Bonus codes offer many advantages: using them allows you to claim an exclusive offer or expand the scope of an existing promotion. These codes (or coupons) are used for many different online services: you can get a discount on a product with them, or you can claim a special bonus on a site like Mr Bet. However, sometimes you’ll receive an error message when you use them: promo codes are useless if they’re invalid. So, why does this happen, and what can you do to fix it? Below, we’ll list the most common issues that cause invalid bonus code errors and explain each one in detail.
Incorrect Entry
This is the most common cause of invalid code errors. Bonus codes often consist of a combination of letters and numbers, and can sometimes even contain special characters. If you enter even a single character incorrectly in a long code, it won’t work. Therefore, we recommend copying and pasting it into the appropriate box instead of entering it manually:
- Select the code with your mouse, right-click on it, and select Copy.
- Right-click where you need to enter the code and select Paste.
That’s all: this simple tip will instantly solve most problems.
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WHAT CAN YOU DO |
Double-check that you have entered the bonus code correctly and use copy/paste instead of entering it manually to avoid mistakes. |
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Expired Code
Bonus codes are used to claim special and exclusive offers. This almost always means there’s a time limit. Unlimited-time codes are extremely rare: in most cases, they must be used within a week at most, and for really good offers, this time limit can even be limited to just hours. If a code has expired, it will no longer work. So, don’t save any codes you find and try to use them immediately.
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WHAT CAN YOU DO |
There’s no solution you can apply to an expired code. Try to find a replacement and use your codes without waiting. |
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Usage Limit
Promo codes have a usage limit. This limit usually comes in two forms:
- Total usage limit: For example, once a total of 1,000 people use the code, it stops working.
- User limit: Most codes are designed to be used once per user. This means the same person can’t use the same code multiple times. Tools like IP addresses, cookies, and device identifiers are used to recognize users.
In most cases, both of these restrictions will apply. Once again, there’s no real solution here: once the total user limit is reached, no one can use the code anymore. If you’ve used it before (perhaps you’ve forgotten it), you won’t be allowed to use it again.
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WHAT CAN YOU DO |
Check if you’ve used the code before. If you have, it’s no longer valid for you. If you haven’t, the campaign may have reached the total user limit. Either way, you can’t fix this problem: find a replacement. |
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Inappropriate Product
Some codes are only for specific products. This is actually explained in the rules of the relevant promotion, but many users don’t pay attention to it. Here are a few examples:
- An online store might share a code that’s only valid for grocery items.
- A code shared by an online casino might only be valid for a specific slot machine.
In any case, you might be trying to use your code on a product/service for which it’s not valid. In this case, you’ll usually see a message on the screen (instead of a regular error message), but there are times when this doesn’t happen. This problem is easy to fix because the code is still valid; it’s just being used for the wrong product or service.
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WHAT CAN YOU DO |
Double-check that you’ve selected the correct product or service. You can read the terms and conditions of each campaign to see which products/services it covers. |
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Eligibility Issue
Your bonus coupon may be active, and the campaign it’s associated with may still be running, but you may not be eligible for that promo. Some codes are only available to users of a certain type or geographic region. For example:
- The relevant campaign may not be available in Canada. This can happen for many reasons; the most common reason is that the campaign’s content doesn’t comply with local laws.
- The relevant campaign may be exclusive to a specific province in Canada. Companies can use geo-identifiers to identify your location.
- The relevant campaign may be exclusive to users who have previously purchased a product or used a service.
Once again, there are many possibilities here. You can find out if you’re eligible for a campaign by reading the terms of use: this is usually explained in the first three items. If you’re not eligible, there’s nothing you can do.
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WHAT CAN YOU DO |
Read the promotion’s terms and conditions to see if you’re eligible. If not, there’s nothing you can do. For geographically restricted campaigns, don’t try to change your location using a VPN or proxy. This may work to redeem codes, but if it’s later detected that you’ve changed your location virtually (which is easier than you might think), your account may be terminated. |
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Contacting Customer Support
If none of these solutions work, or you’re still experiencing an issue you can’t resolve, contact the customer service team running the campaign. If you’re polite and explain your issue, they can even revalidate invalid codes or share new ones with you.
