That is why I've never liked processor-ran affilliate programs. They have EVERYTHING then.
Here is a scenario.. I'm sure it would never happen:
You use XYZbill for processing & affilliate management. Your sites sort of suck compared to the competition, yet you somehow manage to bring in lots of affiliates still....
With all the information/data that XYZbill has, they KNOW which of their clients convert & retain the best.
Why would they bother setting up their own sites when they could use their clients?
Why wouldn't they sign up for theit best clients affiliate programs, then spam all of the cancellations from other weaker sites/programs to the stronger ones.
Same goes for affiliates that had decent traffic and are no longer promoting a weaker site.. I could see how a processing company might (via another company of course) somehow get that person to sign up for the stronger clients site (and get the referral credit).
It's not like your ever going to stiff yourself on payments
.
Some processing companies can (and probably do) make cajillions more than just those little ol' processing fees
It's sorta like playing matchmaker.. hook up the best affilliates with the best sites & hook up the surfers with the best sites.