a legal swizz because they only payout to a proportion of cashback to customers to keep it legal.

Now I am not saying don't use TCB, but be prepared that in all likelihood you will have wasted a lot of time and a lot typing and receive nothing.

On the plus side they answer your queries quickly and most politely.

I will now look forward to the Official TCB representative posting a message apologizing and asking me to send my details for them to sort it all out for me. Don't bother I have just done that through your website. I realize now that was never any real likelihood of cashback and I don't want to waste any more time.

Buyer Beware.

What a load of rubbish!!!!

I am more than happy with the payouts from TCB I have received.

I have only had 1 out of the many transactions that I have made not actually pay out and that retailer is no longer featured on there.

They are also upfront and do state that Cashback cannot be guaranteed and not to make your purchase on the basis that it is.

So I for one would highly recommend it and have done so to family and friends who are also very happy using it.

LAM2011

Just out of curiosity - where are AA up to with their payouts? I know they are a few months behind. My TCB is still sitting in pending 26 weeks later.

TopCashBack_Company_Representative

Hi guys,

@POPPYOSCAR thank you for your kind words and support, they really are greatly appreciated.


@LAM2011 please can I ask you to confirm whether you're paying for your AA UK Breakdown cover by direct debit (either monthly or annually)? Members who pay for their insurance cover by either of these direct debit methods have their cashback confirmed after 6 months, so if this true for you and your transaction was made in December 2012 (26 weeks ago) you should find that it's payable around August.

If you paid for your AA UK Breakdown cover up-front using a credit/debit card when you made your transaction then your cashback really should have progressed in your account now and we'll be more than happy to chase this up for your with the network that host the AA.

If you do want me to take a closer look at your account please e-mail me at mse@topcashback.co.uk and I'll happily advise further.

I hope this helps!

Have a lovely afternoon everyone.

Jessica

LAM2011

hi Jessica - thanks so much - I have emailed you.

it was purchased in full on a debit card in december.

thanks
L

molerat

TopCashBack_Company_Representative wrote: »

We never, ever take anything from our members' cashback

Not been kept in the loop then :rotfl:

james985

Ok Jessica I will take you at your word and email you, and then I will report back to this site honestly.

I refer members to the home pages of this site that says only 40% will cashback.

POPPYOSCAR

james985 wrote: »

Ok Jessica I will take you at your word and email you, and then I will report back to this site honestly.

I refer members to the home pages of this site that says only 40% will cashback.

Try quoting the whole thing.

"One study showed 40% of cashback users don't get paid. We think that figure's overblown, but it shows this is an issue".

And anyway this makes no reference to TCB as you are implying, there are loads of cashback sites available.

dank_2

I like how one of the 'perks' from TCB's new premium membership package is supposedly priority customer care.

What does that entail exactly? Waiting just six hours as opposed to a day for someone to say "we're at the mercy of the merchants, and don't know when you'll receive payment, sorry!"

POPPYOSCAR

dank wrote: »

I like how one of the 'perks' from TCB's new premium membership package is supposedly priority customer care.

What does that entail exactly? Waiting just six hours as opposed to a day for someone to say "we're at the mercy of the merchants, and don't know when you'll receive payment, sorry!"

I think it is a shame they have gone down more or less the same road as Quidco.

The no fee approach put them ahead for me.

dank_2

How long before a representative pops in here and waxes lyrical about how a yearly admin fee represents wonderful value for money and we'd be fools not to join in?

If they could give 100% guarantee of paying out cashback then I'd have no hesitation in coughing up a fiver a year. As it is, they have little or no clout and simply wait for their affiliate networks/merchants to pass on the referral fee.

They can say we'll be 5% better off when it comes to cashback, but what use is that when there's a chance it'll never come filtering down the line?