I would like to post a warning and sharing my experience along the way ! I am exposing an allegedly dishonest attempt at cheating me out of my personal information.
Yesterday I attempted to complete a SSI survey (This is was not done through CS but was a personal invite sent by e-mail as I am a direct member of SSI as well!) They promised $5 incentive (50 points), so I was happy and started the survey - The survey was hosted by Snack Labs and purported to being run by (removed company name) (I tried googling snack lab and could not find ANY results!) (after the fact), anyhow, I answered the survey, knowing I lose nothing to join a panel and later on if I don't like it I could just quit. Anyhow, I answered 25 minutes worth of questions and all was well, until it reached the end where it asked me my personal info to join the panel..........I entered my real name, real home address, phone number, etc..... I did not provide ANY fake info. I have no problems giving my real info to join legit survey panels, done so for years without a problem....... Then what happened next is what really tripped my fuse.
Hitting submit and all excited to receive my $5 incentive and join a new survey panel to discuss a topic that was extremely relevant to me........ I hit the bloody submit button and low and behold.......They apologised that I could not join the panel because according to their records I am a member ?????? WHAT THE BLOODY HELL!!!!!!!!!!! I never joined any such panels..........
They could have asked me screening questions BEFORE..........asking me my home address, phone number, name and other crap......
I was LIVID at that point........ I spent 25-30 minutes on a survey, and did not get paid my $5, AND now some company has my personal info.
So I sent SSI an e-mail - that I will sue them if they and their clients use my survey responses and/or their clients use my survey results and home address and name.......
I have let them know that in 10 days I will be taking my decision, if taking this measure. Unless they can send to me in WRITING that any info I provided on that survey be DISCARDED completely with a guarantee that my personal info is wiped from their F* database (not SSI but their CLIENT!!!!).
So this post serves in sharing my experience. Don't be fooled, some of these type of surveys are selective. They will probably accept only some members but cheat a large majority.......
As far as the survey panel in question, I have joined similar panels in the past and they all make big promises, but you receive little to no incentives and a real waste of time.
I figured I'd enter my information because I was led to believe I qualified and would be part of a panel.
Totally dishonest for them to take my personal info only to then tell me I cannot join.
They will be hearing from my attorney very soon, unless of course he tells me I have no case.........
In such a case, in Canada, small claims court can be used for up to $7000....... This is a classic case of breach of contract, breach of privacy, ambiguity, misrepresentation and deceptive business practices.
Whilst this is not SSI's fault directly, it is one of their clients however, the deal is between SSI and myself, and the only way SSI can resolve this to my satisfaction is if they contact their client and send me an official letter of apology and removal of my name and telephone number from their list, PERMANENTLY.
Yesterday I attempted to complete a SSI survey (This is was not done through CS but was a personal invite sent by e-mail as I am a direct member of SSI as well!) They promised $5 incentive (50 points), so I was happy and started the survey - The survey was hosted by Snack Labs and purported to being run by (removed company name) (I tried googling snack lab and could not find ANY results!) (after the fact), anyhow, I answered the survey, knowing I lose nothing to join a panel and later on if I don't like it I could just quit. Anyhow, I answered 25 minutes worth of questions and all was well, until it reached the end where it asked me my personal info to join the panel..........I entered my real name, real home address, phone number, etc..... I did not provide ANY fake info. I have no problems giving my real info to join legit survey panels, done so for years without a problem....... Then what happened next is what really tripped my fuse.
Hitting submit and all excited to receive my $5 incentive and join a new survey panel to discuss a topic that was extremely relevant to me........ I hit the bloody submit button and low and behold.......They apologised that I could not join the panel because according to their records I am a member ?????? WHAT THE BLOODY HELL!!!!!!!!!!! I never joined any such panels..........
They could have asked me screening questions BEFORE..........asking me my home address, phone number, name and other crap......
I was LIVID at that point........ I spent 25-30 minutes on a survey, and did not get paid my $5, AND now some company has my personal info.
So I sent SSI an e-mail - that I will sue them if they and their clients use my survey responses and/or their clients use my survey results and home address and name.......
I have let them know that in 10 days I will be taking my decision, if taking this measure. Unless they can send to me in WRITING that any info I provided on that survey be DISCARDED completely with a guarantee that my personal info is wiped from their F* database (not SSI but their CLIENT!!!!).
So this post serves in sharing my experience. Don't be fooled, some of these type of surveys are selective. They will probably accept only some members but cheat a large majority.......
As far as the survey panel in question, I have joined similar panels in the past and they all make big promises, but you receive little to no incentives and a real waste of time.
I figured I'd enter my information because I was led to believe I qualified and would be part of a panel.
Totally dishonest for them to take my personal info only to then tell me I cannot join.
They will be hearing from my attorney very soon, unless of course he tells me I have no case.........
In such a case, in Canada, small claims court can be used for up to $7000....... This is a classic case of breach of contract, breach of privacy, ambiguity, misrepresentation and deceptive business practices.
Whilst this is not SSI's fault directly, it is one of their clients however, the deal is between SSI and myself, and the only way SSI can resolve this to my satisfaction is if they contact their client and send me an official letter of apology and removal of my name and telephone number from their list, PERMANENTLY.