mysearchfunds.com

'myhpf.co.uk' is now the name of the site originally known as 'mysearchfunds'.

The basic principle of the site is that they split the revenue generated from searches with the users.

The search engine is powered by Yahoo! and according to the site, the search results you'd get through their search engine are the same as you'd get through using Yahoo!

I had read a lot of reviews on this site on consumer review sites and on discussion boards and forums prior to joining.

It seemed pretty simple to me - sign up free, update your search box with their search engine and begin using it for your searches and you 'get paid for your searches'.

The site even accepts international members and payment is via PayPal or bank account.

And it was that simple - I signed up, updated my search box and started using it for my searches. I also occassionally logged onto my account on the site and used the option of 'use this URL from any PC' when I was at work so I could benefit from the facility as I do spend most of my working hours at the office and that's when I'd do most of my searches.

How much you earn depends on how much you use the search tool but you are also meant to search as normal, the site does not pay for searches to connect to known web addresses e.g BBC, youtube, facebook and the like... You don't get paid for searches accessing competitor search engines like Google, Ask.com etc.

You have an account on the site which you can log into and access details of your account summary, earnings from your friends' (referrals') searches and whether you have made payout...

Minimum payout is £20, the site claims you are paid 30 days, 45 days after each month end.
This has not been the case in my experience: I joined in May 2008, made payout of £20.66 in October 2008, there was a notification on my account that I qualify for payment in December 2008 (payment due date being 16-31 December 2008)...

It is early days (taking into account Xmas, NewYears closure periods) but I have seen no sign of this payment and I'd have given them the benefit of the doubt if it weren't for the fact that a number of users on other online communities inform that the site has not made payouts in months! Some have been waiting 3 months or more... maybe you're one of the users and have been waiting too..

The site also used to give regular updates about delays; due to changing the system over from 'mysearchfunds' to 'myhpf' and that there was a back log of payments but these are no more..

I used the site less when I heard some people have not been paid for sometime and yet they still send emails saying my searches have reduced and stating their advantages etc and asking me to invite my friends..!
My searches have reduced because they are yet to pay up and I will not be inviting any more people to use a site that I have seen no signs of paying!

Anyway, I'd not recommend it for now till I see signs that it is indeed still a paying site like 'mysearchfunds' was...

The general idea is great and very easy to work and this would be worthwhile if it did pay up in the end as there's no effort required at all!

UPDATE 17/01/2009: I wrote the above review on 07/01/2009. I received a payment from HomePages Friends on 14/01/2009. I have amended my rating of the site to that effect...

©marina321 Ciao.co.uk January 2009; Dooyoo January 2009