Affiliate program refuses to pay

TheChaser · 07-04-2009, 08:44 PM

Hi

For the past 18 months or so I've promoted the product of a (web hosting) company through banners on my website.

I've sent them many hundreds of web users.

The only time I've ever had a sale is when I had someone I know buy their web hosting through this company. The sale didn't register until I emailed to tell the company about the sale.

Over 2 months ago, I had a second person buy web hosting through this company.

Again, the sale didn't register and I had to email the company.

The company at first told me they spend a lot on their advertising and wouldn't pay a commission for someone who had clicked on one of their banners before they had clicked on mine.

This person had never heard of their company before - ever, and I told them that.

I sent the company a copy of my account and showed them exactly when this person clicked the banner,, and what their IP address was.

The company is now refusing to even answer my emails.

(I have not yet been paid any affiliate commission at all from this company - as you need 2 sales to be paid.)

This is not a small company. They are not one of the big hosting companies, but they would be well-known in the US. (I am not from the US myself)

Has anyone been in this situation, and what steps do I take?

Their affiliate program is a sham and worthless.

moneysoapbox · 07-05-2009, 02:43 AM

Stop promoting them. Which program is it? (So we can stop promoting it, too >:P)

There's tons of affiliate programs out there that actually pay, so there's no need to waste any more time. It sucks what happened, but hey, you know your methods are bringing in would-be affiliate commissions... so go find that better program!

TheChaser · 07-06-2009, 04:43 PM

Thanks for your reply moneysoapbox - you're totally right - they're not worth wasting any more time on, as in actually bothering to promote them.

But no, it's not an option to just stop promoting them & forget it. I feel strongly about this. Affiliate programs are a business relationship between publisher & advertiser.

It's criminal for an affiliate program to make false statements about how they carry out their business.

If no one does anything, these people get away with it. I also use CJ - they track & pay commissions. Anything less is criminal and shouldn't be tolerated.

I'll find an official body to report them to. I was just hoping someone here had been down that track and knew the best place to go to.

MicahF7 · 07-06-2009, 05:07 PM

Tell me who it is.... There are good options for this.

young-Money · 07-06-2009, 05:20 PM

I know lots of webhosting company doing this.They promise to pay $100 or so and the sales is never tracked.I was in the same situation until i had to email them to register the sale.In my opinion,web hosting companies its not worth promoting.You can use CJ though.Just be careful of the big names in there because they are the same,they won`t track your sale most of the time.

Zach Booker · 07-06-2009, 08:18 PM

Sorry if this is a little off topic.

But I have never understood the point of promoting hosting companies. Especially if you aren't in the webmaster/MMO niche.

Whatever niche your in there is bound to be a high converting CPA or Clickbank product out there.

And in the past 18 months you probably would've made quite a bit more than 2 sales from them.

I wouldn't bother fighting it, just move on and spend that time building or maintaining websites that will make you money through other areas.

Zach

maxdog · 07-07-2009, 10:40 AM

Move on bro, just move on your chasing pennies

TheChaser · 07-18-2009, 05:55 PM

Again, thanks for your replies.

Micah - I don't want to name them. I know some people report shady practices & name companies on web hosting review forums & forums like this, but I don't want to go down that road.

young-money - I thought CJ tracked everything, not the companies themselves?

Zach - my niche is a perfect match in regard to promoting web hosts. I've been sending them highly targeted visitors directly from search engines.

Maxdog (& Zach) I'm not chasing pennies - I'm chasing the principle. I'm speaking with an authority at the moment over this.

I'm not overly interested in the money. Between other CPA and adsense I make a very good income.

This web host is the same one I use. Hundreds of their customers also promote them. I spoke with one of their customers recently, who has brought stacks of customers to them, but their affiliate program isn't working for him either.

If you tell them beforehand that you're bringing them a customer - they pay the affiliate commission. But if you try to claim the commission after the customer has bought the hosting - it's very hard to get them to pay up.

So why didn't I tell them beforehand about the customer? Because I wanted to see if their tracking worked. Now I know for sure it doesn't. And now I can stop promoting them.

ChrisBa · 07-18-2009, 07:59 PM

The only time I haven't been paid - I complained and kept climbing up the food chain until I got the owner and I eventually got paid..

rondo · 07-18-2009, 08:42 PM

It happens way too often in that industry.
A web host has screwed me for thousands recently. I wonder if it's the same one. PM me the company name if you like.

Andrew

sOliver · 07-19-2009, 11:56 AM

Yes, simply post the company name here and you'll be surprised how fast they will pay you for your leads .. they don't want bad rep.

I will make sure not to send them any traffic thou. Shady business...

Seriously if they ever *** you up they will do it again.

Post the name!

Saj Gupta · 07-19-2009, 02:18 PM

Ok I have the same experience and not sure if it's the same company thechaser is mentioning. I used affiliate id and never got compensated for any commission through CJ. So I emailed them using CJ email system and got a generic reply that they'll look into it, but never heard from them for the next 2 weeks. Then I called the hosting company's 800 number and had to explain the customer rep what affiliate commissions means and was on the phone for about 35 mins, and she said she'll create a ticket direct it to a manager.

Again 3 weeks passed and never heard from them. Then logged into the hosting company's chat and asked them to look at my ticket and see what can be done - the reply was go to CJ and ask them why it's not tracked.

I have given up and its not worth pursuing my commissions with this much hassle, the company is fatcow. If there is a rep, please contact me. I would like to know if others have had issues with fatcow as well.

07-04-2009, 08:44 PM	#1
TheChaser Warrior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Affiliate program refuses to pay Hi For the past 18 months or so I've promoted the product of a (web hosting) company through banners on my website. I've sent them many hundreds of web users. The only time I've ever had a sale is when I had someone I know buy their web hosting through this company. The sale didn't register until I emailed to tell the company about the sale. Over 2 months ago, I had a second person buy web hosting through this company. Again, the sale didn't register and I had to email the company. The company at first told me they spend a lot on their advertising and wouldn't pay a commission for someone who had clicked on one of their banners before they had clicked on mine. This person had never heard of their company before - ever, and I told them that. I sent the company a copy of my account and showed them exactly when this person clicked the banner,, and what their IP address was. The company is now refusing to even answer my emails. (I have not yet been paid any affiliate commission at all from this company - as you need 2 sales to be paid.) This is not a small company. They are not one of the big hosting companies, but they would be well-known in the US. (I am not from the US myself) Has anyone been in this situation, and what steps do I take? Their affiliate program is a sham and worthless.

07-05-2009, 02:43 AM	#2
moneysoapbox Black Sheep War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 369 Thanks: 136 Thanked 44 Times in 39 Posts Contact Info	Re: Affiliate program refuses to pay Stop promoting them. Which program is it? (So we can stop promoting it, too >:P) There's tons of affiliate programs out there that actually pay, so there's no need to waste any more time. It sucks what happened, but hey, you know your methods are bringing in would-be affiliate commissions... so go find that better program!
	- Emily - Warrior for Hire: Want a GOOD Article Written For You This Weekend? FIVE WARRIORS ONLY - WSO: Need a Low Price, High Quality eBook Written Just for You?

07-06-2009, 04:43 PM	#3
TheChaser Warrior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Affiliate program refuses to pay Thanks for your reply moneysoapbox - you're totally right - they're not worth wasting any more time on, as in actually bothering to promote them. But no, it's not an option to just stop promoting them & forget it. I feel strongly about this. Affiliate programs are a business relationship between publisher & advertiser. It's criminal for an affiliate program to make false statements about how they carry out their business. If no one does anything, these people get away with it. I also use CJ - they track & pay commissions. Anything less is criminal and shouldn't be tolerated. I'll find an official body to report them to. I was just hoping someone here had been down that track and knew the best place to go to.

07-06-2009, 05:07 PM	#4
MicahF7 Micah Rush Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 427 Thanks: 24 Thanked 97 Times in 30 Posts	Re: Affiliate program refuses to pay Tell me who it is.... There are good options for this.

07-06-2009, 05:20 PM	#5
young-Money Active Warrior Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 78 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Affiliate program refuses to pay I know lots of webhosting company doing this.They promise to pay $100 or so and the sales is never tracked.I was in the same situation until i had to email them to register the sale.In my opinion,web hosting companies its not worth promoting.You can use CJ though.Just be careful of the big names in there because they are the same,they won`t track your sale most of the time.

07-06-2009, 08:18 PM	#6
Zach Booker Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 509 Thanks: 20 Thanked 59 Times in 39 Posts Contact Info	Re: Affiliate program refuses to pay Sorry if this is a little off topic. But I have never understood the point of promoting hosting companies. Especially if you aren't in the webmaster/MMO niche. Whatever niche your in there is bound to be a high converting CPA or Clickbank product out there. And in the past 18 months you probably would've made quite a bit more than 2 sales from them. I wouldn't bother fighting it, just move on and spend that time building or maintaining websites that will make you money through other areas. Zach

07-07-2009, 10:40 AM	#7
maxdog Active Warrior Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 92 Thanks: 9 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts Contact Info	Re: Affiliate program refuses to pay Move on bro, just move on your chasing pennies

07-18-2009, 05:55 PM	#8
TheChaser Warrior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Affiliate program refuses to pay Again, thanks for your replies. Micah - I don't want to name them. I know some people report shady practices & name companies on web hosting review forums & forums like this, but I don't want to go down that road. young-money - I thought CJ tracked everything, not the companies themselves? Zach - my niche is a perfect match in regard to promoting web hosts. I've been sending them highly targeted visitors directly from search engines. Maxdog (& Zach) I'm not chasing pennies - I'm chasing the principle. I'm speaking with an authority at the moment over this. I'm not overly interested in the money. Between other CPA and adsense I make a very good income. This web host is the same one I use. Hundreds of their customers also promote them. I spoke with one of their customers recently, who has brought stacks of customers to them, but their affiliate program isn't working for him either. If you tell them beforehand that you're bringing them a customer - they pay the affiliate commission. But if you try to claim the commission after the customer has bought the hosting - it's very hard to get them to pay up. So why didn't I tell them beforehand about the customer? Because I wanted to see if their tracking worked. Now I know for sure it doesn't. And now I can stop promoting them.

07-18-2009, 07:59 PM	#9
ChrisBa Advanced Warrior Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 526 Thanks: 0 Thanked 26 Times in 24 Posts	Re: Affiliate program refuses to pay The only time I haven't been paid - I complained and kept climbing up the food chain until I got the owner and I eventually got paid..
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07-18-2009, 08:42 PM	#10
rondo Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Australia. Posts: 4,941 Thanks: 54 Thanked 82 Times in 74 Posts	Re: Affiliate program refuses to pay It happens way too often in that industry. A web host has screwed me for thousands recently. I wonder if it's the same one. PM me the company name if you like. Andrew

07-19-2009, 11:56 AM	#11
sOliver Active Warrior Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 63 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Affiliate program refuses to pay Yes, simply post the company name here and you'll be surprised how fast they will pay you for your leads .. they don't want bad rep. I will make sure not to send them any traffic thou. Shady business... Seriously if they ever *** you up they will do it again. Post the name!
	CPAProxy.com - Preview Any Affiliate Page CPA-Networks.info - CPA Network Reviews (Newbie must-read) CPA Templates - Increase your conversions by 20%

07-19-2009, 02:18 PM	#12
Saj Gupta HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 179 Thanks: 1 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Affiliate program refuses to pay Ok I have the same experience and not sure if it's the same company thechaser is mentioning. I used affiliate id and never got compensated for any commission through CJ. So I emailed them using CJ email system and got a generic reply that they'll look into it, but never heard from them for the next 2 weeks. Then I called the hosting company's 800 number and had to explain the customer rep what affiliate commissions means and was on the phone for about 35 mins, and she said she'll create a ticket direct it to a manager. Again 3 weeks passed and never heard from them. Then logged into the hosting company's chat and asked them to look at my ticket and see what can be done - the reply was go to CJ and ask them why it's not tracked. I have given up and its not worth pursuing my commissions with this much hassle, the company is fatcow. If there is a rep, please contact me. I would like to know if others have had issues with fatcow as well.
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