Affiliate marketing is a trust-based relationship where marketers work tirelessly to promote a brand in exchange for promised commissions. Unfortunately, my recent experience with Funnelish.com has left me both shocked and disappointed. Despite following their affiliate program guidelines, Funnelish denied my rightful $2,100 commission, citing unjustifiable reasons. Here’s the full story of how this company scammed me and broke the trust I placed in them.
The Beginning of the Collaboration
I joined Funnelish’s affiliate program with the goal of promoting their services and earning a commission based on performance. Their website had no clear terms or conditions prohibiting specific types of promotion, such as paid traffic. Seeing this as an opportunity, I invested my own money in paid traffic campaigns to ensure successful conversions and generate sales for Funnelish. My efforts paid off, and I managed to generate significant sales, amounting to $2,100 in commissions.
The Denial of My Earnings
When it came time to withdraw my commission, I was stunned to receive a message from Funnelish claiming that I had violated their terms. According to them, using paid traffic for promotion was against their policy. However, at no point during my onboarding or while using their affiliate platform was I informed of such a restriction. Their website and affiliate guidelines did not explicitly state that paid traffic was prohibited, leaving me unaware of any potential violation.
Questionable Claims About Trademark Use
In addition to denying my commission, Funnelish escalated the situation by accusing me of infringing on their trademark. They alleged that my paid traffic campaigns misused their trademark and threatened me with legal action. This accusation felt like a deliberate tactic to intimidate me into dropping my rightful claim for the $2,100 commission. It was both unjustified and unprofessional, especially considering that no clear rules were communicated beforehand regarding the use of their brand name in promotional campaigns.
Repeated Requests Ignored
Over the course of several weeks, I repeatedly reached out to Funnelish to resolve the issue amicably. I provided evidence of my campaigns, showed proof that their website had no mention of a paid traffic prohibition, and explained my case thoroughly. Despite my best efforts, they refused to reconsider their decision and remained firm in denying my commission. Their lack of accountability and unwillingness to engage in a fair dialogue only reinforced my belief that they were acting in bad faith.
Why This Matters to Affiliates
This experience with Funnelish serves as a cautionary tale for other affiliate marketers. Companies that fail to clearly outline their terms and conditions but later penalize affiliates for alleged violations are not only untrustworthy but also detrimental to the affiliate marketing ecosystem. Affiliates invest their time, money, and energy into promoting brands, and when companies like Funnelish refuse to honor their commitments, it undermines the entire industry.
