ireviewer
join:2007-12-12
Hudsonville, MI
| ViaTalk Commission Payment Issues
I am a current ViaTalk affiliate who has not received the commission payment due me for over 3 months. Attempts to contact ViaTalk and their affiliate manager have been met with silence, and the issue continues unresolved about a month later. I have filed with the Better Business Bureau, where ViaTalk's rating is currently "unsatisfactory." Hopefully they can get a response out of ViaTalk. I'm writing here to see if anyone else is encountering a similar issue, and what you are doing about it.
As a side note, this does not bode well for ViaTalk customers as a whole. Often, when a company like this goes under, the affiliate program is the first thing to go. It's what happened with Sunrocket... |
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VTBrendan
Viatalk
Premium
join:2005-06-27
Clifton Park, NY | Hi,
The next batch of affiliate payments goes out at the end of the month, so basically the end of this week. If you PM me your details I can confirm for you that you are indeed in that group.
-Brendan |
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dmolavi
Premium
join:2005-04-11
Sewell, NJ | reply to ireviewer
read this thread: »ViaTalk's BBB record now "unsatisfactory" |
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ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
clubs:
 ·AT&T DSL Service
 ·ViaTalk
| reply to ireviewer
said by ireviewer  :Hopefully they can get a response out of ViaTalk. I'm writing here to see if anyone else is encountering a similar issue, and what you are doing about it. Seems like you already had your answer here...
»Re: ViaTalk's BBB record now "unsatisfactory"
--
"A religious war is like children fighting over who has the strongest imaginary friend."
Have you been touched by his noodly appendage? »www.venganza.org |
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B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
| reply to ireviewer
Just an observation, but I'm somewhat surprised that these payment threads aren't being locked or modded. I don't care either way, but with such a strong DSLR stance against referral discussions ( »Forum Rules - Please Read ) I would have thought this was a similar area...
Regardless, good luck to you "affiliates"...
-- B
--
In a realm outside causality and function |
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Russell_
join:2006-04-06
| I don't believe they should be locked or modded. Discussing how to increase your referrals (or promote your referral business) is what, I think, is prohibited. But, considering that SunRocket first stopped paying affiliates before they went out of business, any company having issues paying affiliates is of concern to current and future customers (considering that most people renew / signup for a year or more in advance). And, if DSLR locks such threads and the company subsequently goes out of business, I'd say DSLR would lose credibility.
As a VT customer with a contract through 2009 and having been through the SunRocket experience I'm most interested in such threads. After all when there are bogo or other renewal specials we're allowed to dicuss those. Such threads provide another data point.
I'm also reassured by the VT CEOs statements that VT is now focussing on such issues and they will be resolved by the end of the year.
--
Russell |
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ireviewer
join:2007-12-12
Hudsonville, MI
| reply to VTBrendan
Brendan,
It's almost the end of the week as you said, and though I PMed you my account details, I haven't heard any response yet as to whether or not I can expect my commission within the next 2-3 days. In case you didn't get the PMs, my affiliate account name is ireviewer. If you could look into that for me soon, I would appreciate it, as I am starting to get a little nervous about the lack of response...
Thanks. |
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justDave
join:2000-02-29
Brooklyn, NY
·ViaTalk
 ·Earthlink Cable Mo..
| reply to Russell_
said by Russell_ :I'm also reassured by the VT CEOs statements that VT is now focussing on such issues and they will be resolved by the end of the year. You are? You must be new here. |
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ireviewer
join:2007-12-12
Hudsonville, MI
| reply to VTBrendan
Well, it's the new year now and I still haven't received any payment from ViaTalk. What's more, besides the one post above, I have had no contact with Brendan or anyone else from ViaTalk, even having sent 8 PMs and countless other emails. A simple response, an explanation, and a set date at which this matter will be resolved is all I'm asking for. If ViaTalk were any other company, I would have expected that they would get around to those things weeks ago without any prompting required. At this point, if I continue to be ignored, I will assume that it is purposeful and may begin taking legal action - the amount of money I'm missing is substantial enough to warrant that. |
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racer510
join:2007-10-17
High Springs, FL |  reply to VTBrendan
Brendan, can you please confirm if I will receive my commission payment with this "group"? I sent you a PM
Thanks |
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farmer9282
join:2008-01-03
Ladera Ranch, CA | reply to ireviewer
Brendan,
I too have sent you a PM regarding my affiliate payment.
Please advise.
Thanks
Chris |
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B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
| reply to ireviewer
As a point of information, I note that the OP (ireviewer) did get paid - »Re: ViaTalk's BBB record now "unsatisfactory" .
-- B
--
In a realm outside causality and function |
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Russell_
join:2006-04-06
| Yes, it appears to be the squeaky wheel model ... you hear about this forum and how publicizing your status helps, come here and do publicize it, and eventually get paid - note the post ahead of yours from farmer9282 who joined 2008-01-03.
--
Russell |
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B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28
| Yeah, it's really an airing-dirty-laundry situation that I'd rather not be witness to. 
I don't know what a normal or acceptable turnaround is for these things, but if it's under a month or two I'd suggest keeping it private -- not that it's any of my concern... 
-- B
--
In a realm outside causality and function |
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racer510
join:2007-10-17
High Springs, FL
| I agree and have attempted to contact both the affiliate dept. and Brendan about this over the past 4 or 5 months with not one response. The first sale of this batch that I am waiting for goes back to 5-1-2007. It seems that you have to file a complaint with the BBB and or threaten with a lawauit plus publicly complain here to get noticed and responded to.. |
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druber
join:2000-04-11
Marlborough, MA | I noticed that too. I find it odd (to say the least) that after all of these contortion, when someone finally *does* get paid, their attitude seems to be "it's all good!", as if this was a one-time thing, or something... |
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RockyBB
Premium
join:2005-01-31
Castle Rock, CO
| reply to racer510
said by racer510 :I agree and have attempted to contact both the affiliate dept. and Brendan about this over the past 4 or 5 months with not one response. The first sale of this batch that I am waiting for goes back to 5-1-2007. It seems that you have to file a complaint with the BBB and or threaten with a lawauit plus publicly complain here to get noticed and responded to.. which is all evidence that you should have shut off your banners and links already.
This discussion is very valuable, especially to those evaluating whether or not to sign up new with VT. Our industry experience with the flame out of SunRocket (professional agents will also remember Worldcom, TouchAmerica, Spring Valley and Global Crossing) teaches that the first warning sign is when the provider does not take care of its obligations. We are not able to know if a carrier doesn't pay its carrier bills, but we can know -- by reading this thread -- if they don't pay their obligations to the sales staff. My view is that any reasonably risk averse person considering VT as a provider should absolutely NOT prepay for a year of service because VT is not able to fulfill its obligations. Not until everyone in VT's food chain has been paid, and is regularly paid without having to complain or make phone calls to get paid, should anyone feel comfortable at all in sending any prepaid amounts, including renewals, to VT.
--
"Teleblend has an agreement with the Assignee to solicit and support former SunRocket customers." |
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racer510
join:2007-10-17
High Springs, FL
| I agree and have taken the banners down but most of my clients are willing to take the risk and I just email them a link. Viatalk really is a great value and most of my clients (actually all but the wife) have been very satisfied with the service (they don't have to deal with support,I do). I just wish they would "do the right thing" from the get go rather than requiring the customer to complain and jump through hoops to get action (e-911 fiasco a few months ago for example). |
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Judson
join:2007-11-20
Fremont, NE
edit:
January 4th, @12:40PM
| reply to druber
said by druber :I noticed that too. I find it odd (to say the least) that after all of these contortion, when someone finally *does* get paid, their attitude seems to be "it's all good!", as if this was a one-time thing, or something... Just because I finally received a payment after 5 months of my initial first payment from ViaTalk doesn't mean I'm satisfied or happy. I still have lots of 'pending approval' sales that date back as early as 7-30-2007. Brandi definitely needs to get well and step up the approval process by clearing legitimate sales from all affiliates.
Now, if I were to get these sales approved and another payment within a reasonable time frame I'd be happy. ViaTalk really needs to get squared away with all its affiliates or I can see no one bothering to advertise for them. |
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RockyBB
Premium
join:2005-01-31
Castle Rock, CO
| said by Judson :I can see no one bothering to advertise for them. it's not just the advertising. the more bitching about not getting paid by VIA TALK the more chances that search engines will find these threads about VIATALK and prospective customers looking for VIA TALK INFORMATION will find that VIA TALK does not meet its obligations and thus will scare off additional sales, especially of prepaid amounts which seems to be important to feed the beast.
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"Teleblend has an agreement with the Assignee to solicit and support former SunRocket customers." |
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