Zeek Rewards, once promoted as a stable US-based company, began operating with increased secrecy after its North Carolina bank severed ties in May. The shift marked a significant change from its initial claims of transparency and reliability.
Affiliates initially marketed Zeek Rewards based on its US ownership, US banking services, and 14-year history operating from Lexington, North Carolina. The company promised easy support access and stated that neither Zeek Rewards nor Rex Ventures had ever missed a payment. Members believed funds would be easily recoverable if issues arose.
The business model, however, always struggled under scrutiny, particularly its guarantee of a 125% return on investment. The entire operation resembled a dubious investment scheme.
After its local North Carolina bank removed the company from its client base in May, Zeek Rewards shifted to increased secrecy. It began blaming affiliates for ongoing problems and reduced overall transparency regarding its operations.
The company's publicly available support forums, hosted by third-party provider "Get Satisfaction," became an unintended window into its internal affairs. These forums, initially presented as "for Zeek Rewards affiliates only," offered an unfiltered look at what members experienced behind the company's "we are not an investment scheme" assurances.
Following an abrupt late May announcement that Zeek would immediately suspend check issuing to find new banking channels, the support forums saw an outpouring of requests for help.
For weeks, these issues have persisted and largely remain unresolved. Zeekler auction winnings, some dating back to April, have not been paid. Checks sent to Zeek Rewards, also from April, have gone missing. VIP bids are not credited correctly.
Customers reported wait times exceeding two hours for support calls, often ending in disconnections or unreturned escalation promises. Support emails went unanswered. Frequent problems arose with payment processors, including availability issues, login failures, ongoing delays, and missing funds. Complaints also surfaced regarding Zeek Rewards affiliates using other affiliates' email addresses to create accounts.