Talk Insights closing and not paying out.

Bunnylady

Just had an email from the survey site Talk Insights to say they are closing.  I emailed to say that I have 15.60 worth of points and how do I cash out as it still says you have to have 2000 points to do so.

Got the following reply:

Thanks for your email.

Sorry, but TalkInsights points have never had any direct monetary value on their own. We have always needed them to be accumulated in units of 2,000 before they can be transferred to retailer vouchers and I’m afraid we can’t change that at this point. It has to do with the way we buy the vouchers. Any points in an account with less than 2,000 (or any points less than 2,000 after one or more vouchers have been redeemed) will I’m afraid be lost when we close the site on May 12th.

I think this is so wrong as there will be so many people who won't get paid and yet the company benefited from the surveys being completed.

I checked and they don't seem to be a member of the market research society.  So I don't think there is anyone I can complain to.

But I am really annoyed!

mjm3346

They would have been better not to have announced they were closing and effectively done the same thing by not sending out any more surveys.

trgtrg

I am in the same situation. I also emailed and received the same response. Talkinsights is owned by FlyResearch. As you say they are not a member under either of these names of the MRS. They apparently have thousands of panel members who will likely all be in the same position of losing rewards. Companies House shows they had equity of £168,000 at the date of the last filing of accounts although they did not file a profit and loss account.

I am also unsure whether there is anything that participants can do to receive fair reward for the time they have put in.

Bunnylady

@mjm3346, I totally agree with you.  It's a bit of a kick in the teeth to actually announce closure and not pay out.

@trgtrg, thanks for your response, I hadn't thought to check who owned them, it's disappointing to know that neither company is registered with MRS.  I don't think I have ever cashed out with them as they never sent many surveys, it must have been a great way of getting info without paying people and they will have saved thousands by closing and not paying out.

I really don't think there is anything else that can be done which is so frustrating.

tansycat

I've just had the same response as well. It's a totally unethical way to operate. The statement that this is the way they buy vouchers and they can't change it is just an excuse for not paying us. No, I don't have enough points for a £20 voucher, but I've more than enough for a £10 voucher and I often even get £1 Amazon vouchers from another site so they could easily reimburse most of our points if they wanted. 

mjm3346

I have had rewards in the past when it was myvoice - they will be getting 1825 points from me

Bunnylady

Totally agree @tansycat.  I have £15.60 worth of points with them.

quoia

1866 points for me

tufty58

I am in the same boat as everybody else about Talkinsights - I have £11.30 - I have eared the money but they won't pay out unless it reached £20 - in effect they are only holding onto my cash that I have built up - it isn't theirs to keep - I would be happy to accept a £10 Amazon voucher - seems a bit of a con - oh well we live and learn but not happy and I told them so - but of course didn't get any reply 

Naughtynat

I am 70 points away from payout. I’m far from happy. The website closes on 12th May. 

e17gardener

Me too - has taken me from 2019 to accumulate 1880 points because they send surveys so infrequently.  I'm extremely pee'd off about this.