TopCashBack: Discussion, No Referrals
Jun 20, 2013, 3:13 pm
#76
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: East Coast
Posts: 1,018
Hi Kat007,
I haven't received a message from you at [email protected]. Until I do, I'm afraid I can't take a look at your account.
Many thanks,
TopCashback
I haven't received a message from you at [email protected]. Until I do, I'm afraid I can't take a look at your account.
Many thanks,
TopCashback
It is not right to credit correctly only to those who promote you in their blogs and those who email you "on the side". It is very fishy to have practice such as yours. I am not special and will continue to contact you via your designated procedure and will continue to prove the world that TopCashback is a total scam. I will get my money via legal actions against TCB anyways.
Jun 20, 2013, 3:37 pm
#77
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,903
I've earned about $250 and received $150. The other $100 is too soon to be paid (in the pending or confirmed stage). I've used 10 retailers and probably made 25 purchases. 2 did not go through automatically but were fixed by filing a missing cashback claim. I use the US site, and yes it can take a very long time especially with a missing cashback claim. I hope I don't run into the problems reported here.
Jun 20, 2013, 3:40 pm
#78
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: East Coast
Posts: 1,018
Here is the perfect explanation of the scam scheme by one of the FF, uncommonsensical, from this thread http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...nges-fees.html
on how TopCashBack operates:
Originally Posted by uncommonsensical
TCB is, frankly, the perfect scam.
1. Start out reliable enough to garner positive attention. get publicity to validate the scam under the rather laughable guise that they make their money off banner ads and pay out 100% (anyone EVER click on one of their sidebar ads? uhh... NO).
Seriously, does ANYONE really believe their business model is to pay out 100% cash back (or anywhere near this amount)? seriously...
2. Create a 'trouble ticket' mechanism to give the appearance that you 'investigate' 'missing' cash back. Resolve some of these to keep up appearances, but let the rest whither an die- as intended/as per business plan.
2. Get critical mass then recruit the bloggers. Create MANY accounts on message boards to have favourable comments. MAKE SURE blogger accounts get paid!
3. Create one day special pay out deals to really suck everyone in. MAKE SURE the blogger accounts get paid.
4. Collect cash and marvel at the combined stupidity of the masses/laugh all the way to the bank.
on how TopCashBack operates:
Originally Posted by uncommonsensical
TCB is, frankly, the perfect scam.
1. Start out reliable enough to garner positive attention. get publicity to validate the scam under the rather laughable guise that they make their money off banner ads and pay out 100% (anyone EVER click on one of their sidebar ads? uhh... NO).
Seriously, does ANYONE really believe their business model is to pay out 100% cash back (or anywhere near this amount)? seriously...
2. Create a 'trouble ticket' mechanism to give the appearance that you 'investigate' 'missing' cash back. Resolve some of these to keep up appearances, but let the rest whither an die- as intended/as per business plan.
2. Get critical mass then recruit the bloggers. Create MANY accounts on message boards to have favourable comments. MAKE SURE blogger accounts get paid!
3. Create one day special pay out deals to really suck everyone in. MAKE SURE the blogger accounts get paid.
4. Collect cash and marvel at the combined stupidity of the masses/laugh all the way to the bank.
Jun 20, 2013, 3:44 pm
#79
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,903
To play devil's advocate, is it possible their business strategy is to build a user base to become attractive for a larger company to buy them out? Paying a high cashback could be a short-term losing strategy but long-term winner. Just a thought.
Jun 20, 2013, 4:06 pm
#80
Join Date: May 2009
Location: USA
Programs: Marriott Titanium -> United Silver
Posts: 936
To those not getting credited, my best guess would be either (a) you went directly to the retailer's site, saw something you like, then visited the site through TCB's links or (b) you went to the retailer's site from another site (like a deal blog that has an affiliate agreement with the retailer) then visited the site through TCB's link. My understanding is that if either (a) or (b) is true, you cannot get paid because the retailer does not consider TCB the affiliate referral. So TCB does not get paid, and therefore you cannot.
Jun 20, 2013, 4:07 pm
#81
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ヒルトン大阪
Programs: ゴールデングローブ
Posts: 1,982
Hi everyone,
Thank you for posting and I'm sorry to hear that you have had problems using TopCashback- I'll do my best to answer some of your queries.
Firstly, let me say that we definitely aren't a scam and we have many satisfied members. Problems can occur from time to time, but the vast majority of transactions track and are paid without issue. We pass on 100% of the cashback we get from the merchant which is why you see such great rates on the site! We are dependent on receiving the cashback from the merchant, however, which can sometimes mean that cashback can take time to progress and claims can take a while to investigate.
We don't make any guarantees, but cashback generally takes 2-3 months to become payable. Where a transaction fails to track, which is comparatively rare, we investigate this with the merchant and we do work hard to resolve the problem although we don't generally post an update on a claim until we have a resolution. We are required to submit these in batches every few weeks and again, we expect these to be resolved within 2-3 months. If you find that it takes longer than this, please submit a support ticket. This will be answered within a few days and an update will be provided on your claim.
Kat007, can you email [email protected] so that I can access your account and have a look into your claim? MCLab is correct here- a record of a click simply means that you have clicked our link, the tracking process is much more complicated and relates to cookies placed on the merchant's site.
Max M, when the PayPal payment option is restricted, this is usually due to a merchant’s request that we only pay by direct deposit. In rare cases, we will take the decision to restrict the PayPal option too, if see that some members are abusing the terms and conditions of the offer. Requiring a direct deposit as payment means that we can be sure that the member hasn’t created multiple TopCashback accounts. It is sad that this is the case, but we do have to take this action on occasion. Where PayPal isn’t available, we will always make a note on the merchant’s page.
If anyone would like a specific update on their account please either submit a support ticket or get in touch via [email protected] and we will be happy to help.
Best wishes,
TopCashback
Thank you for posting and I'm sorry to hear that you have had problems using TopCashback- I'll do my best to answer some of your queries.
Firstly, let me say that we definitely aren't a scam and we have many satisfied members. Problems can occur from time to time, but the vast majority of transactions track and are paid without issue. We pass on 100% of the cashback we get from the merchant which is why you see such great rates on the site! We are dependent on receiving the cashback from the merchant, however, which can sometimes mean that cashback can take time to progress and claims can take a while to investigate.
We don't make any guarantees, but cashback generally takes 2-3 months to become payable. Where a transaction fails to track, which is comparatively rare, we investigate this with the merchant and we do work hard to resolve the problem although we don't generally post an update on a claim until we have a resolution. We are required to submit these in batches every few weeks and again, we expect these to be resolved within 2-3 months. If you find that it takes longer than this, please submit a support ticket. This will be answered within a few days and an update will be provided on your claim.
Kat007, can you email [email protected] so that I can access your account and have a look into your claim? MCLab is correct here- a record of a click simply means that you have clicked our link, the tracking process is much more complicated and relates to cookies placed on the merchant's site.
Max M, when the PayPal payment option is restricted, this is usually due to a merchant’s request that we only pay by direct deposit. In rare cases, we will take the decision to restrict the PayPal option too, if see that some members are abusing the terms and conditions of the offer. Requiring a direct deposit as payment means that we can be sure that the member hasn’t created multiple TopCashback accounts. It is sad that this is the case, but we do have to take this action on occasion. Where PayPal isn’t available, we will always make a note on the merchant’s page.
If anyone would like a specific update on their account please either submit a support ticket or get in touch via [email protected] and we will be happy to help.
Best wishes,
TopCashback
Yes, suuuuureee.... All is good? - Not at all!
I repeat: TopCashBack is a SCAM!
I had some contacts with ["Carl" <[email protected]>] but he did not want to un-lock my account! A letter to TopCashBack USA was not helpful either. I did not even get an answer from the US team!
And you are saying that everything is good?
Jun 20, 2013, 4:10 pm
#82
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ヒルトン大阪
Programs: ゴールデングローブ
Posts: 1,982
Jun 20, 2013, 4:22 pm
#83
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: East Coast
Posts: 1,018
To those not getting credited, my best guess would be either (a) you went directly to the retailer's site, saw something you like, then visited the site through TCB's links or (b) you went to the retailer's site from another site (like a deal blog that has an affiliate agreement with the retailer) then visited the site through TCB's link. My understanding is that if either (a) or (b) is true, you cannot get paid because the retailer does not consider TCB the affiliate referral. So TCB does not get paid, and therefore you cannot.
Jun 20, 2013, 4:29 pm
#84
Moderator: CommunityBuzz!, OMNI, OMNI/PR, and OMNI/Games & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: ORD (MDW stinks)
Programs: UAMM, AAMM & ExPlat, Marriott lifetime Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 23,504
took me awhile & I had to send reminders that the timelines they gave were overdue but I did get my $ from approx 9 transactions.
So in my case not an outright fraud but I did have to work much too hard for my rebates to be credited.
So in my case not an outright fraud but I did have to work much too hard for my rebates to be credited.
Jun 20, 2013, 4:29 pm
#85
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: East Coast
Posts: 1,018
In this business, trust is everything, and TCB is clearly does not have much of it left. As previously said, they all start fresh and clean, but some don`t plan to stay that way from the beginning, that`s their "business" strategy. As a result, we got TCB.Usually, scumbags such as TCB reflag/rename their business after they realize there is no more fresh blood out there. They are moving their physical locations in the US frequently already, didn`t get to the bottom of the reason yet, but I am positive it has something to do with their scam strategy.
Jun 20, 2013, 4:30 pm
#86
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ヒルトン大阪
Programs: ゴールデングローブ
Posts: 1,982
My guess is that (especially) those of us with larger amounts get the accounts frozen for some silly reasons!
Jun 20, 2013, 4:35 pm
#87
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: East Coast
Posts: 1,018
I got a response from them to wait "months or even longer" literally. I guess at the time you sent them reminders they had some timelines they were somewhat following. Nowadays, with frequent promos for high % and not paying to majority of users, I am afraid they are running away with the money.
Jun 20, 2013, 4:47 pm
#88
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: City with Tax-Payer subsdized AA Maintance Base
Programs: Enough to Cause a Migraine
Posts: 1,857
Original response [in full] from TCBUSA to Max M:
Max M, when the PayPal payment option is restricted, this is usually due to a merchant’s request that we only pay by direct deposit. In rare cases, we will take the decision to restrict the PayPal option too, if see that some members are abusing the terms and conditions of the offer. Requiring a direct deposit as payment means that we can be sure that the member hasn’t created multiple TopCashback accounts. It is sad that this is the case, but we do have to take this action on occasion. Where PayPal isn’t available, we will always make a note on the merchant’s page.
------------------------------------------------------------
Max M's responses to TCBUSA's statements:
I hope that's not an implication that my family members have been abusing the terms and conditions of an offer. Since we all have experienced the same Direct Deposit requirement. Cashback sites such as Mr. Rebates and Fatwallet do not impose the Direct Deposit requirement when buying from the same merchants. Then again, the language as to what exactly classifies as abusing a cash back offer is very unclear language.
Perhaps this is something new, as when purchases were made from Walgreens for my wife there was no clear disclaimer, as of her most recent purchase from Walgreens in April 2013.
Again, this must be a new policy. As this was never the case for my mom's purchases from PlasticJungle [while there were in busines] as there was no mention/disclaimer that it was a PayPal restriction. She made well over $1000 in purchases using TCB for the PlasticJungle purchases, and did not receive proper cashback for these purchases. [all browsers caches were cleared, cookies removed prior to starting the purchase at TCB]
Max M, when the PayPal payment option is restricted, this is usually due to a merchant’s request that we only pay by direct deposit. In rare cases, we will take the decision to restrict the PayPal option too, if see that some members are abusing the terms and conditions of the offer. Requiring a direct deposit as payment means that we can be sure that the member hasn’t created multiple TopCashback accounts. It is sad that this is the case, but we do have to take this action on occasion. Where PayPal isn’t available, we will always make a note on the merchant’s page.
Max M's responses to TCBUSA's statements:
Again, this must be a new policy. As this was never the case for my mom's purchases from PlasticJungle [while there were in busines] as there was no mention/disclaimer that it was a PayPal restriction. She made well over $1000 in purchases using TCB for the PlasticJungle purchases, and did not receive proper cashback for these purchases. [all browsers caches were cleared, cookies removed prior to starting the purchase at TCB]
Jun 20, 2013, 8:56 pm
#90
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wild Blue Yonder!!
Programs: vi, PuTTY, XFE
Posts: 111
Kat007, can you email [email protected] so that I can access your account and have a look into your claim?
Hi Kat007,
I haven't received a message from you at [email protected]. Until I do, I'm afraid I can't take a look at your account.
I haven't received a message from you at [email protected]. Until I do, I'm afraid I can't take a look at your account.
If someone were offering to help me resolve my situation I'd at least provide them with the information to facilitate it.
Again regardless of any past experience you may have had in e-mailing. I don't think any of us have a clue who TopCashbackUSA is. I'm sure a moderator could establish an identity of TopCashbackUSA if necessary.
You seem to be certain TopCashbackUSA is a specific individual you've dealt with before. No idea if it's accurate or not.
But then again, you were also certain I'm a TopCashback representative.