Paid Survey FAQs – Part II
10. Who can register with Paid Survey websites?
Almost anyone is eligible to sign up to market research panels and complete online surveys, although some companies may have certain age and country residence restrictions. For example our UK paid survey section details sites that only allow UK members. However we also hold a directory of International market research providers that allow participants from around the world.
The majority of surveys require users to be 16 and over, have access to the internet and have access to a land line or mobile phone. Respondents also need to inform the bill payer of any phone line they wish to use for this purpose ahead of time. There are a few market research companies which also run surveys for under 16s although they are managed under strict UK legal guidelines.
The GetPaid4Survey registration survey is open to UK residents only you are 16 or over. Besides that, all we need is your honest opinion!
11. Are Market Research Sites free to join?
Most research sites are free to join, some may ask for a registration fee. Be wary of those sites that ask for a registration fee. They have spent their time researching all the paid surveys online to find the legitimate ones, and have listed them all in one spot. The one time sign-up fee that is charged by these websites are to maintain their directory and keep their paid survey list up to date and accurate. However In some cases you may have little guarantee as to what you are receiving for your money and little come back once you hand the money over.
Generally speaking any website that is offering paid registration has little more to offer than any other free research website. In most countries market research companies are prohibited by their governing bodies to charge participants for joining their panel.
You can be assured that there are no costs for joining the GP4S newsletter programme. Being a member means that you will be the first to hear about new paid surveys as well as handpicked opportunities for focus groups and mystery shopping exercises.
12. Why do I have to fill in the profile questionnaires?
Most market research providers ask registrations to complete an initial profile survey (called a screening interview) to get a good picture of the users profile and lifestyle. These are extremely important as they are used to match you against relevant studies. You are asked a preliminary set of questions to figure out what type of profile you have. That profile will be used to determine what surveys and focus groups you will be invited to participate in.
13. How secure is my data?
Most legitimate market research providers will have full privacy policies on their sites which will provide details on how users data is handled. In the UK, companies that collect consumer personal data are obliged to participants that their personal data is kept secure and not passed to other companies.
14. How will I be invited to complete a paid survey?
Survey invitations are usually sent via e-mail by the market research company that you have registered with. Some market research websites have community portals which allow members to participate in live surveys, others announce new surveys on their user forums. GetPaid4surveys is also informed of new surveys as they are released into the community. We then target these via email alert to all our registered members according to the relevant profile information that you completed during the initial registration.
15. What information will I receive in a survey invitation?
A genuine survey invitation will always give you a detailed description of the survey you are being asked to complete including the approximate length of time required and the reward you will receive. It will also notify you if there is a likelihood that you could be screened out during the initial stage of the survey.
16. Will I ever be required to pay to take an online survey?
You do not need to complete any surveys if you do not wish to. It’s entirely up to you. However bear in mind that some companies have a redemption limit that require you to complete a minimum number of surveys before you can claim your cash rewards/points.
17. What do market research sites do with the results?
The results from consumer surveys are used extensively to analyse your feedback. As well as helping to judge consumer opinion on different products and services, the results help companies to assess current consumer trends and consumer opinions on how they should improve and develop their existing products and services. No personal information is used during this process as it does not add value to the analysis of the results. Some survey companies intersperse questions with paid ads or ‘sponsored questions’. This is standard practice and helps to fund the more expensive prize draw competitions. The full use of customer data should be clarified in the data collectors privacy policy which should be made available to consumers before they begin their survey.
Results which show interesting trends are often published by research companies and picked up by major news agencies and published. So the next you participate in a paid survey, be aware that the information you give could be fuelling the next tabloid headline!
18. Can I create more than one account to earn more money?
We wouldn’t recommend it. Survey companies have wised up to tactics used in the past by unscrupulous members who have tried to scam the system. We would recommend that you only have one account per survey. However there is nothing wrong in registering with all the companies to make sure that you are first in line when new and lucrative surveys are released.
Our own survey identifies multiple account entries and prevent multiple participation in surveys. We also undertake quality checks on completed surveys before allocating rewards. Members who don’t abide by these basic and simple rules risk having their accounts deleted, and forfeiting being paid. This is part of our terms and conditions. If you don’t play by the rules, you won’t get paid. It’s as simple as that.
19. How do I register with GetPaid4Surveys?
Simply complete our own short survey registration and you will be entered on to our newsletter programme. Our newsletter programme gives our members first refusal on the latest and best paid surveys to come on to the market. The initial survey will also enable us to profile you and send you even more surveys which are specifically designed for you and your interests. i.e. If you like watching soaps, wouldn’t you like to complete a survey on your favourite soap stars?
As this service is an ad funded venture, we ask that you spend a small amount of time to consider our partner offers during the survey.
20. How do I change my email address after registering?
Please email support@getpaidforsurveys.co.uk, indicating which email address you would like to subscribe for your newsletter.