Skybet changes terms to steal from affiliates

[JackTenSuited]

Sky sell TV subscriptions through various outlets. I know this isn't the case, but just say for example, they had an agreement with Carphonewarehouse to resell their products and services. Instead of being paid £100 per customer sign up, they were told, we will pay you 10% of the monthly bill spend for every customer you sign up for as long as they are a customer. If at some point sky said to CPW, oh we've changed our mind we are only going to give you 2% from next month, but that includes all the customers you have already signed up, do you think CPW would take them to court and would they win?

The affiliate business is pretty unique as I cant think of any other business that pays by way of revenue share. Im sure there are some but I can't think of any, and that makes it more complicated as case law regarding this specific situation will be hard to come to. That doesn't mean a claim wouldn't be successful though.

Good point, I think there are a few discount utility services in the UK that give out monthly commission to agents (utility warehouse??). I imagine if they decided to steal 80% of their agents commissions their would be an uproar (and some sort of recourse)

Thankfully SkyBet are at least located in the UK which makes legal action a lot easier than if they were based in North Korea or something.

[colin3005]

I don't think this email has reached us. Please drop me a private message or add me on Skype (mattpricesky) if you want to discuss it further.

I'll send you a pm, fwiw its showing as been read on the 1st October in affiiiate hub

EDIT: I haven't posted enough to pm, can I get you by email instead? If you want to private message me with an email address I'll email you

Col

[colin3005]

I don't think this email has reached us. Please drop me a private message or add me on Skype (mattpricesky) if you want to discuss it further.

For some reason my reply disappeared
I can't pm as my post count isn't high enough, if you want to pm me an email address I will email you

The message shows as being read on 1.10 in the message centre

Colin

[DanHorvat]

case law regarding this specific situation will be hard to come to.

There's a first time for everything. It's called a precedent

The new owners of Sky are the archetypal evil corporation. They don't care about business, what they care about it making more money, usually by "optimizing" the business by getting rid of the small fish. In this case small affiliates are the small fish.

Don't think that they're doing this because small affiliates represent a small portion of their traffic - quite the opposite. Otherwise they wouldn't go through the trouble of breaching the contract. The difference between an affiliate who doesn't stand up after being reduced to 5% and Skybet, who went through all this trouble, is that Skybet knows how important this is and how much money is involved.

And I repeat - the ultimate goal is to get rid of dead weight. Dead weight, of course, being commissions still being paid for players who were referred a long time ago. The ultimate goal is to have the affiliate say "close my account, you bastards". That's what they want. It's 0% commission for all the players the affiliate already referred. You walk away, they can call another hooker and get another line of cocaine or whatever it is they're doing.

So, what do you think, how much money does Skybet pay per month to small affiliates who haven't had 6 FTDs in that month, for players referred in the past?

That's what's on the table here. Must be a shitload of money.

[RacingJim]

That's what's on the table here. Must be a shitload of money.

I agree totally mate, this will total a decent amount of money per month for customers signed up years ago, add that up over how many affiliates there are and you're definitely going to see a significant sum each month. Especially when even fairly big, long-term affiliates are coming on here and saying they also struggle to convert this program and will be affected by this. Gona be a few mill per year I would assume, going back into the Skybet coffers.

[colin3005]

What I meant by a small portion of the traffic, I didn't mean previously, I meant now. Of course i agree it will be millions they save every year by cutting these off, but the fact that most people who have posted have said they won't be able to get 6 customers a month shows that the level of new business that is being brought in by them is small, therefore ******* them over won't really represent any loss on paper and will save money by paying out 80% less on payments per month. My point was that I am sure people will stop promoting them full stop and therefore hurt the longer term business, this likely won't have been taken into account when they made this decision, and, if the business is getting sold, then they won't give a **** anyway

[RacingJim]

What I meant by a small portion of the traffic, I didn't mean previously, I meant now. Of course i agree it will be millions they save every year by cutting these off, but the fact that most people who have posted have said they won't be able to get 6 customers a month shows that the level of new business that is being brought in by them is small, therefore ******* them over won't really represent any loss on paper and will save money by paying out 80% less on payments per month. My point was that I am sure people will stop promoting them full stop and therefore hurt the longer term business, this likely won't have been taken into account when they made this decision, and, if the business is getting sold, then they won't give a **** anyway

Yep totally agree, as I've said before, any online company such as Skybet that does not see the value of an affiliate model in 2015 is a seriously backward company. The online economy is driven by thousands of small websites mentioning and promoting products, this a valuable channel both in terms of direct signups and as you've mentioned just by brand recognition/mentions people will keep seeing Skybet and that will drive incremental revenue. I'd chip in to any legal case against them. If 50 affiliates chip in £100 then there's your £5000.

[Triple7]

They're posting a handful of affiliates here, they're having thousands and thousands affiliates. Many of them are smaller ones. I guess majority of the affiliates doesn't even bring 6 NDP's every month to the casino that's having their best spots. Imagine if SkyBet is somehwere at 7 or 8 in a Top 10 table...

It's a quite satured brand, so than they do **** like this. Same thing does Betsson and same thing will do more brands. I'm not an affiliate of SkyBet (I got them blacklisted everywhere), but if I were, I would try to unite with some people to take them to court. Precedents are necessairy. Thefty behaviour of SkyThiefs must not be accepted!

[MattPrice]

For some reason my reply disappeared
I can't pm as my post count isn't high enough, if you want to pm me an email address I will email you

The message shows as being read on 1.10 in the message centre

Colin

Thanks - I'll make sure to get back to you tomorrow morning.

[thebookiesoffers]

WOW, I read this as 6 depositors a month, not 6 FTD's. Think me and Matt are going to need a chat tomorrow. Now I realise why so many of you are going so mad about this. Total **** take out of everyone.

All I will say is look at 2 different firms, Stan James who screwed over affiliates and didn't care, now being sold for sod all. Bet365 run a brilliant aff orogram and have grown to be one of the worlds biggest gambling companies. not rocket science or are affiliates just being bummed to make the books look good (which wont last - see Stan James scenario)

[GCG]

Requested the GPWA to close my account

No time for BS

*********** Insult Removed***************

Sorry people but it is what it is : UK finest gambling criminals in action

Last edited by Anthony; Yesterday at 5:57 pm. Reason: Insult removed, infraction applied

[-Shay-]

Requested the GPWA to close my account

No time for BS

*********** Insult Removed***************

Sorry people but it is what it is : UK finest gambling criminals in action

Last edited by Anthony; Yesterday at 5:57 pm. Reason: Insult removed, infraction applied

What did the uncensored post say?

[GCG]

uncensored it said : " snip. it served its purpose "

ooops I feel a second infraction is under its way, but my account will be blocked anyway.

GPWA is pretty strict for its forum guide lines can not say that about their code of conduct regarding their rogue sponsor programs

oh and bye !

[Triple7]

Yep.
Buffalo Partners, Nethive/Winner, BrightShare and some others are still supported by GPWA, while they're know for stealing, scamming and in the case of Buffalo heavily involved in criminal activities.

Also AffActive was GPWA-buddy until a few seconds after started to pick up soaps in jail.

And hell yeah, all SkyBet employees making pathetic statements are clowns too.

[RacingJim]

While Matt is still posting here, who knows there might be some chance to enter into some sort of dialogue about it. Resorting to petty name-calling such as '*****' isn't really going to get anyone anywhere.

[Triple7]

It was better if Skybets started that dialogue before they decided to break a contract and steal from affiliates. It makes no sense all the statements Matt is making here.

[DanHorvat]

Swear jar: £100

T&C: Money will be used to file a joint lawsuit against Skybet.

[-Shay-]

It was better if Skybets started that dialogue before they decided to break a contract and steal from affiliates. It makes no sense all the statements Matt is making here.

One of the problems is, Matt has not really made much of a "statement" - aside from things like (paraphrased) "I'll get back to you" and "I've changed the terms so that they are also on the new terms page".

One would think that the head of affiliates would be willing to enter into public discussion in this matter - but so far, that has not been the case.

[Mattbar]

One of the problems is, Matt has not really made much of a "statement" case.

Also what is the point, Matt has no real power in this decision and is probably now worried about his own team and position considering the SkyBet aff programme is about to cash and burn.

The people making these decisions will never stand to account.

Protest at head office anyone?

[Triple7]

Matt is Head Affiliate Management, isn't it? It seems he agrees & feels comfortable with this behaviour of stealing from affiliates and breaching terms.

And ofc he have reasons to be worried. He's part of a bunch of thieves called SkyBet and they'll lose some affiliates for sure because many people do not like this kind of behaviour.