Harris Poll Online is the online division of Harris Interactive, a global market research company which gives individuals a chance to “influence important decision makers in government, business, and non-profits.”
When you join Harris Poll Online, you’ll be enrolled in their appreciation program, which allows you to earn HIpoints when you complete surveys. HIpoints may then be exchanged for prizes and gift certificates.
Members can sign up at HarrisPollOnline.com for free, as long as you are at least 13 years old, with a verifiable mailing address and email address, and you can unsubscribe from their service at any time.
Participating with Harris Poll Online
Members will typically receive 3-4 survey invitations per month, with each survey taking anywhere between 5 and 25 minutes to complete. Each survey will reward members with a different amount of HIpoints.
Some members with certain areas of interest or special characteristics, such as certain medical conditions or backgrounds, may qualify for more surveys than other members on a month to month basis.
Not every survey you take will be rewarded with HIpoints, but Harris Poll Online promises that surveys which don’t award points will be the exception.
In addition to acquiring HIpoints, Harris Poll Online also has opportunities for members to be enrolled in their HIstakes sweepstakes. These sweepstakes give members the opportunity to win cash prizes anywhere from $250 up to $10,000.
Issues with Harris Poll Online
Harris Poll Online does have a problem with imposters and scammers using their name for illegal purposes. Ads have posted online from Harris/Decima offering free cash or gifts for mystery shopping or quality assurance studies.
These ads are false, and in no way associated either with Harris Poll Online or Harris Interactive. If you see any of these ads, you should contact the company directly at 800-600-2493 and report them.
All the information you provide the Harris Poll with, both contact and personal, will be kept confidential. The Harris Poll Online promises to never release your personal information to any other person, company, or organization without your permission.
Would you like to add your review for
Today I received the following in an e-mail:
Thank you for contacting us. Per our last email notification to you, we explained that further poor survey quality would result in termination of your membership. The reputation of the HPOL panel as a trusted source for public opinion, and the integrity of Harris Interactive, is based on the honest participation of our panelists. Since we can no longer count on the honesty of your participation, all known instances of your membership will be removed from the Harris Poll Online panel, pursuant to our Terms of Use.
Further, all of the HIpoints and /or other cash incentives associated with your accounts have been rendered void. Please note that you are prohibited from accessing or using the Harris Poll Online site, including participating in the Harris Poll Online panel, at any time in the future.
Sincerely,
Alex
Survey Helpdesk
I never received an e-mail from them prior to this, and I am very offended at this treatment. I let them know I will share my opinion about them with everyone, and I also filed a complaint with the BBB.
John
http://www.bbb.org/new-york-city
Warning signs that there was a cash flow problem was when they set up a "casino atmosphere" trying to entice respondents to redeem their Hi-Points for cash prizes. I wonder how many Hi-Points are / were wasted chasing after a big award. Same odds as Vegas. Also, they still mention automatic entry into the Hi-Stakes drawing, HOWEVER, the website shows they haven't paid out the top prize since the first quarter of 2012.
Perhaps Harris should do a poll as to what their respondents think of being treated. AC Nielson, which just took over Harris, needs to dump current management, and infuse it with the much needed cash to keep whatever respondents they still have.
Then the tides changed and their policies changed along with whoever was originally running the business. My point balance (all of almost 5000 of it) was deleted by them.
I contacted the company via the only contact form they provide and asked why this occured - they claimed they'd only provide me with half of my original points. Then they proceeded to credit my account with 6000 points.
Today I logged in and they've since taken away 4500 points again and left me with LESS than half of my points to proceed.
I am considering possibly making an attempt to "Cash in" on whatever I have left and then just canceling my account. My advice - don't sign up now. The company stinks!
P.S. They ARGUED with me over my points balance. Yes... ARGUED!!
Any other suggestions or just wave goodbye to my points and stop wasting my time.
Growlybear
They do a long, time-consuming pre-screening which leads you to believe you’re earning points, then it says you don’t qualify and boots you out after you’ve already spent time answering questions. They frequently try to get other members of your household to participate, but say they aren't able to give them any rewards.
You used to be able to earn Amazon or other retailer $5 gift cards, which wasn’t a lot but certainly helped. Now you have to earn lots of points before being able to get anything other than worthless sweepstakes points.
They frequently waste your time sending out e-mails saying how they’ve improved their process out of respect for your time, but nothing ever changes. In addition it's much harder to access your HiPoints now since they changed the website and you can't personalize your password.
Just wanted to pass this on for anyone considering which options would have the best payout for the time investment. I'm not sure if there's been a change of hands, but Harris Poll is pretty much a joke and a scam now. I advise you not to waste your time with them.
They are very good at leading survey takers on to a belief that this time they have been accepted, only to be kicked off after getting a raft of information from the participant. I would certainly not and under no circumstances at all, recommend them to anyone hoping to build up a portfolio of survey organisations.
I find it impossible to believe that there are worse survey outfits. Even a poor outfit must be loads better than this dire outfit.
Thanks