My Linkshare account terminated - They owe me about 10,000$

[Mister Bogdan]

They terminated my account without a good reason. They said that there was fraud transactions through my account.

But how I can control people which buy through my links?

And imagine, they owe me about 10,000$...

I contacted top merchants which I advertised, and all of them which responded to my email said that we had good cooperation and that they are sorry to hear that my account is terminated.

Just one manager from this top merchants said that he asked linkshare about my domain, as he was unable to locate his link on my website. They answered that I am "a repeat offender" and advise him not to pay me.

Hmm.. What should I do? Should I take legal actions toward Linkshare?

[LanaST]

they owe you that much money and you accepted them telling you this with no proof? I would contact them again and demand proof. then you could take legal action, but it will take a really long time I'm sure. I know people who are in similar battles and it's not easy.

[Mister Bogdan]

Moderator told me that I cannot post their email here. So I will told you how they explain this situation in email which they sent me.

They said that under the terms of our Affiliate Membership Agreement, LinkShare has the right
to terminate my participation in the Network in its sole discretion, with or
without cause. As a general matter, they have a policy not to disclose the
reasons that lead to a decision to terminate an account.

This is very strange. I think that they just want to cover up their "policy" to steal the money from affiliates. Or how I can explain this stupid decision? They even didn't warn me if I done something wrong.

[LanaST]

that's horrible! It seems strange that for that large of an amount and if you were bringing in money for them that they wouldn't have the decency to at least try to help you through this. it's hard to say without knowing the situation but if you haven't had problems with them before and they just sprung this on you I would look into legal action. For that amount of money I would think they could warn you at least and give you a chance to fix it. If they said they warned you before, they should be able to provide proof of at least that!

But like I said before these things take so long and are difficult to win considering the terms of your agreement that I wouldn't count on getting the money. Best thing to do is just start making money elsewhere and be careful who you deal with as a network.

A lot of people don't like Linkshare because of problems with payouts and so on.

It's going to be a long battle so you should maybe focus your energy on making money with a better network. If you were getting that much business it sounds like you know what you are doing.

[Mister Bogdan]

Thank you LanaST.. However, they never warned me before (because they didn't have any reason to warn me about my advertising). We have successfully cooperation in 2005...

This is probably mistake from their stuff, and they should admit that.

I already work with a lot of other networks and never had similiar situation. Some managers from other networks call me everyday to propose me new merchants to promote. This ones from Linkshare even didn't contact me to tell if something is wrong.

[LanaST]

I'm glad you are working with other networks. I'm an affiliate manager and I keep in touch with my affiliates constantly. They can reach me personally if they have any concerns and I always keep them up to date with new campaigns and offers.

I believe this is how a good network should operate!

[Mister Bogdan]

Yes, I think that every network should work constantly with their affiliates, especially because affiliates brings money to them.

Yesterday, Linkshare asked for more information how I advertised merchants. I send this info in detail. But still no answer from them.

It seems that they don't have intention to continue our cooperation, which was very succesfull in past 1.5 years. Also, I see that they don't have intentions to pay my commissions which I earned very hard.

[Mister Bogdan]

After asking them if they receive my emails with my Business Model and email from merchants which told me that they never complained, they told me that they still didn't received this..
So I forwarded all emails.

Today, I received email from them where they said that my emails are not enough for them to reinstate my account...

Also, today I received email from one merchant which manager told me that he is confused... and that I am still showing up as an affiliate for his merchant and that I made $3,054.99 in sales yesterday!

If somebody can explain how this is possible and that linkshare doesn't want to steal my commissions, I will listen..

[eljefe3]

I'd say take it up either in person with linkshare, or get some legal representation to help you out.

[jomaxx]

Why do you mention your business model? Is there something unusual about the way you genarate affiliate sales?

[Rogi]

Just to get this out in the open...
are you A parasite or affiliated in any way with any Parasite(s)/ware?

If not, perhaps Linkshare has mistaken you for one?

[edited by: eljefe3 at 2:31 am (utc) on Feb. 3, 2006]

[Mister Bogdan]

I do not know what is: Parasite(s)/ware?

[Mister Bogdan]

jomaxx,

They asked me about my business model.. So I represent it to their stuff..

Do you know what is very very strange?.. Nobody doesn't sign by name and lastname in any of replies..

[morpheus83]

I would go their office and would not leave till I get an explanation.

[tnon]

Do what we do. We traditionally offer "credit" to advertisers (no prepayment). In our opinion, this means that failure to pay should then go through the traditional collection process.

We inform them this:

Payment is due. If not received by the date, we then start charging interest of 2.5% per month. After 90 days, it will be charged off and reported to credit agencies.

Nobody wants to ruin their credit report.