I joined a multi-app data collection study through uTest. Payment required a set number of approved app data exports. I uploaded more than the required number, but enough were rejected to leave me exactly one short of getting paid. One rejection said I submitted too little, even though I'd uploaded plenty and no minimum was ever stated.

Note: my first post about this was removed for naming the company, so I've left the name out this time to stay within the rules. If you've been affected, you'll probably know which study this is.

A few days into the study, submissions were blocked because of a "technical issue" that was supposed to be fixed within 12 hours. It never was, and I haven't been able to submit since. Now the project says it was "closed by an administrator." The dashboard's only delete option says I have to send my data for review first, which I can't do because submissions are closed. So my data is still with them, I can't delete it, and I haven't been paid.

What I uploaded was extremely sensitive: exports that included ID document images, medical records, and years of passwords and account recovery info. I was told it gets "scrubbed," but I have no way to confirm that.

From my experience, and from what other testers have told me in DMs, the pattern looks like this: a big data upload, a submission "glitch," rejections that land people just below the payment threshold, then the project closes. I believe this needs a closer look before more testers hand over sensitive data.

My deletion request to the company got an automated reply and then a canned message telling me to delete the data myself, which the dashboard won't let me do. A uTest rep reached out on Oct 23 and I sent my details by chat, and I'm still waiting to hear back.

If this happened to you:

- Contact uTest support and keep your ticket number.

- File a report with the FTC (https://reportfraud.ftc.gov) and your state AG (https://www.naag.org/find-my-ag/).

- Lock down anything sensitive you uploaded: freeze your credit, change your passwords, and remove the study's app from your Google account's third-party connections.

Think carefully before uploading sensitive personal exports to any study.

Hi

I did my first uTest thing the other day but they were full after I started the activity so they said they'd send me $30 and a link to reschedule. Does anyone know when that might happen? It's only been 1 weekend since so I'm giving a bit of leeway but I could use the money