Commission timing, delay, and reversals

### Commission Timing, Delay & Reversals

IllusionCloud credits commissions after a new customer completes a purchase or subscription renewal using your affiliate link. However, commissions do not become payable immediately; they go through a **pending/lock period**. This delay ensures that orders are not fraudulent or refunded.

- **Lock period** – Industry best practice is to set a locking period long enough to handle customer returns and cancellations but not so long that affiliates wait unnecessarily【180585280872088†L43-L47】. IllusionCloud typically holds commissions for around 30‑45 days (to cover refund and chargeback windows) before approving them. Once the order is past its refund period, the commission locks and is added to your approved balance.
- **Recurring payments** – For subscription services (e.g., VPS or game-server plans), recurring commissions are credited after each renewal payment clears. Subsequent renewals may have a shorter delay, but still need to clear fraud checks.

### Reversals & Cancellations

Occasionally a commission may be reversed. Common reasons include invalid payment, customer cancellation during the refund period, duplicate or fraudulent orders. Affiliate program experts stress that merchants should **always explain why a commission is reversed**【180585280872088†L49-L54】 so that affiliates understand what happened and can improve their promotion strategies.

- **Reasons for reversal** – Reversals occur due to invalid credit cards, refunds, chargebacks, duplicate orders, customer/affiliate fraud, non‑qualified leads or unfulfilled order requirements【180585280872088†L49-L54】.
- **Adhering to policy** – Once the lock period ends and a commission is approved, it should not be reversed unless there is proven fraud. Best‑practice guidelines emphasize sticking to your stated reversal policy【180585280872088†L65-L70】. IllusionCloud aims to be affiliate‑friendly by reversing only those orders that fall within the cancellation window.
- **Small commissions** – Some programs choose not to reverse very small commissions to avoid demotivating affiliates. IllusionCloud may exercise discretion on minimal amounts, but this is not guaranteed.

### Payout Schedule & Thresholds

- **Approval and payout** – After a commission locks, it becomes part of your approved balance. Affiliates can request payouts once they reach the minimum withdrawal threshold specified in the program (e.g., €50). Payments are processed according to the program’s schedule (usually monthly), using the payment method you selected in your client account.
- **Tracking** – Your affiliate dashboard provides real‑time analytics on pending, approved and reversed commissions. Review these regularly to understand when funds will become available.

### Dispute Resolution

If you believe a commission was reversed in error, or if you have questions about timing or payments, contact IllusionCloud’s affiliate support. Provide details and order numbers so the team can investigate and, if appropriate, reinstate the commission.