3. Using ipoints

I've just joined, how do I start to earn ipoints?

It's simple.
Firstly you may notice when you login, in the top left corner of the homepage there are some ipolls available for you to complete. Whilst these only offer 5 ipoints they are completely free, are quick to complete and appear regularly on the site. Then why not browse the "Top Offers" on the homepage, the earning categories down the left hand side, or through the "Free ipoints" section and take a look at the partners on offer.
Each partner will have an ipoints value next to it in pink which tells you how many ipoints you will receive. Clicking on a partner will take you through to a detail page which will give you more information on the partner and what you must do to receive the ipoints. Clicking the "Take Me There" button will allow you to visit that site. Shop or register as you would normally on this site and ipoints will be credited to your account automatically within 30 days. (Please note: Amazon is an exception to this rule. Please see "Collecting ipoints with Amazon" below). ipoints can also be collected by responding to special offer emails, clicking on certain banners and completing member surveys which you can receive from time to time.

Collecting ipoints with Amazon

Collecting ipoints with Amazon is a little different from other partners but still very simple. Click on the "Take Me There" button as per usual. You will then be taken through to a special search screen where you can search for a product by category. Once you have added products to your basket and clicked "proceed to checkout" you will be taken to the Amazon site where you can complete your order. Once you order is complete on Amazon, you can then close the window and you will be returned to ipoints.

Please note: ipoints can only be awarded when purchases are made direct from Amazon.co.uk. ipoints cannot be awarded for purchases made through Marketplace vendors.

Top tip: If you have found a particular product you wish to purchase on the Amazon.co.uk site but want to locate it quickly on ipoints.co.uk, you can copy and paste the "ASIN" number into the search field (don't forget to set the category). This number is available in the product details of every product on Amazon and will take you directly to that product.

Where do I find information on how to collect ipoints with each partner?

Each partner will have an ipoints value next to it in pink which tells you how many ipoints you will receive for performing a specific action. Clicking on a partner will take you through to a detail page which will give you more information on the partner and what you must do to qualify for the ipoints. Please take special note of this section as some partners require strict conditions to be met before points can be awarded.

How long will my ipoints take to enter my account?

The amount of time points take are dependent upon the partner which is issuing them. In order to be rewarded promptly, please ensure that if you are required to give an email address on a partner's site that you use your ipoints sign-up email address. Some partners will only take a couple of days to report a transaction and points issued for ipolls and special offer emails will be virtually instantaneous. However, please be aware that some points can take up to 30 days but in rare cases longer than that. Unfortunately ipoints are unable to follow up any query tickets that have been sent before the 30 day period has expired.

Please note: In order to receive ipoints from our non-loyalty partners, you need to click through using the links on the ipoints website. Clicking through the links is very important because without it ipoints will not receive reports associated to the purchase or activity you've completed on the partner's site and therefore won't be able to credit you with ipoints. Unfortunately we are unable to credit points to an account retrospectively if this process has not been followed.

How do I maximize the amount of ipoints I collect?

The more you purchase and the more you subscribe to other services offered by our partners, the faster your ipoints account will grow. New partners are always joining ipoints, so it will become even easier to find the best offers on the net. Just remember to keep checking the ipoints site for new ipolls and special offers. Signing up to paid survey sites like Surveys.com can be another great way to maximize your income. Not only do you earn ipoints for signing up, but also for each survey you complete. Sign up to a paid for browser like Webfetch.co.uk to be rewarded just for searching the internet. The largest ipoints hauls are often found in the casinos, bingos and gambling sections. Not only can a single transaction result in up to 10,000 ipoints but many casinos will double your initial deposit... and you never know you might win something! Lastly, there are hundreds of points to be had each month for responding to special offer emails, remember to set your account to accept them in "Personal Information".

"Full Loyalty" and "non-loyalty" partners.

The Full Loyalty Partners are merchants that have a special agreement with ipoints so you can get rewarded when using their website, even without clicking through from ipoints.co.uk. Generally, during the order confirmation section an option will appear which asks you if you would like to collect the ipoints for your order. You will then be asked to enter your ipoints log-in. Usually ipoints are credited to your account once the items you've ordered have been dispatched. You can tell which partners are Full Loyalty Partners on the A-Z screen. Full Loyalty Partners appear in a darker colour. Also, look out for the ipoints logo on a Full Loyalty Partner's homepage.

However, in order to receive ipoints from our non-loyalty partners, you need to click through using the links on the ipoints website. Clicking through the links is very important because without it ipoints will not receive reports associated to the purchase or activity you've completed on the partner's site and therefore won't be able to credit you with ipoints.

Collecting free ipoints.

There are literally thousands of ipoints to be collected without having to spend a penny. Check out the "Free ipoints" section on the website for loads of easy ways to get ipoints for free. Make sure your account is set up to receive special offers email and you could receive 10 ipoints for each one you respond to. What's more, don't forget to keep checking for ipolls and special banners which will appear from time to time on the homepage.

Can I select my favourite rewards and partners on the ipoints site?

Yes you can. In the "My Account" section you will find a page called "My Favourites". Here you can store a list of your six favourite partners and three favourite rewards. Adding partners and rewards to this list is easy.

• To add a partner simply go to the detail page of the partner you wish to add. Just below the logo you will see the "Add to my favourite partners" button. Clicking on this will add that partner to your list.
• To add rewards to your favourites list simply go to the detail page of the reward you wish to add. Just below the description of the reward you will see the "Add to my favourite rewards" link. Clicking on this will add that reward to your list.

Can I collect ipoints for referring new members?

Yes you can. For every new member that you introduce to the ipoints programme you will receive 50 ipoints. The first time that member goes on to make a purchase you will receive 100 ipoints! Referring new members is easy. Go to the "Refer a friend" section by either clicking the link on the left hand side of the homepage or through the "My Account" section. Enter the first name and email address of the person you wish to invite. An email will then be sent to this person telling them about ipoints. You can keep track of your referrals in the "Friends I have recommended" section and even remind your friends to join.

How do I select ipoints as my homepage on my internet browser?

To set ipoints as your homepage in internet explorer:

• 1)Open ipoints.co.uk.
• 2)Select "Tools" in the menu bar and then "Internet Options" from the drop down.
• 3)In the pop-up select the "General" tab if it is not already selected.
• 4)At the top of the tab click "Use Current".
• 5)Click "OK" to close the pop-up. Your homepage has now been set.

To set ipoints as your homepage in Firefox, Mozilla or Netscape Navigator:

• 1)Open ipoints.co.uk
• 2)Select "Tools" in the menu bar and then "Options" from the drop down.
• 3)In the pop-up select the "Main" tab if it is not already selected.
• 4)At the top of the tab click "Use Current Pages".
• 5)Click "OK" to close the pop-up. Your homepage has now been set.

Online Shopping Tips

Ipoints makes sure that all our partner websites are 100% secure with handling any financial information. Below are some general tips for safe shopping on the web:

• Never hand over card or bank account information if you are unsure.
• Sign up to Verified by Visa or SecureCode by Mastercard.
• Use a protected computer with a firewall protection if possible.
• Only shop at secure websites - this can be done by looking for a padlock or unbroken key icon in the bottom corner of your internet browser.
• Make sure your internet browser has a high level of security notification.
• Always check your bank statements when you receive them.
• Don't leave your computer unsupervised while shopping online.
• Log out properly at the end of a transaction.
• Never supply personal information via e-mail.
• Beware of 'phishing' emails that claim to be from your bank or lender.
• Consider using an internet based credit/debit card such as egg.com, cahoot or first direct.
• Print your order once you have completed it so you always have a hard copy to hand.
• If you would like to know more information about secure online shopping you can visit the following sites: www.getsafeonline.org, www.cardwatch.org, banksafeonline.org.uk.

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