Getting Money Out Of Cheating Sponsors

help on getting paid by bogus sponsors

[pugyrob]

Hi All,
looking for advice on getting money out of sponsors that dont pay up. We had popups on our site to pay for hosting costs and are owed $700 by a U.S company. We have sent numerous emails and tried to phone them but to no avail.

Are there any bodies or channels to use to get the cash out of these sort of companies.

Thanks In Advance

[rogerd]

First advice: work on a "pay in advance" basis for this kind of thing!

Since it's a bit late for that, the next step would be send a firm letter (paper, snail mail, some kind of receipt signature required if you can do that from your location). The letter should make it clear that this is the final notice, and that the account will be "referred to collection" if payment is not received within ten days (or other appropriate deadline).

A threatening letter on a law firm's letterhead can also be good, particularly if you have a friend who is a lawyer/solicitor who will do it without charging you.

Due to your remote location, your next step would be to get a collection agency to attempt to collect it for you. They will keep 25 - 50% of what they collect. I can't recommend such a firm to you, but I'm sure you can search one out. An agency with an office local to your deadbeat customer would probably be good, but it's not essential.

You could also go to court, but the small amount involved makes that prohibitively expensive. Good luck!

[chiyo]

absolutely. We insist on being paid a month in advance before placing the ad. Our model uses a flat rate for a month, but people charging on a per exposure or click through basis can insist on them depositing enough to cover it, and then warn them when it is running out Overture style.

[pugyrob]

Hi,
it was an affiliate company that i used as opposed to a sponsor. Therefore it would be a bit like asking cj for money up front, its not going to happen. They paid $0.06 per click ( or didn't as the case may be). The bad thing is i just cant get throught to them at all now.

[ritualcoffee]

you can always contact the Better Business Bureau.

[rcjordan]

In the affiliate business this is a fairly common problem. Realistically, other than trying the certified letter shake-down, you just write it off to experience.

[ScottM]

Is there anything illegal by continueing the pop-up...but with a 'different' text?

I'm thinking "This company owes me $700 and won't pay it...do YOU really want to give them YOUR business?"

Another option is take em to small claims court, it would cost them more to send a lawyer than to just pay you. If the small claims court limit in your area is $500...sue for the $500.

A small claims suit would make them listen...and pay the $700 just to make you go away.

Then you could change the text AGAIN...nah...that wouldn't be nice...and you could be sued for libel/slander.

The collection agency part is good idea also. It's the simplest.