Ok, so around the end of October I had read where a bunch of people were "signing up" to be Guides for ChaCha. I looked into the site, it seemed legit, I applied, took the test, scored over 90% and was accepted within about a 24 hour span.
The concept behind ChaCha is that people can text from their cell phones, questions about ANYTHING they want... from sexual to religous, intellectual to often stupid. My job as a "Guide" is to answer those questions utilizing the "knowledge database" they offer and if it's not quickly found in there you go to the web.
As with any "new" job there's a bit of a learning process. The hardes thing for me was the size limit of 130 characters per answer. Sounds easy enough until you try it, as your'e answering intricate questions about protons, mathematical equations, research papers, and such. I, of course, had a few answers in the beginning that weren't exactly what they should be.... my bigges example was when (pardon me for this thought but the person was an idiot) this person texts "Where are the condoms in meijer's? "
The way I handled it was to type in the exact question, no real hits, type in meijers stores, looked online, they don't exactly give store layouts on their websites and my final answer was "You should probably ask a clerk". Ok, maybe that wasn't the best way to answer but seriously, you're asking a person in some other state where to find an item in a store that they've probably never even been in. But anyways, that was my "dumbest" answer I gave.... and rightly so was "cited".
Now we move to the citations. They do a QC (quality control) check and send you generic messages regarding your answers that they do not feel are done properly. No explanation of WHY or HOW it was improper is given, just a generic statement of the question, your answer and that it was cited for either "presentation" or "citation", which I'm assuming is they didn't like the site I found it at but I'm not 100% on that as it doesn't say anything MORE than those 1 word explanations.
Oh, but it gets better.... so they tell you that if you don't agree you simply click onto the forums or the knowledge base area of ChaCha and can debate the QC issue and why it was pulled. Mind you, the areas they mention do NOT exist. I've looked. On top of that, 1/2 the time I was "working" in their programming their system didn't wok properly and was constantly "down" for repairs or "updates".
Working from October 23 to today I made ALMOST $100. Not bad for some play time on the computer, not long hours & doing it when I felt like it. I'm not going to get rich but it's nice to think you can add an extra $100 to your income to help out here and there with extras. You noticed I used the word... ALMOST. Their "rule" states that if you reach OVER $100 by the 15th of the month you will be paid, direct deposit. If you don't make OVER $100 by the 15th then too bad for you.. you don't get any money until the next month, assuming you break the $100 mark. Note today's date, November 14th. Hmmm? Coincidence? Perhaps.
So I'm plugging away, need about $4 to complete the $100+ mark and I logout, come back and go to log in and it won't log me in. I'm thinking, is there a problem? All day they had been shutting down and "updating" as it was so I wasn't surprised that they chose the day before "cutoff" to suddenly have issues. I waited a bit, came back later. I wanted that damn $4!!!! I the mean time I check my email and there's a "notice" there that due to my "QC" issues they are terminating the account. Mind you, with over 800 questions answered I've received probably 10 "QC" comments from them and NONE of them could be addressed by me.
I'm sitting there dumbfounded. 2 Days ago I was listed and congratulated on the site for being so wonderful, 100% QC , 200+ Queries in a week, Top Guide listing and suddenly the day before "payout" I'm basically told I'm "not good enough"? Strange? Oh don't worry, according to them I'll "get my pay deserved within 45-90 days" LOL Quite different than "paying out on the 15th" isn't it? I have a feeling I will NEVER see a cent from these scam artists.
I've alerted my Credit Union that they have my account information and they have a watch on it so nobody can attempt to remove funds at all. I never have much in there anyways as it's not my main account but just to be safe. I did give them W9 info after investigating the legitimacy of the company and they are a "legit" company but have only been around since January 2007 I believe it was or maybe even 2008... I can't recall and oddly enough you can't access the info any more now as I'm suspended as a Guide! LOL
My info isn't worth much as far as stealing identity or anything. With a recent divorce and losing my house in it because of the fighting with the ex it's not like I'm even remotely "credit worthy" and someone could take my info and run with it. I don't really worry about that part but I do believe I'll turn them into the Better Business Bureau. The bank was alerted and they put in a form that alerts the Federal Government to possible scamming with accessing account information so I'm not really concerned there either. I'm just very, very ANGRY! I doubt I'll see a cent of what I worked for!
Oh well... and that's what I get for going against my every grain and thought process I have ... working for an "online" business! LOL You'd think I'd eventually get SMART? *wink*
So has anyone else had issues with ChaCha? Have you gotten paid? Had "QC" issues? How much have you made? Do you think I'm correct in thinking it's a scam and I won't see my money?
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Comments: 66 ( 9 removed by Beverly P. )
but it sounds frustrating
Sorry you had a bad experience and I hope you do get your money.
Good luck!
I don't think it is a scam. I did get money, they don't ask for my money. I am like you, if they steal my identity....well they won't get very far. They are a new company and have only rolled out this SMS Guide thing this year, so I imagine there are lots of problems and issues to be expected until they get it straightened out.
They are really cracking down on the accuracy thing lately it seems. Hope I don't get caught on a bad day and lose my job.
That's it - I'm not signing up for junk like that again.
Thanks for the heads up.
Since I've been a guide, they have made a lot of improvements to the tools that the guides use and occasionally there are technical problems, but that happens when you make improvements. It happens here on gather all the time. And as a FYI....since I've been a guide, I've received 1 "QC" notice and that was for citing a website that they didn't like as a reference.
In your case, your response itself was not a problem, but it was missing something like "ChaCha again!" - maybe you had that and didn't include that in your post - or maybe the website you referenced was one that they don't like. In their handbook, they specifically have rules about what sites can and cannot be referenced. They are very clear about this. I'm only mentioning this so that maybe it will give you a little better understanding about why that happened.
I think that a series of unfortunate circumstances happened all together and since you weren't able to get answers, you came to your own conclusions. I would also be upset and mad, but I don't think that ChaCha is a scam. I do think that they sometimes have troubles with their site dues to upgrades, I do think they are cracking down on quality control because they want a great product, and they do have a forum and feedback area. I'm sorry for your troubles, but I hope some of this helps to put some of this in perspective for you.
And, I doubt that I would ever sign up with them, especially after hearing your dilemma.
paying it forward
I just wanted to say I am finally going through what is now under 6,400 pieces of gather new mail that is in my inbox on here. So with that in mind I have finally come to a piece of mail that was addressed to me in regards this article submission you have created to share with the gather community. Thank you for taking the time and sharing your piece with us here at gather. :o)
Sorry that you put so much work into it with nothing (so far) other than frustration in return. :o\
Like I said she has been paid and is very happy with the company, they are not an online social networking site that lets you rack up ad money, like BT or Gather, but you actually work. Her only complaint has been the decline in questions since the limit was set, but it has gotten better with a change in interests.
I know there are QC guidelines and if you get several they start watching your account closely for bad answers and then have the option to terminate you. It was all in the handbook.
Ok, I just looked up Missy's account info and she indeed only has the two QC things and was going about the same time so ten is quite a bit higher for the same time period.
That said, ChaCha HAS been having some technical issues recently. This has happened before in the past when they implement new features and system changes. Hopefully everything will be back to normal soon, though there is rampant speculation in the forums that the company is failing.. I guess we'll see what happens.
The company has been around since 2006 and started out as a desktop search service. They started with the SMS service this year.
10 Qc's was an off the wall number for over 600+ questions and 99% of those QC's were for the way they were typed ... meaning I used the number 2 for a word instead of to, etc. You simply cannot answer many questions with 130 characters PLUS put their idiotic "Cha Cha with Us" crap on there too. When I tried to contact them, it was futile. I'm not angry or pissed off about the entire thing and for those who ARE being paid whoopee for you. I'm stating what happened to me and that their site sucked in the less than one month I was on it. I found it odd timing that just before the $100 mark to make cut off for payment they take me from being 100% QC and in the top guides listing to being worthless and not doing my job.
As for those who chose to swear at me and be ignorant, I have removed your comments and will do so if you EVER come to one of my articles and use foul language and call names again. You have proven your intelligence and I can see why you would ADORE an obvious bunch of losers like ChaCha and pan to their level of intelligence. Brian Jones' comment was removed for this very reason, as was Rachel D's (who felt the need to comment 800 different times to prove her point... can't get it across in one post eh?).
So please, come back in and post of your ignorance again. I would relish in removing your ignorant comments. To those who disagree and knew how to disagree like a mature adult with decent language... thank you. I'm glad you enjoy ChaCha, there are obviously more than just myself out there that have NOT enjoyed them nor enjoyed some of their very ignorant customers who ask disgusting, vulgar and immature questions. The idea of the product is wonderful and if the guides were treated right and allowed to actually do their job correctly and hit ignore or disregard or something to get rid of the idiotic questions perhaps the idea would take off. I'm personally glad to see them folding and will enjoy reading of their demise in all of the great "main stream" news information that was quoted above!
http://guideregistration.chacha.com/
When you register please say karilyn.ross@yahoo.com sent you