'Commission On Hold': Returns, Fraud, Or Just Bad Luck?

“Nothing ruins your morning coffee quite like logging into your affiliate dashboard and seeing those dreaded words: ‘Commission on Hold.'”

Picture this: You wake up, check your affiliate dashboard with that hopeful excitement we all pretend we don’t have, and BAM – half your commissions are marked “on hold.”

Your heart sinks faster than a rock in water, and suddenly, you’re spiraling into worst-case scenarios.

Commission on hold affiliate marketing issues have cost me more sleep than I’d like to admit. This year alone, I had over $4,400 in commissions frozen across different programs, and let me tell you – trying to figure out why feels like solving a mystery with half the clues missing.

The worst part?

Nobody really talks about this stuff. Everyone’s sharing their income screenshots and success stories, but when your commissions get held up, you’re left googling at 2 AM, wondering if you did something wrong or if this is just part of the game.

My First “Commission on Hold” Panic Attack

June 2022. I’m three months into serious affiliate marketing, finally seeing some decent numbers. My Amazon Associates dashboard shows $847 in commissions for the month – not life-changing money, but enough to cover my groceries and feel like this whole thing might actually work.

Then I refresh the page and see it: “Commission Adjustment: -$312. Reason: Returned Items.”

My brain immediately went to disaster mode.

Did I promote crappy products? Are people buying and immediately returning everything? Am I the worst affiliate marketer alive?

I spent the next four hours obsessively checking which items were returned, trying to figure out what I’d done wrong. Turns out, one person returned a $280 monitor I’d recommended, and two others returned smaller items.

That night, I couldn’t sleep. Not because of the money (though $312 was significant for me then), but because I felt like I’d somehow failed my audience.

The Anatomy of Commission Holds

This is what they don’t tell you, and here’s what I’ve learned after having commission on hold affiliate marketing situations across Amazon, PartnerStack, ShareASale, ClickBank, and about a dozen other networks:

1. Returns (The Most Common Culprit)

Reality: People return stuff. A lot of stuff. Especially online purchases.

The average return rate for e-commerce is 20-30%. For certain categories like clothing and electronics, it can hit 40%. That expensive course someone bought through your link? They might realize it’s not for them after the first module.

What it feels like: Personal rejection of your recommendation.

What it actually is: Normal consumer behavior that has nothing to do with you.

2. Fraud Detection (The Mysterious One)

This is where things get weird.

Affiliate networks have sophisticated fraud detection systems that flag “suspicious” activity, like sift. Sometimes that means actual fraud, but sometimes it means… well, nobody really knows.

I once had $1,200 in ClickBank commissions held for “unusual traffic patterns.”

My crime? Having a blog post go viral on Reddit and getting a bunch of sales from the same geographic region within a few hours.

3. Refund Periods (The Waiting Game)

Most affiliate programs have refund periods ranging from 30-90 days. Your commission might show as “pending” or “on hold” until that window closes. This isn’t necessarily bad – it’s just how the system works.

But here’s the frustrating part: Some programs don’t clearly explain their hold policies, leaving you to guess why your money is trapped in limbo.

The $2,800 Commission Horror Story

This changed everything in October 2023.

I promoted a high-ticket course during a launch period and generated 11 sales over three days. Commission total: $2,847. I was already mentally spending that money on a new laptop and some overdue bills.

Two weeks later, every single commission was marked “on hold.”

The reason? The course creator was using a new payment processor that flagged multiple sales from the same affiliate as “potentially fraudulent activity.”

I spent three weeks emailing back and forth with the affiliate manager, providing screenshots of my traffic sources, explaining my promotional strategy, and basically proving I wasn’t running some elaborate scam.

The resolution: All commissions were eventually released, but the stress of those three weeks was brutal. I started questioning everything – my methods, my audience, whether affiliate marketing was even worth it.

What I learned: This stuff happens to everyone, and it’s rarely personal.

Decoding the Different Types of Holds

1. Amazon Associates: The Return Specialist

Amazon’s commission on hold affiliate marketing system is actually pretty transparent. They show you exactly which items were returned and deduct accordingly.

Typical hold reasons:

Customer returns (obvious)
Items shipped to a different address than the billing address
Gift card purchases (Amazon doesn’t pay commissions on gift cards)
Prime membership cancellations within the trial period

2. ShareASale: The Mystery Box

ShareASale’s hold system feels like a black box sometimes. Commissions can be held for “merchant review,” “quality assurance,” or the ever-helpful “other.”

My ShareASale horror story: Had $890 in commissions held for two months because the merchant “needed to verify the quality of traffic.” Turns out they were just having cash flow issues and using the hold system to delay payments.

3. ClickBank: The Refund King

ClickBank’s 60-day refund policy means your commissions are essentially hostages for two months. Plus, they have some of the highest refund rates in the industry.

Pro tip: If you’re promoting ClickBank products, mentally prepare for 20-40% of your commissions to disappear due to refunds. It’s not personal – digital products just have high return rates.

4. PartnerStack: The Hold Button Hero

I call PartnerStack the Hold Button Hero because, honestly, they’re quick to put commissions on pause. And yes, I’ve got a couple of my own commissions sitting on hold right now (cue the tiny violin).

The reason? They want to double-check everything—refund windows, fraud checks, and whether we affiliates are playing by the rules.

It’s annoying in the moment (waiting for money you already mentally spent is a special kind of torture), but I get it—it’s their way of keeping things legit. The upside? Most of those commissions eventually get released, and you can breathe again.

The Psychology of Commission Holds (Why They Mess With Your Head)

There’s something uniquely stressful about having money you’ve “earned” taken away. It’s not like you never had it – you saw it in your dashboard, maybe even celebrated it.

The stages of commission hold grief:

Denial: “This must be a mistake.”
Anger: “This is so unfair.”
Bargaining: “Maybe if I email them again…”
Depression: “I’m terrible at this.”
Acceptance: “This is just part of the business.”

I’ve been through this cycle more times than I’d like to admit. The key is getting to acceptance faster and not letting it derail your entire strategy.

Red Flags vs. Normal Business (What to Actually Worry About)

🚩 Red Flags (Panic Time):

Commissions held for vague “policy violations” without explanation
All commissions were suddenly put on hold across multiple months
Affiliate manager stops responding to emails
Hold periods extending beyond stated refund windows
Accusations of fraud without evidence or an appeal process

✅ Normal Business (Deep Breaths):

Returns and refunds within reasonable percentages
Holds during standard refund periods
Fraud detection false positives (if they get resolved)
Seasonal fluctuations in hold rates
New merchant relationships have stricter review periods

My Commission Hold Prevention Strategy

1. Diversify Your Programs

Don’t put all your eggs in one affiliate basket. I learned this the hard way when a single program held up 70% of my monthly income.

My current split:

Amazon Associates: 25%
SaaS tools (PartnerStack, Impact, Partnerize): 40%
Course/education: 20%
Other programs: 15%

2. Understand Each Program’s Policies

I keep a spreadsheet with hold policies for each program. Sounds nerdy, but it saves me from panic when commissions disappear.

Key details I track:

Refund period length
Typical processing time
Contact information for issues
Historical hold rates

3. Build Relationships with Affiliate Managers

This is huge. When you have a real relationship with your affiliate manager, holds get resolved faster and with less stress.

How I do this:

Monthly check-ins (even when nothing’s wrong)
Sharing traffic and conversion data proactively
Asking about upcoming promotions or changes
Being professional in all communications

4. Document Everything

Screenshots of dashboards, email communications, and promotional strategies.

When holds happen (and they will happen), having documentation speeds up resolution.

Questions I Ask When Commissions Get Held

Instead of panicking, I now have a systematic approach:

Immediate Questions:

What’s the stated reason for the hold?
Is this within the normal refund period?
What’s the historical hold rate for this program?
Do I have contact information for the right person?

Investigation Questions:

Did I change anything about my promotional strategy recently?
Are other affiliates reporting similar issues?
Is there any unusual traffic or conversion patterns?
Have I violated any program terms (accidentally or otherwise)?

My Commission Hold Data Over 18 Months

Total commissions earned: $73,400

Total held at some point: $12,100 (16.5%).

Eventually released: $9,800 (81% of holds)

Permanently lost: $2,300 (19% of holds)

Breakdown by reason:

Returns/refunds: 67%
Fraud detection (false positive): 18%
Merchant cash flow issues: 12%
Actual policy violations: 3%

The takeaway: Most holds get resolved, but you need to budget for some permanent losses.

How I Handle the Emotional Side of Commission Holds

Accept the Volatility

Affiliate marketing income is inherently unpredictable. Commission holds are part of that reality, not a bug in the system.

Don’t Take It Personally

A returned product doesn’t mean you made a bad recommendation. Sometimes people just change their minds.

Focus on What You Control

You can’t control returns or fraud detection algorithms ( I see you sift). You can control the quality of your content and the products you promote.

Build Buffer Income

Having multiple income streams means commission holds don’t threaten your ability to pay bills.

Your Read: ManyChat Review 2025: Chatbot Love at First Chat

Tools That Help Me Track and Manage Holds

BeMob (for tracking commissions across programs)

Helps me spot patterns and anomalies across different affiliate networks.

Google Sheets (for detailed tracking)

I track hold rates, resolution times, and reasons for each program. Nerdy but effective.

Calendly (for affiliate manager calls)

Regular check-ins prevent small issues from becoming big problems.

LastPass (for secure login management)

Sounds basic, but having organized access to all affiliate dashboards reduces stress when issues arise.

When to Fight a Commission Hold (And When to Walk Away)

Fight When:

The hold reason is clearly incorrect
You have documentation supporting your case
The amount is significant relative to your income
The affiliate manager is responsive and professional

Walk Away When:

The program has a pattern of arbitrary holds
Communication is hostile or unresponsive
Fighting would cost more time than the commission is worth
The program terms are unreasonably affiliate-unfriendly

Building Resilience Into Your Affiliate Strategy

Emergency Fund for Hold Periods

I keep 2-3 months of expenses saved specifically for commission volatility. Sounds excessive, but it lets me sleep at night.

Conservative Income Projections

I plan my budget assuming 20% of commissions will be held or lost. Pleasant surprises are better than financial stress.

Relationship Diversification

No single affiliate relationship represents more than 30% of my income. Learned this the hard way.

Regular Program Audits

Every quarter, I review hold rates and decide whether programs are worth the hassle.

Uncomfortable Truth About Commission Holds

They’re not going away. As long as affiliate marketing exists, there will be returns, refunds, and fraud detection systems.

They’re not always fair. Sometimes you’ll lose commissions for reasons that feel arbitrary or unfair.

They’re part of the business model. The same systems that protect merchants from fraud sometimes catch legitimate affiliates in the crossfire.

But here’s the thing: Understanding commission on hold affiliate marketing dynamics makes you a better affiliate marketer. You learn to promote products with lower return rates, build stronger relationships with managers, and create more sustainable income streams.

My Current Commission Hold Philosophy

I treat commission holds like bad weather – sometimes they happen, but they don’t last forever, and there’s usually not much you can do except wait it out.

My rules:

Don’t panic on the first day
Gather information before taking action
Maintain professional communication
Document everything
Learn from each situation
Don’t let it stop you from promoting good products

The bigger picture: Commission holds are a small price to pay for the freedom and income potential of affiliate marketing. The key is building a business that can weather the storms.

Strategies for Minimizing Commission Holds

Partner with Established Merchants

Newer companies often have cash flow issues that lead to delayed or held payments.

Established brands typically have better systems and policies.

Understand Product Categories

Some niches have naturally higher return rates.

Fashion and electronics get returned more than software subscriptions or digital courses.

Monitor Your Conversion Metrics

Unusual spikes in traffic or conversions can trigger fraud detection.

I now space out major promotional pushes to avoid algorithmic flags.

Build Direct Relationships

Some of my best affiliate arrangements bypass traditional networks entirely.

Direct relationships often mean faster payment and fewer holds.

FAQs

How long should I wait before contacting support about a commission hold?

For Amazon, wait 30 days unless it’s clearly an error. For other programs, check their stated processing times first. I usually wait 7-10 business days before reaching out, unless the hold reason is obviously wrong.

Can I prevent commission holds entirely?

No, but you can minimize them. Focus on promoting quality products with good return policies, maintaining clean traffic sources, and building relationships with affiliate managers. Some holds are just part of the business.

Should I stop promoting products that frequently get returned?

Not necessarily. High-return products might still be profitable if the commission rate is high enough. Track your net income after returns, not gross commissions. Some of my most profitable promotions have 30%+ return rates.

What if an affiliate program holds my commissions unfairly?

Document everything, communicate professionally, and escalate through proper channels. If that fails, consider whether the program is worth your time. Sometimes walking away is the best business decision.

How do I know if a commission hold is temporary or permanent?

Check the program’s terms for refund periods and hold policies. Most holds resolve within 30-90 days. If a hold extends beyond stated timeframes without explanation, that’s when you should worry.

Can commission holds affect my standing with affiliate programs?

Usually not. Holds due to returns or fraud detection false positives don’t reflect poorly on you as an affiliate. However, holds due to actual policy violations might affect your account status.

Look, commission holds suck. There’s no sugar-coating it. But they’re not the end of the world, and they’re definitely not a reflection of your worth as an affiliate marketer.

The most successful affiliates aren’t the ones who never have holds – they’re the ones who build businesses resilient enough to handle the volatility.

Keep promoting good products, maintain professional relationships, and remember that most holds eventually resolve. Your future self will thank you for not giving up during the frustrating times.

P.S. – Currently dealing with a commission hold that’s making you question everything? Take a deep breath. Check the program’s refund period. Send one professional email asking for clarification. Then go create some content while you wait. The hold will probably resolve itself, and you’ll have moved your business forward instead of just stressing about money you can’t control.