by Marilyn M.
Member since:
February 14, 2007

A Question for Those on Cash Option for a While...

June 03, 2008 12:58 AM EDT
views: 153 | comments: 36

Since switching to the cash option, I have chosen to cash out weekly and usually have either $10 or $15.  For all but one request, I have asked that the money be deposited into my PayPal account.  The timing on that has been satisfactory - usually a few days.

The problem is that my PayPal account is a business one, and it costs me money every time I ask for the money to be deposited.  I'm not really sure why that is, since when I am paid for surveys and consumer panels, it doesn't cost money.

I decided to request a check once in May, and it seems to be taking forever to get here.  In fact, I have had at least one, if not two, deposits in my PayPal account since I requested a check.  Yes, I did write to earnings@gather.com.  After doing that, I received an email that said:

Please use the Contact Member Support form and explain your issue or question. You can learn more about this member-help system here. 

I did that, and am waiting for a response.  Meanwhile, I thought one of my Gather buddies might be able to share his/her experience with checks for payment. 

Have you ever requested a check?  If so, how long did it take to get to you?

 

 

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Comments: 36

Valerie Roars Jun 3, 2008, 1:05am EDT
I don't know - just requested my first check on the 31st since I don't want fees taken out by PayPal.

Will be interested to hear how long this takes....
Bridget ♥ Jun 3, 2008, 1:07am EDT
I always request by payPal since Ai have a personal account and it's free to get money that way.
Rick *Don Rico* J. Jun 3, 2008, 1:10am EDT
Sorry, I can't help you. I've been on the cash option since... let's see... about... uh... this morning!
Wanda H. Jun 3, 2008, 2:05am EDT
I have yet to cash out but will have it go to paypal. No help here.

WTG Rico!
Bonnie F. Jun 3, 2008, 2:16am EDT
I'm not really any help here either. Hope someone can answer that for you. Usually I like to use Paypal even if they have fees because I get paid much faster than waiting for a check. Clixsense and Pinecone always send their checks quickly, but Clixsense subtracts $3 for processing the check. Oh well, at least it's free money.
ok susie gets around that when I send her personal $$$ but dont know if from a company you can get it that way...she said the fees just went up...but that could be on her ebay account I will ask in the morning.
Sandy (back in Ohio...blah!) Jun 3, 2008, 3:00am EDT
I just requested my first check because I don't want charged by paypal either.
I was told it would take two weeks before they send teh check then how ever long it takes to reach me by than.
Jill~Sexy Back~ V. Jun 3, 2008, 3:04am EDT
I always request paypal because it only takes between a few hours-about 3 days to get that money. I also have a business account and get charged the fee, but when I get paid for surveys don't get charged the fee. The reason for this is because of the way they pay you. For some reason, gather pays our paypal account the wrong way, the way that costs us paypal fees. You can contact paypal and they'll tell you the "free way" that gather needs to process the payments for us to not be charged a fee. Then, you can always email gather and request they make a change
Patty H. Jun 3, 2008, 3:06am EDT
I have not cashed out, sorry I cant be of any help to you. Good luck
Vana R. Jun 3, 2008, 3:16am EDT
Sorry Marilyn...no help here. Don't know anything about the cash option.
Quirky Jessi Jun 3, 2008, 4:14am EDT
Ugh. I was considering requesting checks to avoid the fees as well, but if it's going to be a pain, maybe I'll take this as a warning and just shell out the fees anyway.
I have a personal paypal account also, so I can't help, but I see that some above have given you advice. Wtg on the cash option.
Marianne R. Jun 3, 2008, 6:51am EDT
I stick with the gift cards cause I didn't want PayPal getting anymore cash from me than they already do.
Cheryl W. Jun 3, 2008, 6:54am EDT
I used to get my checks by mail in the beginning...and it would take anywhere from 7 to 14 days. I eventually started using Paypal because it is faster...and I don't really trust the mail delivery the way I used to. We have had our mail put in other people's boxes....and we also receive a lot of other people's mail. I hate paying that fee to paypal too.
Kathryn E. Jun 3, 2008, 6:59am EDT
I have been using checks since the beginning. The checks usually take a week or sometimes, too. I think the checks are cut weekly, so it depends on the day in which you go to earnings.gather.com - which has been down for me for the past couple of days. I like to wait until there is a significant amount before I cash out.

It can take up to 21 days, according to the earnings site. But it has never taken that long for me.
Kathryn E. Jun 3, 2008, 6:59am EDT
Cheryl, you can get a PO box.
Rob Appell Jun 3, 2008, 7:03am EDT
I switched to the cash option after my first 28 days back in February, 2007. When I cash out; I request a check. It usually takes no longer than two weeks to arrive in the snail mail. It's free cash, so I have no problem waiting a couple weeks. I wouldn't do it any other way.
j - Frugal Mom - r. Jun 3, 2008, 7:07am EDT
Well, I can't help you with the question, since I only use paypal. I request my momeny at the end of the month, and it only takes a few days.
Amanda T. Jun 3, 2008, 9:25am EDT
Glad you asked this question. Because I just cashed out several days ago & requested a check because I too didn't want to pay the paypal fees. So we'll see how long it takes.
Amanda T. Jun 3, 2008, 9:28am EDT
I just checked my earnings page and it says that my check has been completed & it actually gave the check number that the check is. So you might want to see if the payment has been completed. So I guess now we are just wanting on the USPS.
Angela A. Jun 3, 2008, 9:46am EDT
I have not earned as much as you but for me even that is ok what ever I make. AS you have stated many times every little bit helps. I have never asked for a cash option here as of right now but the few times I did get a check on one site I was on It took 15 weeks to get 6 dollors and on another site I was on it took 10 days to get a wal-mart card. it is hard to say what site I am the most proud of but both times I was as proud if not prouder and felt with them little bits of accomplishments I fewlt like a million bucks. The best thing I can tell you about this is to keep trying and never give up on what you have earned. If you worked it out it is deserved so never give up on this.
Nancy S. Jun 3, 2008, 10:25am EDT
Just leaving a comment. I don't have the cash option.
Holli G. Jun 3, 2008, 11:01am EDT
i am not there yet...sorry i am of no help
Tory H. Jun 3, 2008, 3:48pm EDT
I've only used PayPal for it, so I'm not too helpful!
Marilyn M. Jun 4, 2008, 2:27am EDT
Okay. I contacted Gather support and was told to check with PayPal. I did that. Here's what they responded: Since you have a Premier account, you will be charged a fee for every payment you receive. However, I can also see that some payments from certain merchants are not assessed a fee. These merchants have an
agreement with PayPal that they will carry the fees for the payments they send out. If you are the recipient of such payments, you won't be assessed a payment fee for that.

I sent that info to Gather support. It sure would be nice if they'd pick up the fees like the other companies - survey and consumer panels - that send me money. I guess we'll see.
☆ Æ’åitÄ¥ ☆ Jun 4, 2008, 2:30am EDT
Thanks for that comment, Marilyn... I have a business account with PayPal and am charged a fee when I request payment. It hasn't really bothered me until I read this response from PayPal saying that other merchants have an agreement with PayPal to carry the fees! Now why can't Gather do that?
Marilyn M. Jun 4, 2008, 9:47am EDT
Exactly, Faith. I wrote and asked Gather about that. MaryAnne has responded that they don't charge the fees, PayPal does, and it doesn't make fiscal sense that Gather would pick up the fees. Other companies do pick up the fees. That's why I didn't even know there WERE fees, because I have paid no fees before I started on the cash option with Gather.

So my next question to her was about being able to receive checks in a more timely fashion. I've been cashing out weekly. I've had 2 deposits to PayPal since I asked for a check. To me, that's too long to wait. Someone said that they write checks monthly. What company does that???
juley g. Jun 5, 2008, 9:49am EDT
Sounds like it takes a couple weeks to get a check, huh?
Ann C. Jun 5, 2008, 7:13pm EDT
Thanks for the info, all. I'm no where near qualifying for the cash option yet - but it's definitely something I'm considering working towards.
Sammie B. Jun 10, 2008, 8:28am EDT
I don't have a paypal account, so I have to request checks. Requested my first one a little while ago for $80 and it came between 7-10 days later. Not too bad, I think.
Robin G. Jun 22, 2008, 11:40pm EDT
thanks for asking about this
Sandy (back in Ohio...blah!) Sep 15, 2008, 2:56pm EDT
I guess when it all comes down to it..I hope they allow the cash option members to go back to gift cards after the first. Because that is what I plan to get. I will not be using a paypal if I will be charged fees and than pay taxes on top of it.
tammy b. Sep 29, 2008, 3:51pm EDT
well so far, I don't see a reason to use the cash option when a paypal reward is an option. I will have to see if I was charged the fee for that reward.
B.B. B. Oct 27, 2008, 12:30am EDT
i also have a business account for paypal... but i also have not cashed out here. it might take me another 3 month to cash out.
jewi lim May 31, 2009, 9:59am EDT

I would just like to ask, do we really have to fill out the address portion when requesting a paypal payout?
Marilyn M. May 31, 2009, 12:47pm EDT

Back when they had the old cash program, you had to fill out a W9 immediately.  Now, I believe that you can wait until you've earned $600.  But I'm not sure about when they need your address. 

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