Continuing CJ saga

by Sapphire (September 16, 2005)

We’ll know soon enough whether CJ has managed to weasel out of paying me for yet another month. And I’m not the only one who’s noticed that they seem to be reclassifying commissions under new names to get out of paying them until they’ve been paid. When I signed onto CJ, it was definitely not my understanding that we wouldn’t see a dime of our commissions until they got paid by advertisers.

Imagine telling your landlord or mortgage note holder, “I’m not paying you my rent/mortgage this month because my employer didn’t pay me my wages. I asked him nicely, but he said he didn’t feel like it this month. I know I signed something agreeing to pay you each and every month no matter what, but I’m sure you’ll understand I can’t be bound to it.”

Doesn’t work that way, folks.

CJ’s made no attempt to change their Terms. They’ve simply redefined them. Silly me, I thought a “commission” was a sale that showed up in my account. Well, it is and it isn’t. See, there are “new” commissions, and they don’t count because CJ hasn’t been paid for them. There are “locked” commissions, which CJ describes as meaning “we are getting ready to pay you”. Getting ready? What does that mean, exactly? Is that like, “I’m getting ready to go to a party” where I’m actually putting on my clothes to go out the door? Or is it more like the “I’m getting ready to move” which may mean I’m currently researching various areas of the world where I might like to live, and I might actually “get around” to calling a mover in 2009?

I sympathize with CJ’s desire not to pay us until they get paid. I’m sure any employer would like to delay paying wages until they actually get paid for the work they do. Unfortunately, that starts a chain of events that ends in financial chaos - that’s why it’s against the law. You pay according to the obligation you’ve made - not according to your convenience.

If CJ has difficulties in getting payments from merchants, they need to work that out on their own time.

Posted in Affiliate Marketing
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