In "markbers" threads or via his(her) web site he is requesting several bank sign up referrals which (I thought) was not allowed. I reported this to FW over a year ago and nothing was ever done about it. I also reported it again this morning. Sure doesn't seem fair that one person gets to request referrals and others are not allowed.
JustAce
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 2, 2004 @ 8:47a
What the hell are you talking about?
jayK
Senior Member - JayK
posted: Aug. 2, 2004 @ 8:54a
Can you post a link to the offending thread?
It's interesting when you say that you reported this a year ago, but your user ID was registered in Aug 2004...
stateofmind
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 2, 2004 @ 9:21a
jayK said:Can you post a link to the offending thread?
It's interesting when you say that you reported this a year ago, but your user ID was registered in Aug 2004...
Didn't need to be a registered member to report a post back then.
Can't "copy and paste" the link. Search "markber". Post reads "Free money (10-$175)............
GBWisc
Senior Member - 3K
posted: Aug. 2, 2004 @ 9:36a
I'm looking at that post and am not seeing the referrals.
He is not asking that you sign up through his name so he can receive the money. If so, then it would not be allowed. He is telling the names of the banks and the amount you would receive if you referred a friend. There is not a problem with that.
First Internet Bank of Indiana-When directed to his site he receives $10 for each referral. Same for the ones below. After being directed to his site, you request the link from him or enter his email address so he receives the referral payment.
There are a few referral links there, but I think it's warranted, since they are deals that are only available by referral. Maybe FW should consider creating its own referral links to those banks...
stateofmind
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 2, 2004 @ 12:26p
jayK said:You're referring to the page he links to...
There are a few referral links there, but I think it's warranted, since they are deals that are only available by referral. Maybe FW should consider creating its own referral links to those banks...
The point is NO referral links are allowed.
GBWisc
Senior Member - 3K
posted: Aug. 2, 2004 @ 12:36p
stateofmind said:jayK said:You're referring to the page he links to...
There are a few referral links there, but I think it's warranted, since they are deals that are only available by referral. Maybe FW should consider creating its own referral links to those banks...
The point is NO referral links are allowed. Well he isn't actually using any referral links on FW. He just says something to the effect of for more information click on the link above... which I wouldn't say goes to "his personal site", but rather a post he made on another board. So 1) it is two degrees of seperation for linking and 2) Like JayK said, you cannot get the deals any other way. He isn't being tricky or deceitful about the referral links, just letting you know that they are there. Again, this info isn't on FW's site, so I guess they could Mod out the link to his post on another board, but I don't think this is a flagarant violation of the referral policy. Seems to be more helpful than personally advantageous.
stateofmind
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 2, 2004 @ 12:44p
GBWisc said:stateofmind said:jayK said:You're referring to the page he links to...
There are a few referral links there, but I think it's warranted, since they are deals that are only available by referral. Maybe FW should consider creating its own referral links to those banks...
The point is NO referral links are allowed. Well he isn't actually using any referral links on FW. He just says something to the effect of for more information click on the link above... which I wouldn't say goes to "his personal site", but rather a post he made on another board. So 1) it is two degrees of seperation for linking and 2) Like JayK said, you cannot get the deals any other way. He isn't being tricky or deceitful about the referral links, just letting you know that they are there. Again, this info isn't on FW's site, so I guess they could Mod out the link to his post on another board, but I don't think this is a flagarant violation of the referral policy. Seems to be more helpful than personally advantageous.
It is "markbers" PERSONAL SITE, he admits it in his other threads directing you to his site (board).
jayK
Senior Member - JayK
posted: Aug. 2, 2004 @ 12:56p
stateofmind said:It is "markbers" PERSONAL SITE, he admits it in his other threads directing you to his site (board).
That's true, he is the site admin at the board in question. However, the nature of his thread is such that referrals are necessary. If you put together a valuable collection of referral-only deals like he did, I'm sure your thread would be left alone, despite the referral links.
So chill out.
GBWisc
Senior Member - 3K
posted: Aug. 2, 2004 @ 12:57p
stateofmind said:...It is "markbers" PERSONAL SITE, he admits it in his other threads directing you to his site (board). Hmmm... I wouldn't exactly say it's a "personal site", but OK. It is a site that is clearly administered by him. It looks more the a message board with a hundred or so users contributing to Banking Info stuff.
What is the main beef here though? Do you have a web page or forum similar to his that you'd like to direct people to? Is he a competitor of yours or something? Since you registered just to post this to the FW forum, I don't know what your motivation is for the linking thing.
Again, even in the offending thread there are only 3 or 4 links in the 75 listed that are for referrals. The links clearly state referral. The page (or post) just seems like a huge list of resources to go to for cash back on accounts.
footn200 (Staff)
Steve - Deputy Dawg
posted: Aug. 2, 2004 @ 2:53p
Hi!
Interesting discussion…
The third-party nature of FatWallet builds our integrity. We host forums for the benefit of all consumers, providing knowledge, value and guidance along the way.
It boils down to this: Is the post for personal gain, in which the OP stands to receive greater benefit than those who follow? Or, is his post simply for the good of our community? While sometimes simple… it’s tough to measure. From what I can tell, the answer is “yes,” the community stands to benefit, yet the OP stands to benefit more.
To his credit, this OP has garnered support from fellow FW’ers, and a positive rating for his thread. Usually when an OP gains out of proportion to his contribution, our members vote and note appropriately. And it is perfectly within members’ rights to comment on any apparent personal gain in the thread.
On the other hand, consistent moderation deletes any posts that stand to benefit the poster. We will modify his post so as to clearly benefit the FW community, maintain its integrity, and yet reduce the chances of personal benefit. We will de-linkify mentions of OP's site.
We’re here to do what’s right, and we’ll consider the available information in so-doing. Feel free to weigh in with more perspectives.
Thanks for being here, everyone!
jayK
Senior Member - JayK
posted: Aug. 2, 2004 @ 5:46p
Maybe you could expand the cash back mall to include these banks, so FW can get a benefit from referrals, and users would still have easy access to these deals?
There are a number of other finance-oriented deals that depend on referrals (for example, the new offer from Citi that gives you $50 if you refer someone to get a new credit card, max of $250) that wouldn't necessarily be worth it for FW to participate in...perhaps there could be a new "referral zone" forum where referrals are allowed? Something like the gmail invitations forum, but more general.
footn200 (Staff)
Steve - Deputy Dawg
posted: Aug. 3, 2004 @ 8:19a
Always open for ideas!
lsufanatic
Addicted Member
posted: Aug. 4, 2004 @ 10:46p
With all due respect to the moderators, the bank account bonus thread is just about useless without the link to markber's site that was deleted. Considering there are only a few referral links out of the dozens of account bonuses that markber has compiled, and none of those are directly linked on FW, I don't see what the big deal is. It is obvious that the intent on this one was to share information and not to fish for referrals.
I am hopeful the issue will be reconsidered and one of the most useful resources on FW Finance will NOT be killed.
markber
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 5, 2004 @ 2:42a
I can remove all "referral deals" from the bank bonus list on the iBankDesign.com webpage that is linked to my FatWallet post. It is not going to be a big loss because these programs offer small bonuses =< $25 and there are only five of them. Will this make a difference?
The ideal solution would be a program that could convert a text with links in BB format to a text with links in Fuse Talk format. If I had it, I could probably convert my iBankDesign post into FatWallet format without wasting too much time. Without such a program, I just can not afford to spend time on reformating all links in my post. I failed to find such a program or script online. If FatWallet admins want me to keep FatWallet community informed about bank deals, we have to find a compromise that would allow me to link an iBankDesign web page with the bank deals to my FatWallet post.
Mark
AlPicone
Senior Member
posted: Aug. 5, 2004 @ 2:01p
markber said:I can remove all "referral deals" from the bank bonus list on the iBankDesign.com webpage that is linked to my FatWallet post. It is not going to be a big loss because these programs offer small bonuses =< $25 and there are only five of them. Will this make a difference?
The ideal solution would be a program that could convert a text with links in BB format to a text with links in Fuse Talk format. If I had it, I could probably convert my iBankDesign post into FatWallet format without wasting too much time. Without such a program, I just can not afford to spend time on reformating all links in my post. I failed to find such a program or script online. If FatWallet admins want me to keep FatWallet community informed about bank deals, we have to find a compromise that would allow me to link an iBankDesign web page with the bank deals to my FatWallet post.
Mark
It looks like he put a lot of work into that post. If he is willing to take the time and effort to compile a list where other FW members can benefit from theses deal then why not let him benefit also. If you dont use hsi referal link then no one gets the refferal bonus. Why should it go to waste. Better in a fellow FWers pocket than a banks pocket!
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