How MateCode Works: Our Verification and Moderation Process

Why We Created MateCode

The problem we set out to solve was simple: existing referral code websites were unreliable. They scraped codes from the internet, published them automatically, and never updated them. Users would find a code, try to use it, and discover it had been expired for 18 months. The websites had no accountability because they weren't connected to the Australian community — they were just automated databases.

MateCode was built to be different. We built a platform where real Australians submit codes they are personally using, our team reviews them before publication, and the community helps keep them accurate by reporting expired or non-working codes. The result is a platform that is smaller than the scraped databases but far more reliable.

Where Codes Come From

All codes on MateCode are submitted by real Australian users through our submission form at /add-code. We do not scrape codes from other websites, we do not copy codes from social media, and we do not auto-generate codes.

When someone submits a code, they provide:

• The company name
• The referral code itself
• A description of what the new user gets
• The estimated value of the offer
• An expiry date (if known)
• Optional: their username for credit

Submitted codes enter a pending queue and are invisible to the public until a moderator reviews them.

The Manual Review Process

When a moderator reviews a submission, they check the following:

Company Legitimacy

The most important check is whether the company is genuine. We look for an established online presence, verifiable Australian or international business registration, genuine customer reviews on independent platforms, and ASIC or AUSTRAC registration where relevant (especially for financial and crypto services).

Codes for companies we cannot verify are rejected. If we cannot find evidence that the company is real and operating legally in Australia, the code does not go live.

Code Format Verification

We check that the code format matches what we know about that company's referral program. For example, we know Uber referral codes follow a specific alphanumeric format, and a code that looks nothing like a real Uber code would trigger scrutiny. This is not a foolproof check, but it helps catch obvious fabrications.

Accuracy of Claims

We check that the description and claimed value are realistic and accurate. A code claiming "$500 off your first DoorDash order" would be immediately flagged as misleading — DoorDash's program does not offer anywhere near that value. Codes with inflated or misleading claims are rejected.

Duplicate Detection

Our system automatically checks for duplicate codes within the same company. If the same referral code already exists on the platform, the new submission is flagged. In some cases, we allow the code to be extended if the original has expired; in others, the new submission is rejected as redundant.

Category Compliance

We check that the company fits into one of our approved categories and does not fall into our prohibited categories. Codes for gambling services, payday lenders, adult content, and similarly restricted services are rejected regardless of how legitimate the company is.

How Long Review Takes

We aim to review all submissions within 24–48 hours. During peak periods (after major promotional announcements, for example), review times may extend to 72 hours. Users who submit codes are not notified of the outcome, but approved codes will appear on the platform once reviewed.

What Happens After a Code is Approved

Once approved, the code goes live on the platform with:

• A "✅ Verified by MateCode" badge
• The date it was added to the platform
• The expiry date (if provided)
• A click counter showing how many times it's been used

Codes are sorted by a combination of recency and usage — recently added codes with high click counts appear higher in listings. We do not accept payment to boost a code's ranking.

Community Reporting: How You Help Keep Codes Accurate

Codes can expire or stop working at any time — the company might end the promotion, change the program, or deactivate specific codes. Our team can't monitor every code constantly, so we rely on the community to flag codes that are no longer working.

Every code listing on MateCode has a "Report" option. When you click it, the code is flagged for review. Our team re-checks reported codes within 48 hours and removes them if they are confirmed invalid. Codes with multiple reports are deprioritised in listings immediately, even before the review is complete.

Consequences for Misuse

Submitting fake codes, inflating value claims, or repeatedly submitting codes for prohibited services results in the submissions being rejected and the submitter's IP address being flagged for additional scrutiny. Repeated abuse may result in the ability to submit codes being blocked entirely.

We take this seriously because the value of MateCode depends entirely on the accuracy of the codes in our database. If the community can't trust the codes, the platform doesn't work.

How MateCode is Funded

MateCode is funded through advertising (Google AdSense). We show ads on the platform, and the revenue from those ads covers our operating costs. We do not charge users to browse or use codes. We do not sell user data. We do not take payments from brands to feature or rank their codes higher.

Browsing and using codes is free. Sharing codes is free for the first 30 days; after that, a listing may be removed from the platform unless the submitter contacts us to arrange an extended listing.