Just a reminder...

If you requested a test check, you need to fill out the form that's linked at the bottom of the Test Check page once you deposit the check so I know you did it. With all the checks that are going out it's impossible for me to keep track of who's deposited it or not. I'd highly prefer it if you wrote down the check number as that makes it much easier for me to look it up, but if you didn't that's okay too.

Clarifications and more argh

Just to clarify a point that there seems to be confusion on - the new noncredit refund program is intended to refund the cost that you paid for a trial that didn't credit. You cannot get the actual credit by submitting for this program. This means that:

- Free trials can't be submitted.. there is no cost to you.
- Submitting for it means I will refund you the cost of the trial, not what it would have paid if you had gotten credit.

This is intended only for offers that were trials and does not apply to Paid to Shop items since those cost different amounts depending on what you bought. If it's over $10, it wasn't in the trial category.

And now on to more argh:

One of my biggest pet peeves is people who post tutorials and contact others trying to teach them how to cheat. And then they lie to me or get belligerent. I am not stupid, and I really, really don't need that kind of business. So please see the new CashDuck rule #5:

5. Anyone whose account has had three or more reversals may have their account removed without payment. Anyone found to be cheating or trying to cheat may also be removed. This includes publicly indicating that you have no interest in the offers or have repeated offers.

(The Rules are a list of the most important rules to follow when using CashDuck, in addition to the terms of service. They are the top item in the help files.)

I really appreciate the efforts of users who find this kind of activity and bring it to my attention - I can't be everywhere on the Internet and I do appreciate knowing that things are happening. Things that are OK include favorite offers, how to clear cookies, etc. Things that are not OK include how to change your IP address and alter your mailing address, or fake having a business, or telling others that they should repeat offers. This kind of stuff just drives up the WALL.

Argh...

For the moment, let me just say that some bad stuff is happening. I know a lot of new things have come on board this month but more may be needed. More updates later.

New payment requirements and the test check procedure

There is quite a lot of hubbub about the new payment policy regarding Internet-only payment methods. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, please log in and read your inbox messages.) Fraud is increasing rapidly in the GPT world, and steps need to be taken to discourage cheaters. The biggest problem is people who are using others' names and addresses (probably taken from the phone book or a mailing list) in order to seem legitimate, then using stolen or fake credit cards to complete offers and cashing out using Paypal, which doesn't check that the name you are sending the money to is the name that's on the bank account. So in order to discourage the cheaters, everyone who hasn't already received a payment through the mail is going to need to either go through the test check procedure (which I will describe shortly) or receive their next payment by a postal mail method like a check. Anyone who has already received a feathers prize gift card through the mail has had their account marked verified as well. However, you cannot request a gift card in the future to get your account verified since that's an obvious loophole. So if you have previously gotten all payments by Paypal, you will need to request a check in June and then once you receive that, you can continue using Paypal.

PLEASE NOTE: This new rule only applies to new payments. Any request that has already been put in during May is NOT affected.

Now onto the test check procedure. This will be something you can do off the payment cycle to verify your account. You do NOT have to do this if you don't want to - you can request your next payment by a postal mail method and that is fine also. This is just an additional method to verify your account.

The test check procedure will run like this:

1. You put in a request for a test check. The check will be for $1 with a fee of $3. So this will cost you $4 but you will get $1 back.
2. You will put in a form on the Test Check page to let me know you requested it.
3. I will mail you a check for $1. I will move the first form request to the completed box.
4. When you get the check and deposit it, you will put in another form with the date you deposited the check and the check number.
5. When the check clears on my end, I will mark your account verified.

Note again that this check is sent out off-cycle, so you don't have to wait a month to get it. I will send it out within a few days of receiving the request. You must actually deposit the check and have your signature on the back in order to get verified. You cannot sign it over to another person. Once it clears and I mark your account verified, then you will be able to use Paypal from that point forward.

On another note: From now until Tuesday night at 10PM EST, referrals will cost only20 feathers!