Quidco/TopCashBack - Catch?
Discussion
Always been told if it seems too good to be true it is, so what's the catch?
Specifically I'm looking for a new broadband provider. o2/Be looked promising to start with but then I also noticed these "cash back" deals.
Now, to be clear I'd be looking at these providers without the cash back offers so I'm not dependent upon them paying out or anything, but I the cynic in me simple doesn't get why me, as Joe Bloggs can go to the o2 website and pay £xx for a product, or why I go via TopCashBack and pay the same £xx but apparently get given £yy for doing this.
Something doesn't seem quite right?
Specifically I'm looking for a new broadband provider. o2/Be looked promising to start with but then I also noticed these "cash back" deals.
Now, to be clear I'd be looking at these providers without the cash back offers so I'm not dependent upon them paying out or anything, but I the cynic in me simple doesn't get why me, as Joe Bloggs can go to the o2 website and pay £xx for a product, or why I go via TopCashBack and pay the same £xx but apparently get given £yy for doing this.
Something doesn't seem quite right?
Don't they just share their comission with you?
Look on www.moneysavingexpert.com as I'm sure they'll explain it
Look on www.moneysavingexpert.com as I'm sure they'll explain it
Basically they will get a cut from the provider for getting you onto whatever broadband package etc. They will then give you a cut of their cut as an inducement for you to sign up with them. Overall their margins may only be pennies but I think it's a volume driven model.
Only catch is that sometimes they don't pay out the cashback. But I do know of several people who use Quidco regularly, though I've never bothered to sign up yet.
Only catch is that sometimes they don't pay out the cashback. But I do know of several people who use Quidco regularly, though I've never bothered to sign up yet.
I was the same as you but thought I would give it a go and it does work. I too have bought broadband through it and got £75 back, I have also bought insurance and a few other bits and pieces and have generated around £150 so far. I think Quidco take about £5 per year for their fee and then just deposit the rest into my bank account.
It really is that simple, you have to keep an eye on when your commision comes through and if it's taking too long you just drop Quidco a quick email and they sort it. I had this with my broadband, after 3 months it wasn't showing as pending on my profile and after 3 days of emailing them I received £75. Also with insurance you have to keep the policy for a certain amount of time before you get your money to stop people getting their cash-back and cancelling their insurance straight away.
Sorry all of that sounds like an advert, I don't work for Quidco!!
It really is that simple, you have to keep an eye on when your commision comes through and if it's taking too long you just drop Quidco a quick email and they sort it. I had this with my broadband, after 3 months it wasn't showing as pending on my profile and after 3 days of emailing them I received £75. Also with insurance you have to keep the policy for a certain amount of time before you get your money to stop people getting their cash-back and cancelling their insurance straight away.
Sorry all of that sounds like an advert, I don't work for Quidco!!
Quidco is great, I use it all the time. Different companies take different amounts of time to verify and pay the chasback, but it's all legit.
I did one a year ago where one of the banks was offering £100 cashback if you took up a contents insurance policy. The pilicy was only £65 so I actually made money on that one.
I did one a year ago where one of the banks was offering £100 cashback if you took up a contents insurance policy. The pilicy was only £65 so I actually made money on that one.
I use TopCashback as I dont order much online so the free membership is better for me (although Quidco is peanuts - £5). SO far only bought three or four eligible things and all the cashback has gone through in a week a two.
At least on the TC site, each retailer page has reviews and stats on how many cashbacks'track' which can be useful.
At least on the TC site, each retailer page has reviews and stats on how many cashbacks'track' which can be useful.
pokethepope said:
I use TopCashback as I dont order much online so the free membership is better for me (although Quidco is peanuts - £5). SO far only bought three or four eligible things and all the cashback has gone through in a week a two.
At least on the TC site, each retailer page has reviews and stats on how many cashbacks'track' which can be useful.
same here, always been paid out with no problems, currently tracking a cashback on my car insurance renewal which, once paid, will mean that I paid 50% less than the next best quote.At least on the TC site, each retailer page has reviews and stats on how many cashbacks'track' which can be useful.
baptistsan said:
Wouldn't companies like O2 etc. just be better off charging us less in the first place?
Why bother when 95% of people pay the full price quite happily...The cashback is just an added incentive for those in the know. A very small percentage of sales will go through a cashback site, so it costs them much less than reducing the price for everyone.
OK so if I go to o2 via the link on TopCashBack, how do I actually KNOW that I'm using a sponsored link?
I ask as the URL in the browser when you land at the o2 website looks normal - the cash back isn't the be-all and end-all but I want to be sure that I'm "registering" for it correctly.
I ask as the URL in the browser when you land at the o2 website looks normal - the cash back isn't the be-all and end-all but I want to be sure that I'm "registering" for it correctly.
paddyhasneeds said:
OK so if I go to o2 via the link on TopCashBack, how do I actually KNOW that I'm using a sponsored link?
I ask as the URL in the browser when you land at the o2 website looks normal - the cash back isn't the be-all and end-all but I want to be sure that I'm "registering" for it correctly.
As long as you click on the link through Quidco you should be fine, I'vs never had a problem although I didn't notice the URL at any point so can't say what it should be.I ask as the URL in the browser when you land at the o2 website looks normal - the cash back isn't the be-all and end-all but I want to be sure that I'm "registering" for it correctly.
I (l) Quidco, I got £210 back in October which came from paying for hotels while on hols (10%), £30 back on a GAP insurance policy etc etc.
I've just signed up to Vodafone, £90 cashback, and will get about £50 back on Christmas presents. Its brilliant and I cant see a catch to using it.
I've just signed up to Vodafone, £90 cashback, and will get about £50 back on Christmas presents. Its brilliant and I cant see a catch to using it.
baptistsan said:
Wouldn't companies like O2 etc. just be better off charging us less in the first place?
Cashback is just a spinoff from affiliate marketing, where website owners actually try to sell you something in exchange for a small commission.As you say, some companies have taken the view that they'd rather charge people less in the first place and have stopped paying commission to cashback sites. They do however still pay commission to the owners of content websites for their sales efforts.
Large cashback sites take advantage of tiered commission structures, so they may pay you 4% cashback on a purchase, but due to their massive sales volumes, the cashback company itself could be earning 9% for that sale.
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