Adsense Changes Referral Rules Without Notification — Now 90 Day Time Limit on Referrals
Jensense has reported that Google has changed their referral rules to only pay out if a referral earns their $100 within a 90 day period.
Initially, the referrals page read: “When a publisher signs up for Adsense through your referral and earns $100, we’ll credit your account with $100.”
The page now reads: “When a publisher that signed up for AdSense through your referral earns their initial $100.00 and is eligible for payout, we’ll credit your account with $100.00. *”
Note the asterisk. At the bottom of the page, the asterisk is explained as: “* An AdSense referral is counted when a publisher, who has never previously enrolled in AdSense, creates an account and earns at least $100.00 within 90 days of sign-up. The referred publisher must be eligible for payment to qualify as a successful referral.”
Google has changed their requirements for payout without informing anyone of their intention to do so. Not only have they changed their requirements, but they have only changed the wording in one location - on the referral page, itsself. No where else in Google’s documentation does that caveat exist. Additionally, on the screen capture image on the referral program information page (https://www.google.com/adsense/referrals), Google has the old wording visible.
Additionally, it is possible that the referral may need to earn their first $100 during the first two months, as the wording in the clause states “…and is eligible for payout…” An adsense publisher is not eligible for payout until 30 days after the end of any given month. Therefore, it is highly possible that Google may consider eligibility to only be within the first two months after signup.
I agree with Jensense in that it makes sense not to have to track and pay out on referrals, years down the line. I further agree that it makes a lot more sense to extend the deadline to 180 days (six months). That way a new publisher could have a reasonable amount of time to earn their first $100.
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