Earning Sites Changing Rules In The Middle Of The Game? Fair Or Not?
By kayedanda
@kayedanda (1850)
Philippines
July 9, 2009 12:43pm CST
With the recent ban of international users from Internet Marketing Report Card (IMRC), I was forced to recall how many situations like this have happened in the past. Personally, Ciao and Helium are the other two sites that I joined which enforced such a rule.
How do I feel? Cheated. Yes, EVEN THOUGH they stated in the TOS that they can change the rules anytime that they wish, WITHOUT notification. I still felt like I deserved some kind of compensation for all the work that I put in, a recognition that I was a good enough member of the site, that I was not one of those who brought about the sudden change in the rules. Idealistic? maybe so. But isn't it only fair?
Is this quick and dirty method of banning ALL users from a certain region, REGARDLESS of the user's GOOD standing on the site, really right? Proper? Fair? Just? Damn it. Get that thesaurus away from me.
What are your thoughts? I AM SURE many of you have already experienced this. People from the U.S. and Canada should realize by now how lucky they are.
Me talking to myself: Hey, welcome back to myLot.
1 person likes this
12 responses
@thedailyclick (3017)
•
9 Jul 09
I hate this sort of thing when it happens and causes a lot of upset amongst those members who are affected by these sorts of sudden changes in the TOS.
In an ideal world there should be some way to compensate those who have added honourably and suffer due to the behaviour of others but realistically for a company to make that sort of decision would not only be too time consuming on a member by member basis but would also put them in risk of liable cases for unfair discrimination by paying some members from a country and not others.
Unfortunately any site which knows what they doing basically have the get out clause in there TOS and I have been stung numerous times due to unnotified changes. I've sort of got use to it now that there is always a risk of a change in terms which will penalise me even if it not be my fault.
2 people like this
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
9 Jul 09
Oh I wish I could be like you and get used to it already, too! I've been burned twice in the past and this last one really made me sad.
I agree with your rationale about why companies shutting out per region instead of on an individual standing basis. IT IS the easiest way out.
But still, you have to wonder if there is anything else that can be done about this, no?
1 person likes this
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
9 Jul 09
wow. you know so much about this stuff. everything you say makes sense. although yes, that's still unfair. they should have made it clear IN THE beginning or in their TOS or FAQ or wherever. It's their duty, after all, to inform their users about such important matters.
@roseyroser (1059)
• United States
9 Jul 09
I don't think it's fair. They should start with only US and Canada and then if they can handle those members open it up to international members. Even though I am in the US it still is a let-down for me too, because I had found a couple referrals but they were from other countries that are not accepted now.
That's true though - people from U.S. and Canada are lucky!
2 people like this
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
9 Jul 09
you know, that's a great idea right there! starting it big and then later weeding out the rest not only shows that they do not have the best business plans, it also disappoints a LOT, and I do mean a lot of people!
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
10 Jul 09
It's not fair, really but at the end of the day what others said is true too. Due to economy downturn and other factors, it's quite hard to deal with all these things and to participate and suddenly realizing that rules have been changed.
I am wary of sites which are like that as well. Would be more awesome if there could be rules that just stick. But with changing times, it is inevitable. Thanks for this good discussion. It makes me think about my own participation on certain sites which I need to withdraw or not..
Fun is one thing and to keep changing rules is another. It's quite frustrating to have sites which keep changing rules the whole time, especially when it takes immediate effect.
Have a nice day.. 
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
11 Jul 09
I agree with you there, my friend..
That's why I am keeping my activities in sites that keep changing rules all the time minimal or totally stop participating altogether.
I'm only active in my blog, mylot and networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and Multiply. If I have more time, I will read friends blogs, sites and surf the net for new knowledge.
1 person likes this
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
11 Jul 09
good for you! 
i guess it's something that most of us should learn as well, to be wary on new sites while we haven't fully seen how they treat members with respect to payments and other stuff that concern us.
i guess it's something that most of us should learn as well, to be wary on new sites while we haven't fully seen how they treat members with respect to payments and other stuff that concern us.1 person likes this
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
10 Jul 09
yes, i agree it is inevitable. but you know, it doesn't take much to make the TOS clear from the start right? i mean it's a few extra words added here and there which can make a whole lot of difference and save tons of people from disappointment and grief. 
1 person likes this
@zhorak (491)
• Turkey
9 Jul 09
I don't think it is fair. I don't think someone borned it US is different than someone borned in another country. They aren't selected or promoted to be a US citizen. Is banning all but US members a solution against spam? They are doing wrong to members outside US who obey the rules. This isn't justice.
But we know that not everyone is justified. No one can give perfect decisions. They decide to go on with US members only. Its their choice. I think they lost the good members outside the US.
1 person likes this
@rusty2rusty (6751)
• Defiance, Ohio
9 Jul 09
It is no just spam...but other reason to. some sites don't want to deal with using a pay site the are not familiar with. Nor is all countries able to use all the same pay sites. Sometimes it has nothing do with the sites themselves but the restriction the members own countries put out about certain sites an pay companies.
BTW...so you do know it does happen to Americans as well. One American site where you get points to cash out to paypal gift cards..they changed their point system where is hard to get any points now. Many members left. It is like ghost town.
Many American companies folding under every day.
I have lost. money on sites doing this.
1 person likes this
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
10 Jul 09
@ rusty2rusty: i'm sorry to hear about your friend and that you lost money because of sites that do this. fortunately for me, i don't ever pay money in order to earn money. i guess it's one of the better things i learned early on.
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
9 Jul 09
yes, you're quite right. when they say we're out, there's nothing we can do about it. and that just plain sucks.
@kaguvkov (1305)
• Davao, Philippines
14 Jul 09
I fell like being cheated if that happens. I was a member of Ciao and suddenly it banned it's members from Asia, I am not a cheater and I make money online just for fun. It is just a sideline job but I did not consider this as a job. I consider this one as a hobby. This is very fun and I don't like to be cheated again in that way.
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
14 Jul 09
i was also a member of ciao when they decided to "blanket ban people from our region. i am still waiting for my last payment from them, although i'm not holding my breath for that. 
@kmaram (2533)
• Philippines
10 Jul 09
Hi there, i think its not fair i am member of ciao before and i can say that it was one of my trusted site before. I can even get big money from them but one day i was surprised that i can't log in the site. Other member's said that asian members are banned already in the site. I was really mad at that time i have $13 left in ciao but i dont get it.
A few days ago i was joined IMRC eventhough i dont know what to do with the site i still join and familiarize things there but just a day after i sign up one member here said that it was not open to all anymore. Its really unfair, but anyway thanks that i am just new in the site and dont do things still.
1 person likes this
@chaime (1152)
• Philippines
10 Jul 09
yes you said it, I too was a member of IMRC and was shocked when I cannot log in to the site anymore. I'm not sure how much I made there since I really wasn't paying attention and just doing the reviews. I was shocked when it said username and password do not exist. i checked and realized that they weren't accepting members from my country anymore... such a waste of time indeed.
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
10 Jul 09
that's good for you, because as for myself, i wasted one and a half hours of my precious time there. but, thinking about it now, it IS ONLY one and a half hours. good thing i didn't invest more time. pity those other people who did.
@rusty2rusty (6751)
• Defiance, Ohio
9 Jul 09
I live in America and know how lucky I am. But do you know how lucky you are?
1 person likes this
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
10 Jul 09
me? lucky? i haven't felt lucky to be living in the Philippines since heaven-knows-when. 
that is, in terms of online earning opportunities. 
that is, in terms of online earning opportunities. @chaime (1152)
• Philippines
10 Jul 09
I totally agree with you. I was a member of this website as well and was also shocked that I wasn't able to login to the site without any warning, just can't one day.
I do believe it's unfair, especially for those that have a substantial earning with the site, to just be removed without warning and without explanation and without any chance of getting the money.
I'm just glad that there are still other sites that are fair to everyone even though we are not in Canada or the US, like here (mylot) and other sites that have been fair to its members.
1 person likes this
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
10 Jul 09
yes, it's good to know reliable sites like this one still exists
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
9 Jul 09
Maybe they are feeling the heat of the worsening world economic situation that forced them to turn the tide and disallow participation from outside the preferred countries. This is liken to a daylight robbery to those who have worked hard and earned big money and suddenly being booted out. It is a well-known fact that people from Asian countries are diligent online workers because the rate of exchange is a great motivating factor. This might not go down well with the admin and decided that they limit local participation so that their money doesn't go out of the country. This is only my views. Don't be surprise if mylot would one day emulate this ruling and we from this part of the world can no longer participate here anymore. Anything is possible and we just hope that mylot stay clear of this practice. This might be a blessing in disguise as everyone is now coming back home to where they belong - MYLOT. I hope to see more of you here kayedanda.
1 person likes this
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
9 Jul 09
no, i don't think myLot will do that to their users. myLot is one of the few online earning sites that I trust, because they have not let me down EVER, and has always treated me fairly.
and I think you can expect to see more of me in here from now on now is that a good sign? i sure hope so
now is that a good sign? i sure hope so @echomonster (2226)
• Greenwood, Mississippi
9 Jul 09
I agree with you that it isn't fair. Some sites really can't make money from visitors who are not from the US or maybe a few other countries, so it's understandable why they would restrict their membership...however, the thing to do is to realize this from the start and not let people join only to be kicked out later. If a site makes a mistake and realizes it can't make money from international users after letting them in, then it needs to at least pay the users what they're owed...better yet, it could grandfather the present users in and just not let NEW users sign up from those countries. While it may lose money because of this, it's normal to lose money when you make mistakes. A good site would accept the responsibility and pay up if possible. I think in many cases these sites are on poor financial footing and that is why they resort to these unfair measures...Ciao, as I'm sure you know, is going to be gone for good despite being owned by a huge company, Microsoft.
1 person likes this
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
9 Jul 09
It is? 
OMG. I didn't know. I was not interested enough in Ciao to research that much about the company. Wow. And you know, what you stated right there is what exactly these companies should be doing. Unfortunately, this is the real world, so so much for that. Letting people know upfront who they DO and DON'T want as members would be the least that they can do for the rest of us who are hoping to make a buck or two out of reviewing products, discussing things, etc.
OMG. I didn't know. I was not interested enough in Ciao to research that much about the company. Wow. And you know, what you stated right there is what exactly these companies should be doing. Unfortunately, this is the real world, so so much for that. Letting people know upfront who they DO and DON'T want as members would be the least that they can do for the rest of us who are hoping to make a buck or two out of reviewing products, discussing things, etc. @scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
10 Jul 09
Hi Kayedanda, I write for Helium too. I hope Helium does not resort to blanket ban on all writers from Asia countries.
Even though Singaporeans have better command of English than many people from regional countries, English is still not our mother tongue.
I will be very upset if Helium bans my account too.
1 person likes this
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
10 Jul 09
I hope so, too, for your sake, as Helium has already "blanket" banned the Philippines a couple of months ago, I think.
@kayedanda (1850)
• Philippines
9 Jul 09
indeed. here's to hoping we get better online earning opportunities in the future
