Author Topic: Istock's Holiday Schedule and New Payout Policy (Read 9189 times)

lisafx · « **on:** December 03, 2008, 15:41 »

For anyone who hasn't seen it, istock just announced a new payout policy and holiday payment schedule.

Request your payouts by the 16th if you want to be paid by the 24th. Otherwise you will be waiting until January 2.

Here's the text - hope Rob won't mind my posting here for people who don't regularly read the istock forum:

While you're busy celebrating the holiday season this December, our accounting department will be doing the same. This means that you will be unable to make payment requests between 9 a.m. MST December 16, 2008 and 8:59 MST January 2, 2009.

******Payout requests made before the deadline will be fulfilled before the 24th.******

Also, starting in 2009 you will only be able to make payment requests once a week. If you have any questions, please create a Contributor Relations Support ticket or contact us during our adjusted holiday hours:
Closed from noon MST December 24 to re-open on December 29, 2008
Closed from noon MST December 31 to re-open on January 5, 2009

bittersweet · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2008, 16:11 »

It never occurred to me that there were people requesting such frequent payouts. No wonder it's gotten to be longer and longer of a wait for deposits. I usually just keep my requests to once per month. I like to start each month at zero and see how high I get.

Every now and then I might request an extra one if I have a trip or something.

I don't think a once a week limit is going to be a problem for me.

sharply_done · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2008, 16:12 »

Quote from: whatalife on December 03, 2008, 16:11

It never occurred to me that there were people requesting such frequent payouts. ...

I've noticed there are two schools of thought regarding payouts: those who make a request one a month (casuals and part-timers seem to prefer the end of the month) and those who make one as soon as they reach the minimum payout (or an arbitrary amount like $100). I typically make my mine on the 20th to get the money in time to pay bills - looks like I'll be doing it on the 15th this month!

... thanks for the 'heads up', lisafx!

Read_My_Rights · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2008, 16:29 »

It's the paranoid me that request a payout when it hits 100 just in case something "unfortunate" might happen to my account - the loss will always be below 100;)

shank_ali · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2008, 16:34 »

I request a payment as soon as my account reaches $100 which seems to be coming around every 10-16 days these past few months.I reached another$100 tonight but with this announcement i shall hold of till the 14 th of december before asking.

jsnover · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2008, 16:35 »

I'll fess up to being one of those who siphon off my money as soon as I see it hit $100.

Perhaps it's having worked at startups in the past and the residual concerns about money owed going up in a proverbial puff of smoke if the business folds; perhaps it's payment problems at some of the other sites over the last 4 years (never at IS). I prefer my money in my bank account, not someone else's. It doesn't earn interest for me while someone else has it

I'll be fine with once a week as long as they don't stretch out the payment period. I'd prefer automatic payments and I'd certainly be up for direct deposit or anything else labor saving they come up with (that's fee free).

sharply_done · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2008, 16:39 »

Quote from: jsnover on December 03, 2008, 16:35

... I'd prefer automatic payments and I'd certainly be up for direct deposit or anything else labor saving they come up with (that's fee free).

Yeah, me too. It'd be awfully nice if agencies gave us that flexibility: pay me on the 20th, pay me whenever I get $100, pay me every Friday, ...

helix7 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2008, 16:46 »

Crap. Just imagine what the wait will be for payout requests made in January. We'll be lucky to see those by February.

RT · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2008, 17:37 »

Quote from: lisafx on December 03, 2008, 15:41

Also, starting in 2009 you will only be able to make payment requests once a week.

Thanks for the heads up Lisa, not sure about the above comment though, where did you get it from, surely it should read:

Also, as of October 2008 it will be virtually impossible for you to make payment requests once a week

madelaide · « **Reply #9 on:** December 03, 2008, 18:08 »

I tend to wait to request payouts as soon as I have a good sum in all agencies to transfer to my bank account soon after they reach MB, checking also the exchange rate.

Regards,
Adelaide

bittersweet · « **Reply #10 on:** December 03, 2008, 18:11 »

Quote from: helix7 on December 03, 2008, 16:46

Crap. Just imagine what the wait will be for payout requests made in January. We'll be lucky to see those by February.

What makes you think that? The stated purpose of the once a week limit is to speed up payments, not slow them down.

Very funny, RT!

(Well, not for those for whom it holds true... sorry)

hoi ha · « **Reply #11 on:** December 04, 2008, 01:48 »

While you're busy celebrating the holiday season this December, our accounting department will be doing the same. This means that you will be unable to make payment requests between 9 a.m. MST December 16, 2008 and 8:59 MST January 2, 2009.

A 2 week plus holiday for the accounts department? yeah right ... looks they are are doing/preparing for a major audit .... must be the new owners ...

leaf · « **Reply #12 on:** December 04, 2008, 02:25 »

thanks for the heads up lisa.

shank_ali · « **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2008, 02:44 »

I doubt istock will ever introduce auto payments and as a contributor i am somewhat glad.
By raising a support ticket requesting a payment from your account you are actually involving a member of the istock staff to check and verify your account on a regular basis which would not be the case if the process was automated.

Phil · « **Reply #14 on:** December 04, 2008, 04:45 »

Quote from: sharply_done on December 03, 2008, 16:12

Quote from: whatalife on December 03, 2008, 16:11
It never occurred to me that there were people requesting such frequent payouts. ...

I've noticed there are two schools of thought regarding payouts: those who make a request one a month (casuals and part-timers seem to prefer the end of the month) and those who make one as soon as they reach the minimum payout (or an arbitrary amount like $100). I typically make my mine on the 20th to get the money in time to pay bills - looks like I'll be doing it on the 15th this month!

... thanks for the 'heads up', lisafx!

Every saturday I hit payout on each site (that has reached enough)

bittersweet · « **Reply #15 on:** December 04, 2008, 07:11 »

Now they've said that some people have been requesting payouts multiple times in the same day. I understand being cautious, but that seems a bit over the top.

I'm very much looking forward to getting more predictable payouts again.

shank_ali · « **Reply #16 on:** December 04, 2008, 09:44 »

Quote from: shank_ali on December 04, 2008, 02:44

I doubt istock will ever introduce auto payments and as a contributor i am somewhat glad.
By raising a support ticket requesting a payment from your account you are actually involving a member of the istock staff to check and verify your account on a regular basis which would not be the case if the process was automated.

Also as we all know istock does have alot of basic problems occuring on a regular basis and if the auto payment method went down ,if ever implemented, what would the forum be like

and the mood of it's contributors....

ichiro17 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 04, 2008, 10:07 »

another awesome point is that uploads no longer read iptc data

for me at least

bittersweet · « **Reply #18 on:** December 04, 2008, 10:38 »

*sigh*

epantha · « **Reply #19 on:** December 04, 2008, 10:48 »

Quote

another awesome point is that uploads no longer read iptc data for me at least

Same here. Seems to be an intermittent problem.

lisafx · « **Reply #20 on:** December 04, 2008, 12:35 »

Quote from: hoi ha on December 04, 2008, 01:48

A 2 week plus holiday for the accounts department? yeah right ... looks they are are doing/preparing for a major audit .... must be the new owners ...

Actually, they did the same thing last year and it was no big crisis. People requested their money by the deadline and were paid before the holiday. In fact as I recall there were a couple of contributors who requested a bit too late and they managed to get paid too.

In January there was no slowdown in payouts as a result of any backlog, as far as I recollect.

Quote from: RT on December 03, 2008, 17:37

Also, as of October 2008 it will be virtually impossible for you to make payment requests once a week

LOL RT!! This certainly seems to apply to many non-exclusives

Phil · « **Reply #21 on:** December 04, 2008, 14:53 »

Quote from: ichiro17 on December 04, 2008, 10:07

another awesome point is that uploads no longer read iptc data for me at least

me too

Phil · « **Reply #22 on:** December 04, 2008, 14:54 »

Quote from: whatalife on December 04, 2008, 07:11

Now they've said that some people have been requesting payouts multiple times in the same day. I understand being cautious, but that seems a bit over the top.

I'm very much looking forward to getting more predictable payouts again.

I'd be nice to be earning enough to hit payout multiple times in a day

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Author Topic: Istock's Holiday Schedule and New Payout Policy (Read 9189 times)

lisafx

bittersweet

sharply_done

Read_My_Rights

shank_ali

jsnover

sharply_done

helix7

RT

madelaide

bittersweet

hoi ha

leaf

shank_ali

Phil

bittersweet

shank_ali

ichiro17

bittersweet

epantha

lisafx

Phil

Phil

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