instaGC
instaGC Review
instaGC is a platform that claims to reward users for completing surveys, watching videos, testing apps, and doing other tasks that take a short time to finish. However, one of the most frequent complaints is that they frequently freeze rewards without no good explanation. We’ve taken a deep dive under the hood to understand the reasons for these complaints, and if instaGC is worth your time.
Is instaGC legit?instaGC is certainly not a scam since it’s free to sign up for, and you are not asked to submit any financial information such as your credit card number. However, it still falls into a grey area in terms of its legitimacy as a survey site. It offers certain features and benefits that align with legitimate platforms, but the presence of low payouts, high disqualification rates, reward freezes, and privacy concerns raise legitimate doubts about its overall legitimacy.
Conducting thorough research, reading user reviews, and evaluating personal priorities are essential steps in determining whether instaGC is a legitimate survey site that aligns with individual needs and expectations.
My experience signing up to instaGC
When I signed up for instaGC, things started off well as I earned $10 within a few days. However, my excitement was short-lived when I tried to cash out for a gift card, only to discover that my account needed approval before I could proceed. Despite already verifying my email and phone number, helpdesk contacted me immediately and asked for a copy of my driver’s license to confirm my identity, along with bills containing my address, like an electric bill. I hesitated and questioned this request, but I was informed that it was allowed under their terms and conditions.
While it’s not uncommon for websites to verify users’ identities, I felt uneasy about providing personal identification to an unfamiliar reward site in exchange for a small amount of money. Furthermore, I discovered that earnings decrease over time as available offers are exhausted.
instaGC Dashboard
3 key takeaways from using instaGC:
- instaGC is quick to freeze rewards and suspend accounts
- It takes a long time to get access re-enabled
- Expect to submit your driver’s license or state-issued id card
Freezing rewards and survey reversals
One of the most frequent complaints about instaGC is that they’re too quick to freeze rewards. It’s easy to suspect that they try to cheat you for your hard-earned money by blaming it on so-called survey reversals. Survey reversals refer to a process in which instaGC’s survey partner reverses the payment or reward that was initially credited to a participant’s account for completing a survey. This can occur for a variety of reasons, such as fraudulent activity, inconsistency with answers, or failure to meet the survey requirements.
Complaint to Better Business Bureau about InstaGC not paying for a completed offer.
Survey fraud is a serious issue that affects the accuracy and credibility of market research conducted by survey companies such as Lucid, Cint, Pollfish, Dynata, and TapResearch. The use of these survey companies has exploded in recent years as businesses rely more heavily on customer data to drive their decision-making processes. However, the need for fast and reliable data has opened the door for fraudulent activity, which can skew survey results and compromise the integrity of market research.
Survey companies combatting fraud
One of the main issues with survey fraud from sites such as instaGC is the quality of the data collected. Survey companies rely on quality checks to ensure that the data collected is accurate and reliable. These quality checks can range from filtering out inattentive answers to detecting straight-lining, which is when a survey respondent selects the same answer for every question. These checks are necessary to ensure the data collected is representative of the target population and to provide insights that are useful for businesses.
However, survey fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated and are finding ways to bypass these quality checks. For example, inattentive answers can be disguised by bots or automated scripts that mimic human behaviour. These scripts can also provide straight-lining responses that appear to be authentic, thereby skewing the data collected. As a result, survey companies are constantly trying to develop more sophisticated fraud detection methods to prevent these types of fraudulent activities.
For your reference here are some of the survey partners used on the instaGC platform:
Data Privacy: Any reason for concern?Â
The InstaGC Privacy Policy states that your online activities and basic information will be kept confidential and will not be shared to 3rd party providers other than to fulfil your request, such as to send you a reward. instaGC will only have access to or collect the information you voluntarily supply them, and they will not sell or rent this information to anyone. You may also withdraw consent at any time.
These are some of the data points which instaGC will share with their partners:
- Identifiers; user ID, username, and hashed email. Shared to help identify you and track your progress on a provider’s task.
- Basic data; birthdate, gender, and postal code. Shared to help providers find more tasks based on age, gender and location.
- Device data; browser and IP address. Shared to help providers find more tasks based on geolocation and device information.
- Profiling data; education, ethnicity/race, income, etc. Shared to help providers find more tasks based on any profiling data from our survey area.
And as mentioned above, they frequently request users to prove their identity by submitting their driving license and proof of address.
How much can you make on instaGC?Â
In the vast realm of online survey sites, instaGC stands as a contender, promising users the opportunity to earn rewards in exchange for their time and opinions. Boasting a range of redemption options, including PayPal, bitcoin, and Amazon vouchers, instaGC appears to offer enticing incentives. However, a closer examination reveals a reward system that may leave users disenchanted.
Overview of points and payment per survey received from instaGC
One InstaGC point is worth $0.01. Most surveys pay between 2 to 105 points, but the average is more like 20-40 points. The number of points you earn each day is determined by the amount of time you are willing to invest, but it’s going to be hard to earn much more than $10 per month.
Points can be redeemed for instant gift cards or prepaid cards of your choice, Bitcoins, PayPal, or even direct deposit. While gift cards are free, cash pay-outs will incur a 15–25-point fee. The value of the gift cards starts at $1 or 100 points, the lowest payout minimum. You can also earn money by referring friends to InstaGC, and you will receive 10% of their points.
While the pay per survey complete is low, this is also expected. The type of 3rd party survey opportunities you’ll find on instaGC usually has a lower rewards level than market research companies with proprietary panels. What’s positive about instaGC is the low redemption threshold of only $1. This means you can test the site and redeem your points quickly, without the risk of accumulating larger sums that you cannot access.
instaGC Trustpilot review mentions the low qualification rate.
However, the true challenges of earning these rewards unfold when we consider the daunting qualification process. Frustratingly, many users find themselves spending significant amounts of time attempting to complete surveys, only to be disqualified at an alarming rate. For every five surveys attempted, it is common for users to qualify for a mere one. This staggering statistic results in an exorbitant amount of wasted time without any remuneration.
instaGC proof of payment
Redemption options:
- eCheck – sent to email address – received on average 1-3 days.
- Direct deposit – sent to bank account – received on average 1-4 days.
- Gift card – digital/electronic – received instantly.
- PayPal – instantly processed once qualified.
- Cryptocurrency – including Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum.
Note for crypto redemption: Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin) are an exclusive/private reward option. Each is obtained by redeeming 5,000 points overall in other rewards first.
instaGC: Weighing the Pros and Cons of the Survey Site
On the positive side, instaGC offers a range of tasks beyond traditional surveys. Users can engage in diverse activities such as watching videos, completing offers, participating in online shopping, and signing up for trial subscriptions. This variety adds an element of excitement and flexibility, allowing users to explore different avenues to earn rewards.
Another enticing aspect of instaGC is its monthly competitions. These competitions give users the chance to compete against others and potentially win additional rewards or bonuses. The competitive nature of these events can serve as motivation for users, adding a sense of challenge and the possibility of boosting their earnings.
instaGC boasts a low minimum withdrawal threshold, setting it apart from many other survey sites. With just $1 required to cash out, users can access their earnings relatively quickly. This low barrier ensures that users don’t have to wait too long to enjoy the fruits of their labour, offering a sense of instant gratification.
However, the positive aspects of instaGC are accompanied by a range of drawbacks. One notable downside is the low payouts per task. The monetary value assigned to surveys and other activities can be disappointingly meagre, often leaving users feeling under-compensated for their time and efforts.
Furthermore, the qualification rate for surveys is notoriously low on instaGC. Users frequently encounter the frustrating experience of investing time and effort in attempting surveys, only to be disqualified for various reasons. This high disqualification rate significantly reduces earning potential and can lead to a sense of wasted time and missed opportunities.
Another issue that users may encounter is the freezing of rewards. instaGC has been known to suspend or freeze user accounts, often without clear explanation or warning. This can result in users being unable to access their accumulated rewards or facing prolonged delays in receiving their payouts, creating a sense of frustration and mistrust.
A notable concern for potential users is the requirement to provide personal identification, such as a driver’s license, to confirm identity. While this practice is not uncommon among survey sites, it raises privacy and security concerns. Users may feel uneasy about submitting sensitive information to an unfamiliar platform, especially considering the relatively small rewards offered in return.
Additionally, users have reported slow response times and inadequate support from the instaGC helpdesk when facing issues or inquiries. Delays in resolving problems or receiving assistance can further dampen the user experience and undermine trust in the platform’s customer service.
