Understanding Commission Expiration and Claiming Your Earnings
Protect your hard-earned commissions by understanding expiration rules and maintaining a regular payout schedule.
Quick Answer
Unclaimed affiliate commissions expire after 365 days from the date earned. Payments are NOT automatic—you must manually request payouts through the Affiliate Portal when your available balance meets the minimum threshold ($50 for PayPal/ACH, $500 for wire). Heritage Web sends reminder emails at 30, 60, and 90 days before expiration, but it's your responsibility to claim earnings before they're forfeited.
The 365-Day Expiration Rule
How Expiration Works
Day 0: Customer makes purchase, commission calculated
Days 1-60: Commission in "Pending" status (review period)
Day 61: Commission becomes "Available" for payout
Days 61-365: Window to request payout
Day 366: Unclaimed commission expires and is forfeited
Why Commissions Expire
Legal and tax compliance requirements
Accounting regulations
System maintenance needs
Encourages active account management
Prevents indefinite liability
No Exceptions Policy
Expired commissions cannot be recovered
No appeals process for expired funds
"Didn't know" is not valid excuse
Technical issues don't extend deadline
Same rules apply to all affiliates
Commission Status Timeline
Pending Period (Days 1-60)
What's Happening:
Commission under quality review
Checking for refunds/cancellations
Fraud prevention measures
Cannot be withdrawn yet
Your Action:
Monitor but cannot claim
Watch for reversals
Track accumulation
Plan for payout
Available Period (Days 61-365)
What's Happening:
Commission cleared for payout
Eligible for withdrawal
Protected from most clawbacks
Expiration clock ticking
Your Action:
Request payout when threshold met
Don't wait unnecessarily
Regular withdrawal schedule
Monitor expiration warnings
Expired (Day 366+)
What Happens:
Commission permanently forfeited
Removed from your balance
Cannot be recovered
No longer yours
Result:
Lost earnings
Wasted effort
Preventable loss
Learn from mistake
Reminder System
Email Notifications
90 Days Before Expiration
Email Content:
Subject: "Commission Expiring in 90 Days"
Shows expiring amount
Lists affected transactions
Instructions for claiming
Link to Affiliate Portal
Your Response:
Review your balance
Plan payout request
Check minimum threshold
Update payment method if needed
60 Days Before Expiration
Email Content:
Subject: "URGENT: Commission Expiring in 60 Days"
Increased urgency
Detailed commission breakdown
Clear action steps
Deadline highlighted
Your Response:
Take action if possible
Combine with other earnings if below minimum
Consider payment method with lower threshold
Don't ignore this warning
30 Days Before Expiration
Email Content:
Subject: "FINAL WARNING: Commission Expires in 30 Days"
Critical urgency
Final opportunity notice
Specific expiration date
Amount to be forfeited
Your Response:
Immediate action required
Request payout now
Contact support if issues
Accept loss if below minimum
Where Notifications Go
Registered Affiliate Portal email
Check spam/promotions folders
Keep email address current
Add [email protected] to safe senders
Claiming Your Earnings
Step-by-Step Payout Process
Step 1: Check Your Balance
Log into affiliate.heritageweb.com and review:
Available balance (not pending)
Expiration dates
Minimum threshold status
Step 2: Verify Minimums
Ensure you meet requirements:
PayPal/ACH: $50 minimum
Wire Transfer: $500 minimum
Lifetime: 2 successful referrals
Step 3: Request Payout
Navigate to Payments → Request Payout
Confirm amount and method
Click "Request Payout"
See confirmation screen
Step 4: Wait for Processing
Request added to monthly batch
Processed on 1st of next month
3-5 days for delivery
Confirmation email sent
Payout Best Practices
Regular Schedule
Recommended Approach:
Monthly: Check balance on 25th
Quarterly: Minimum for most affiliates
Bi-annually: Absolute maximum wait
Set calendar reminders
Threshold Strategy
If Below Minimum:
Continue promoting to reach threshold
Consider switching to PayPal ($50 vs $500)
Combine near-expiring amounts
Accept loss if truly stuck
Proactive Management
Don't wait for maximum accumulation
Regular small payouts are better than risk
Claim as soon as reasonable
Track your payout history
Common Expiration Scenarios
Scenario 1: Forgot About Small Balance
Had $35 available (below $50 minimum)
Didn't earn more to reach threshold
Ignored reminder emails
Lost $35 after 365 days
Prevention: Switch to regular promotion or accept small loss
Scenario 2: Changed Email Address
Reminder emails went to old address
Didn't update Affiliate Portal email
Missed all warnings
Lost $200 in commissions
Prevention: Keep contact info current
Scenario 3: Waiting to Accumulate More
Had $75 available
Wanted to reach $100 before payout
Forgot to request in time
Lost entire $75
Prevention: Take payouts when available
Scenario 4: Thought It Was Automatic
Assumed payments were automatic
Never logged into Portal
Had $500+ available
All expired after 365 days
Prevention: Understand manual requirement
Protecting Your Commissions
Account Maintenance Checklist
✓ Monthly Tasks:
Log into Affiliate Portal
Check available balance
Review pending commissions
Note expiration warnings
✓ Quarterly Tasks:
Request eligible payouts
Update payment methods
Verify email address
Download reports
✓ Annual Tasks:
Review payout history
Analyze earning patterns
Tax documentation
Strategy adjustment
Red Flags to Watch
Commissions older than 300 days
Ignored reminder emails
Balance below minimum for months
Inactive referral generation
Outdated payment method
Recovery Strategies
If Below Minimum:
Increase promotion efforts
Focus on quick conversions
Target enterprise opportunities
Consider one push to reach threshold
Accept loss if effort exceeds value
Special Considerations
Multiple Small Amounts
Challenge: Several commissions under threshold Solution: Let them accumulate, then claim together Warning: Track oldest expiration date Strategy: Set reminders for day 350
International Affiliates
Challenge: $500 minimum for wire transfers Solution: Consider PayPal if available Timeline: May need longer accumulation Critical: Don't let large sums expire
Inactive Affiliates
Situation: Stopped promoting but have balance Options:
One final push to reach minimum
Accept loss if below threshold
Request payout if above minimum
Don't let eligible funds expire
FAQs
What if I have $49 and can't reach the $50 minimum? Unfortunately, if you can't generate one more dollar in commission within 365 days, the $49 will expire. Consider a focused effort to generate just one small commission.
Can I combine expiring and non-expiring commissions? Yes. When you request a payout, it includes all available commissions regardless of their individual expiration dates.
Do reminder emails count as business days only? No. The 365-day counter includes all calendar days, weekends, and holidays. Expiration dates are absolute.
What if I miss the expiration by just one day? No exceptions are made. Day 366 means permanent forfeiture. This is why acting on reminder emails is critical.
Can I transfer expiring commissions to another affiliate? No. Commissions cannot be transferred between accounts under any circumstances.
Will Heritage Web ever lower the expiration period? Policy changes would only affect future commissions. Monitor program updates but don't count on changes.
Action Steps
Immediate Actions
Log into affiliate.heritageweb.com now
Check your available balance
Look for expiration warnings
Request payout if eligible
Set calendar reminders
Ongoing Practices
Monthly balance checks
Quarterly payout requests
Respond to reminder emails
Keep payment method current
Maintain minimum activity
Never Do These
Ignore reminder emails
Assume automatic payments
Wait unnecessarily
Let pride prevent small payouts
Forget about your account
Related Articles
Payment Schedule & Minimum Threshold
How to Update Your Affiliate Payout Method
Troubleshooting Missing Referrals and Commissions