A VC-Backed Rewards App Facing Withdrawal Freezes, Missed Deadlines, and Extended User Delays
In late 2024, a Benjamin user filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB): they had completed multiple game offers totaling over $400 in rewards, provided screenshots proving completion, and yet their earnings never appeared in the app. Support either ignored them or gave copy-paste responses. Months later, the case remained unresolved.
That story is not an outlier. It is one of over 150 complaints filed against Benjamin, the company behind the Benjamin One rewards app, describing a consistent pattern of withheld payments, locked accounts, and vanishing rewards. What began as a slick, VC-backed "earn cash by playing games and doing offers" app has, by late 2025 and into January 2026, become a source of significant frustration for users.
What Is Benjamin One? The Company Behind the App
Benjamin One is a rewards app operated by Benjamin Capital Partners, a New York–based fintech company founded in 2022. The app's pitch is straightforward: download Benjamin, complete offers (games, surveys, shopping), earn cash, and withdraw via PayPal or Venmo—often marketed as "instant" withdrawals, with a small fee for faster processing.
Company Background
- Company: Benjamin Capital Partners (operates the Benjamin app)
- Founder: Erno Tauriainen, described in funding announcements as having "15 years in the cash rewards space" with previous exits in similar businesses.
- Funding: In March 2024, Benjamin Capital Partners raised $5.5 million in seed funding led by Play Ventures, with participation from F4 Fund and other investors.
- CEO: Media coverage and company materials identify Lon Otremba as CEO as of 2024.
- Location: The company is listed at a New York, NY address and is not BBB accredited.
Not Affiliated with Major Survey Apps
Critically for context: Benjamin is not affiliated with major survey/rewards networks such as Qmee, AttaPoll, Freecash, or ySense. It operates independently as a distinct cash-rewards platform with its own app, offer wall, and payout system.
On paper, Benjamin looked legitimate: experienced founder, strong investors, proper corporate structure, and a popular app. But in 2024 / 2025, the reality for many users diverged sharply from the marketing.
How the Benjamin App Was Supposed to Work
Users download the app, connect payment methods, and choose from a list of offers:
- Install and reach a certain level in mobile games
- Complete surveys or sign up for services
- Make purchases through partner merchants
- Deposit funds into partner apps (including gaming/casino-style apps)
For each completed action, Benjamin receives a commission from advertisers and promises users a share of that commission. The app's marketing emphasizes:
- "Instant" or fast withdrawals to PayPal/Venmo (often charging a $0.99 fee for so-called instant payouts)
- Significant payouts for completing long-term or higher-tier offers (often $35, $85, $91.97, $266.10, and more)
For a while, many users reported that Benjamin did pay out, especially on small, low-value offers. But that changed dramatically in 2024–2025.
The Timeline of Issues: From Missing Rewards to the August Freeze
Early Warning Signs: Missing Rewards and Ignored Support
BBB complaints in 2024 already showed troubling patterns. A user completed multiple game offers, including:
- Rise of Kingdoms: rewards of $91.97 and $266.10
- Call of Dragons: rewards of $10.05, $2.96, $15.08, and $25.20
Combined, they were owed $411.36.
The user provided screenshots, in-app tracking, and proof of completion. Benjamin responded with generic messages and ultimately failed to pay, blaming "incorrect download source" despite earlier tiers of the same offers paying out.
Source: BBB Complaints (2024) | Amount Affected: $411.36
Another complaint documented $35+ and $85+ rewards in Call of Dragons disappearing from the dashboard right before cash-out. Lower-tier rewards tracked and paid, higher-tier ones simply vanished.
One user completed a "deposit $20+" offer in a partner casino app (PlayFame), where Benjamin promised payment within 24 hours of completion. The user deposited, completed the conditions, and never received their reward. Support responses were generic and did not resolve the issue.
Source: BBB Complaints (2024) | Issue: Deposit made, payout withheld
Even before the major freeze, users were seeing high-value rewards selectively fail while lower-value rewards continued to pay out—a red flag that something was wrong with Benjamin's incentive to pay.
The August 2025 Freeze: All Withdrawals Locked Until December 3
In mid-2025, things escalated sharply.
The 4-Month Withdrawal Freeze
Multiple sources (BBB, Reddit, Facebook) document that Benjamin announced a full withdrawal freeze, telling users that all withdrawals were being paused due to "upgrades" and that payouts would resume on December 3, 2025.
Key points:
- Users with existing balances—sometimes hundreds of dollars—were told they could not withdraw at all until December 3.
- The freeze affected users who had already completed offers, sometimes months prior.
- The company did not provide detailed technical explanations or a clear roadmap—just a broad "system upgrade" justification.
During this period, BBB complaints surged. Users described being unable to withdraw any funds for months, ongoing issues with missing rewards, and support either ignoring messages or sending non-specific replies like "please be patient."
The December 3rd Update: Did It Solve the Problem?
December 3, 2025, was advertised as the date everything would be resolved. Instead, Benjamin introduced new obstacles.
Daily Withdrawal Caps and "System Busy" Errors: When withdrawals reopened, some users were told they could only withdraw $50 per day, even if they had much larger balances.
Source: BBB Complaints (December 2025) | Amount Affected: $360 balance
Users reported constant "System Busy" errors when attempting withdrawals, even under the daily cap. One person described trying repeatedly across many days without success. Although withdrawals were technically "open" again, actual access to funds was heavily restricted.
The Withdrawal Queue: 80–99+ Day Delays
Around December 9, 2025, Benjamin introduced a new mechanism: the Withdrawal Queue.
How the Queue Works (For Users): When a user requests a payout, instead of processing immediately, the app shows a message that their withdrawal is "in queue" with vague or extended estimated processing times.
Reddit users and BBB complaints document queue times of 22 days, 80 days, and even up to 99 days. One Reddit user reported: "My withdrawal has been in queue for 80 days now. It's unbelievable."
Source: Reddit r/beermoney (Dec 9, 2025)
The kicker: Users paying the $0.99 instant fee are still being placed into queues. Trustpilot reviews describe people paying for "instant" withdrawals that then sit in "queued for 3+ days" status for weeks.
Source: Trustpilot (Dec 24, 2025)
This is not a minor delay. It effectively allows Benjamin to sit on user funds for months after offers have been completed and advertisers have presumably paid Benjamin.
Concrete Examples from BBB Complaints
The BBB complaints (which are public and documented) reveal detailed cases:
1. High-Value Rewards Disappearing
A user reported $411.36 in missing rewards from Rise of Kingdoms and Call of Dragons. Benjamin's response involved generic statements and blaming the user for downloaded sources, despite lower-tier rewards paying successfully.
[Screenshot: Full BBB complaint showing itemized missing rewards]
2. "Security Review" and Permanent Holds
A user had a $31.45 balance held indefinitely under "fraudulent activity" claims after disclosing they previously deleted an old account. Benjamin refused to provide specific reasons or evidence.
[Screenshot: BBB complaint regarding $31.45 hold since Sept 2024]
3. Login Lockouts and SMS Failures
A user attempted to withdraw and found their account locked. Password reset SMS codes never arrived, and support did not respond.
[Screenshot: BBB complaint describing account lockout]
4. Terms of Service Changes
Users report Benjamin changed its Terms of Service in mid-September 2025 to add a clause that points expire after 90 days of inactivity and updated language making it harder to pursue class-action lawsuits.
[Screenshot: BBB complaint showing ToS update]
The Scale of the Problem
BBB: 152 complaints in the last 3 years, with 110 closed in the last 12 months. The company is Not Accredited.
Trustpilot: Recent reviews are overwhelmingly 1-star, citing withdrawals stuck in queue, instant withdrawals that never arrive, and accounts being flagged without reason.
Reddit/Facebook: Communities like r/benjaminone and r/beermoney are full of reports about 80–99 day queues and payment failures.
Potential Causes for Delays
In the fintech rewards space, extended withdrawal queues often correlate with liquidity challenges or rapid scaling issues. When user earnings accumulate faster than available cash—especially with high-value offers—companies may struggle to cover the payouts.
The August–December 2025 freeze, followed by 80+ day queues and daily caps, has led some analysts to speculate that the company is managing a cash shortfall, though the company officially cites technical upgrades.
Warning Signs Reported by Users
Benjamin serves as a case study for caution. Users should be aware of these warning signs in any reward app:
What Affected Users Can Do Right Now
If you have funds stuck in Benjamin as of January 2026, take these specific actions immediately.
Screenshot your balance, withdrawal requests (especially queue messages), and all support communications. This evidence is critical for disputes.
Go to Benjamin's BBB profile. File a detailed complaint including dollar amounts and dates. Public records pressure the company.
Use the FTC's fraud reporting portal to file a complaint under "online services." This helps regulators identify systemic fraud.
File a consumer protection complaint with your state's Attorney General. Mention "Benjamin Capital Partners" and attach your evidence.
If you deposited money into a partner app solely for a reward that wasn't paid, dispute the charge with your bank as "services not rendered."
Check r/benjaminone and r/beermoney for real-time updates on collective actions or lawsuits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why This Matters: The Benjamin One saga highlights systemic issues in the rewards space. Platforms can look polished and VC-backed but still fail to pay. Never rely on a single app for income, withdraw early and often, and treat "too good to be true" payouts with skepticism.
As of January 11, 2026, many users still have money trapped. Until regulators step in or the company radically changes course, affected users must focus on documenting losses and filing formal complaints.
Sources & Further Reading
Ready to Start Earning?
Pick one platform, commit to consistent daily use, and watch your survey earnings grow.
Compare Top Survey Platforms Now