I read that some online writers also participate in paid surveys to make some extra cash; so I am going to be checking out some of the most highly recommended survey sites.
Vindale Research (referral link) is the first paid survey site I checked, based on the recommendation of a friend.
The sign up process was easy, and you get $2 just for filling out your basic profile, but to pass the first tutorial (and therefore be allowed to continue earning) you have to sign up for, and give credit card information to, a credit reporting website. You then get to fill out a $5 survey about the site.
I had mixed feelings about this, but based on my friends recommendation of Vindale, I submitted the information. Now I just have to remember to cancel the membership before the free trial is over.
The $5 will supposedly be added to my account within 2 days when Vindale confirms my completion of joining the credit reporting site.
Completing that survey opened another $5 survey, this one for car insurance. I completed this survey also, even though they asked for a lot of personal information and I had to agree to be contacted by 8 (yes 8) insurance agents.
Upon providing all of the requested information, the insurance quote site told me I was not eligible for their program and perhaps I already had a quote online with them. (I guarantee I do not because I would not have provided the information had I not been assured by my friend that it is, indeed, legit.
So, I went back to the Vindale site, and completed the survey based upon my experience. I am supposed to be informed within 2 days if that survey is accepted. If it is, a $35 survey is supposed to open. I doubt it will be accepted, though, because of the message from the quote site.
This is not intended to be a rant, as long as I remember to cancel the credit reporting membership, this will have been an easy way to earn a little bit of money. I just wanted to share the experience because survey-taking is supposed to be a valid income source for web writers. I'll let you know more about this site when I have more information,and if you would like to add anything or even add your own referral link for one of these sites, feel free to leave a comment.
Hi, Just an update on this site: the credit reporting company charged my credit card $1 for my free trial. I'm leaning toward not recommending this site, mainly because the training required to get higher paying surveys forces you to give out credit card info, says you wont be charged, and then sneaks in charges immediately. I don't want to say the site is not legitimate, but I am currently FEELING as if I have been cheated (at least out of a dollar.) I'll add any updates I have later here in the comments area.
ReplyDeleteOkay... another update even though its only been a couple of minutes... I logged into my account at Vindale and it now shows a $7 balance, because the survey for the credit reporting site was approved. So... I am currently blaming the credit reporting site rather than Vindale and plan to call the credit reporting site shortly about the $1 charge and to cancel the "membership" before they take more money. I also plan to call my bank and make sure they know the charge was not approved since I was agreeing to a free trial, not a $1 trial.
ReplyDeleteI guess I still cannot recommend or not recommend the site, since I don't have the money in hand, but I think them crediting my account promptly is a good sign, and I'm counting on my friends recommendation of the site since she's never led me wrong before.
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ReplyDeleteHi again, I tried to leave this amoment ago but forgot to leave the link to the AC article in case you want to check it for yourself. Nevermind - I can't get the link to paste in. You can run a search for Vindale and Associated Content and should find it.
ReplyDeleteI don't have anything new to report about Vindale Research as far as my own experience goes. I've done a couple more surveys, found then time consuming but kind of fun. One other did ask for credit card information in order to complete it, so I didn't finish that one.
The reason I'm popping back in with a new comment: I found an article on Associated Content that says to beware of Vindale. It's from 2008, so things could have changed in the years between then and now, or the author might have opted out without giving it a chance. (She does say they probably actually pay for the surveys you do.)Hi again, I don't have anything new to report about Vindale Research as far as my own experience goes. I've done a couple more surveys, found then time consuming but kind of fun. One other did ask for credit card information in order to complete it, so I didn't finish that one.
The reason I'm popping back in with a new comment: I found an article on Associated Content that says to beware of Vindale. It's from 2008, so things could have changed in the years between then and now, or the author might have opted out without giving it a chance. (She does say they probably actually pay for the surveys you do.)
As far as my review of this company, I guess the real proof will come when (if) I reach the $50 payout limit and can tell you if they actually come through with payment. (I hope it's soon and I'm hoping to be back with good news when that time comes. I think it will, because it was so highly recommended to me, but we'll see.)
As far as my review of this company, I guess the real proof will come when (if) I reach the $50 payout limit and can tell you if they actually come through with payment. (I hope it's soon and I'm hoping to be back with good news when that time comes. I think it will, because it was so highly recommended to me, but we'll see.)
Still nothing concrete to report either way on this one - just checking in with an update.
ReplyDeleteAfter spending 25 minutes answering a strange mixed bag of questions, I got this message:
Thank you for your interest in participating in our surveys. Unfortunately we are unable to record your participation in this survey due to one or more of the following reasons: 1.You or someone else using the same computer has already participated in this survey.
2.The country under which you are registered does not match the location of the computer you are currently using.
3.Sometimes, if interviews are rushed through they can't be used and you may not be eligible for the survey reward.
4.Our security system detected that someone using this computer engaged in irregular activity.
So, they got my honest answer to numerous questions, and I won't be getting my big ole buck fifty for 25 minutes of (now) wasted time. Honestly, I don't know why I did it, I kept thinking it had to be almost done, but it just kept going.
I guess I'm still questioning their ethics, and kind of feeling like I'm being tricked.
sooooo what ended up happening???
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ReplyDeleteOnline Surveys That Pay