Lastminute.com warning – NO PAYMENT FOR LAST 2 MONTHS

[aly]

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Just a warning to check you recent payments from Lastminute.com.

My July payment notification came through with the wrong bank sort code.
Now the next one has come through with the same problem.
It might just be me but worth checking

The story so far.....................

It should have been the simplest thing to sort with an email so I tried that………..
Started early August:

3 x Emails to affiliates-UK address (seemed the logical one to communicate with) – no reply to any

Used the contact page through BeFree – no reply

19th August - Used the contact page through CJ (worth a try)

23rd August - Wahaay! I get a reply from the affiliate guy “I've had a look at your Be Free records and the sort code is correct” (Well, yes I know that so why have you sent it with a sort code starting 93 when my records state it’s 83? - As a matter on interest there are NO banks in the UK that have sort codes starting with 93)
I reply on same day adding my phone number so he can give me a quick call and sort it in a couple on minutes.
(Obviously if nothing is sorted quickly then there is a chance they send the next one to the wrong sort code, though of course this is highly unlikely now that the affiliate guy is aware of the problem and on the case!!)

No phone call so I phone him – the guy doesn’t answer the phone – just uses the answer phone so I leave message with my number etc etc – no reply call.

26th August – I use CJ contact thing again “Could I please get some communication and feedback regarding this matter”

26th August – I also phone again and speak to the answer phone getting nowhere

27th August – I’m off on holiday for 2 weeks so try a different tack – I phone accounts.
Here I speak to David who admits not knowing a lot about that side of things as he has just started there but is helpful and reckons I should talk to they affiliate guy (oh please, if ONLY I could !!) AND gives me the direct phone number for him – he also says he will email the affiliate guy for me. Now I’m getting somewhere, I have the direct phone number – oh the power I feel as I pick up the phone !!
I try the direct number which is answered by ?!! Yeah ok, you knew it would be the answer phone, eh?
(Now I’m really starting to get frustrated!)

2nd September – Wahaay! Another reply from the affiliate guy “Apologies for the delay in getting back to you. I've returned from annual leave only today.
I've checked previous months and the sort code seems to be correct. Nevertheless, I've sent an email to Be free and asked them to check payments made for the last few months.
I'll get back to you once I hear back.”

Now, looking at this last email ………
“Apologies for the delay in getting back to you. I've returned from annual leave only today” ………so, does this means when the guy is away there is no affiliate support? (Not that there is any when he’s here – ok, sorry, touch of sarcasm there, hardly justified!)

“I've checked previous months and the sort code seems to be correct.” ………..that’s why I have never complained in the past – It’s only now that you are sending to the wrong sort code that I have a problem – namely that I’m not getting paid!

“Nevertheless, I've sent an email to Be free and asked them to check payments made for the last few months.
I'll get back to you once I hear back” ………………………he hasn’t



Now if you remember back a bit you will see I was on holiday for 2 weeks (Ibiza – very nice!) so I actually didn’t open the 2nd September email until my return on Monday 27th September at one o’clock in the morning.
I then sit down and quickly reply, again with my phone number and a request for the courtesy of a phone call because I’m now worried the next payment will be sent with the wrong sort code again (though of course this is highly unlikely now that the affiliate guy is aware of the problem and on the case!!)

Tuesday 28th September
Postman arrives with the next payment notification from Lastminute. It’s got the wrong sort code AGAIN!
(Now, I’m not just frustrated, I’m also getting embarrassed, you see I’m a Lastminute.com shareholder!)

Tuesday morning I phone the affiliate guys answer phone a few times but can’t be bothered talking to it as I’m in a bad mood and it never says anything back to me.
Tuesday afternoon I phone accounts and speak to Emma, now I feel better, she is really helpful, first she mentions the affiliate guy but quickly changes the topic when she hears my tears dripping onto the phone. Then she tries to find stuff on the computer, without any joy, then she takes all my details and phone number and says she will get back to me. I have faith in Emma.

Thursday, today, now – oh well, nothing from Emma !! Though I still have a bit of confidence in her – gut feeling – one of those people that tries hard to help (though she may have an uphill struggle)

Anyway, I’ll keep everyone informed of what happens because it’s an interesting and fun story!

Meantime if anyone finds they also have had the sort code problem could you let me know?
Also, if anyone has managed to break the secret encrypted contact code for communicating with the affiliate guy could you let me know ?!!

Cheers
Aly

[Ste]

Deleted post, should of been a PM!

[drivetowin]

Why not just swap and pick up their links from CJ - I get paid for loads of lastminute transactions regularly every month through CJ

[purple]

agree with kbudden payment more regular and conversion has been so much better since switching to CJ.

[aly]

Originally posted by kbudden
Why not just swap and pick up their links from CJ - I get paid for loads of lastminute transactions regularly every month through CJ

Yup, that was the first thing I did a few weeks ago but I still have the problem of getting the two payments not recieved.
It would also be good in the future to have an affiliate manager who is contactable by affiliates.

Thanks anyway

Cheers
Aly

[Flightmapping]

Not sure how much the problem is a one off or regular case, but I'm still finding BA regularly don't pay, and have still never paid their VAT bill either.

LM can be switched to CJ - or Ebookers (convert better & pay more imho), but BA can't be switched to much (some people like booking direct with airline, especially as it is easier to search for best fares +/- 7 days of date of travel etc)

[purple]

I also have problems with BA their invoices never tie in with what they pay me, must be the VAT, never really checked, will get my book keeper to look at aka the wife!!

[aly]

Just the (fingers crossed) end of the story with this.

I sent another (somewhat agitated!) email to affiliate guy on Friday and this was sent on to Kim at ValueClick who has just phoned me.
She looked up my site, saw they had sent it to the wrong bank sort code (noooooooo, really?!!) and said the money will be in my bank this week. Less than a minute to sort a 2 month problem.
Also had an email today from the affiliate guy, further appologies etc.

In the end it seems to show:
Lastminute need a better contact/communication system with affiliates.
also:
When a wrong sort code is issued it is rejected by the banking clearing system. Notification is made to the sender, in this case Be Free. This was obviously not looked into which shows a fault at Be Free.

My sympathies to others that have frustrating issues like this, I know there are plenty out there!

Cheers
Aly
ps: Never got a call back from Emma at accounts but hey, she was nice to talk to anyway !!