What about our investment, if " Paid Referrals" are not active?

Hi, I don't do any sites where I have to pay for referrals. Or I should say I don't pay for referrals. I don't believe in that because there is not guarantee that the referral you pay for will actually be active after they sign up under you, then you are just stuck paying for a referral who is never going to go give you any benifit, and you don't get a refund or anything like that.