Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is almost done! The last two weeks Greg, Nick, and Stephen competed to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines. But who completed the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
A while ago I suggested to TopCashBack that they double their Radisson cash back rate in conjunction with the big Club Carlson summer promotions (see “Breaking News: TopCashBack to double Radisson rebate”). Since then, many people have received their 10% back, but many others have not. For recent news about this, see this Deals We Like post: Club Carlson and TopCashBack. Personally, I’ve had mixed results with TopCashBack, so I thought it would be worth sharing my experiences and asking readers to contribute theirs.
Club Carlson
My first reservation and stay at a Club Carlson hotel booked via TopCashBack went without a hitch. The full 10% cash back appeared in my account as pending about 4 or 5 days after my completed stay. This was a stay at a Radisson hotel in which I used my Club Carlson business ID to get a 5% discount.
My second reservation was at a Country Inn & Suites booked with points & cash. It’s been about 10 days since my stay, but so far nothing has posted from TopCashBack.
Here is an excerpt from an email I received from Natasha at TopCashBack regarding Club Carlson cash back issues:
There was a tracking blip between May 31 and June 22 but we have been promised by Club Carlson that all the cashback will most definitely be paid out.
Well, my second stay was booked in that time frame, so the “tracking blip” seems like as good of an explanation as any. I see this response as a positive step and I’m hopeful that we’ll all get the cash back we’re due.
Plastic Jungle
I clicked through TopCashBack to PlasticJungle on Monday evening and by Tuesday morning TopCashBack already reported my 4% cash back as pending. Nice!
Cardpool
Cardpool is a weird merchant. They stop giving cash back through any portal once a customer has reached $1000 worth of transactions (regardless of whether the transactions were through portals). TopCashBack worked without a hitch for me until I exceeded $1000 in transactions with Cardpool. As expected, I stopped receiving cash back after that.
Coupon Trade
I’ve conducted a series of experiments in buying and selling gift cards through Coupon Trade. Generally my experience with Coupon Trade itself has been good, but TopCashBack has not been working. Early on, I received the expected cash back for two sales I made, but didn’t receive anything for a third. After I submitted a ticket, TopCashBack credited me manually for the 3rd sale. Since then, though, I’ve made quite a few purchases and sales (including 5 last week), but none have received cash back. Once I get around to it, I’ll file tickets for all of these missed purchases and sales.
Staples
TopCashBack continues to list Staples at a flat 5.5% cash back for all purchases including gift cards. They have a strange notice about purchases made with a gift card not being eligible. I find that strange because Staples gift cards can’t be used online anyway. So, I think it would be impossible to run afoul of that condition. Since they moved to this flat 5.5% rate, I bought one gift card and received the full cash back amount. At least one reader, though, has reported trouble with this. Any one else?
Referrals
TopCashBack has been running a promotion in which you can earn $10 by referring a friend to TopCashBack (normally, the rate is $5). TopCashBack gives you a referral link like this one: www.topcashback.com/ref/frequentmiler and when a friend uses the link to sign up, you get $10 once they themselves earn $10 of cash back. While I have no way of knowing if all of my referrals are working, I have received quite a few. Thank you, by the way!!!
Reader Experiences
Have you used TopCashBack? If so, what has worked, and what hasn’t? Comment below.
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Love topcashback. I Use topcashback to get money back on online shopping . They have a very extensive offer list and credit your account in a very timely manner. Please sign up using my referral link http://t.co/dgL2Sf936g #money #free #rebates #cashback #deals #discounts #cash
FM,
I am about to sell gift cards to cardpool via topcashback.
I am getting this message like shown on your post:
Once a unique user has reached the threshold of $1,000 in purchases and sales, in total across ANY reward or cashback sites, they are not eligible for any more cashback from Cardpool and your transactions may stop tracking or go on to be declined.
Is this $1000 per selling transactions of accumulations of all the gift cards selling to cardpool?
If per transactions, it is not an issue, but if accumulation, $1000 is really easy to reach.
What methods do you do to sell your gift cards now?
CHRIS: The $1000 is across all Cardpool transactions. I reached that level long ago. Instead I primarily use TopCashBack to PlasticJungle for 2.5% additional cashback.
Topcashback is the worst cashback site i have used. I submitted missing cashback and they keep saying it takes 2-3 months to even post.. Usually post right away and then i wait 2-3 months to receive cashback..but now their system that i might have cookies not enable. i havent had any problems with other cashbacks..damn
Max and FrequentMiler – any futher info? I have had pending referrals sitting around for multiple weeks and never moved to payable. (FM – used your referral)
IrishTiger: thanks for the referral. Just give it time (lots of time). They will eventually move to payable.
can you use the AAA rate to book and get the bonus points on Carlson one?
Arthur: Yes
For those who found your account deleted, it’s because of TCB’s anti-scam procedure for a referral sign up abuse.
I just looked online for staples gift card T&Cs, and the one I saw still says “May be used only in Staples U.S. retail stores.” The icon under Select a Credit Card is obviously only my assumption.
Ted F: My guess is that the Staples icon is for Staples branded visa cards.
Though I didn’t try it, but under Select a Credit Card, there is a Staples icon option before Visa, MC, etc.
you CAN use Staples gift card as payment online now.
Ted F: Are you sure you can use Staples’ gift cards online now? When I try to check-out online I only see two options: 1) Staples Coupons & Reward Checks; or 2) Select a Credit Card
I used your referral link also. Wonder if that has anything to do with the deletion
If you use Ad Block Plus, or other ad blocking software, disable it when you use TCB or many transactions won’t post.
And TCB do pay out – I’ve received over £1000 in the past two years from their UK site.
Has anyone actually received a payout from TCB yet? This whole indefinite pending thing has me worried..
@Tony: my TCB acct no longer seems to exist either and I cannot login. What is the deal? I think TCB is a scam.
FM: I would suggest you start a post asking who used your referral link. I certainly used it. My guess is that TCB is stiffing you out of over half your referral money. Those TCB people seem to be a bunch of crooks!!!!!!!
Signed up for TCB, sold some gift cards thru Plastic Jungle. I went to log into my account yesterday and it no longer exists. It’s like I never even signed up, despite the welcome letters.
Nicole: I don’t know, but as long as it still shows under pending you should be OK