Platinum Bucks refuses to pay our affiliate sales and won't return emails.
 

Anybody else getting fucked over by Platinum Bucks?

We've been an affiliate for over 8-9 months, selling just a few memberships per month. (free sign up w/pps)

We had a "great" month this month and made 5 whole sales.

Not only did they terminate our account, WITHOUT warning, they refuse to make contact and refuse to confirm that they will honor our sales.

I guess we'll NEVER see the $ 280 they owe us.

Sign of the times coming.

Thanks Platinum Bucks for insight into your future.

Alpha Sky Productions

nope :pimp

did you break their TOS? seems the most obvious reason to me

Interesting... I'll park until further info is presented.

lol, no comment..

never had an issue with them... they gave me so many fabulous gifts and prizes over the years and still pay me even though i havent sent any traffic in 2 years...

maybe cause you did something wrong

I agree with that, but even when someone does something wrong, they deserve an explanation, and not to just be cut off and no reason why.

Yep you got caught cheating. Platinum Bucks is top notch

Turn about is fair play!
Hows it feel fag?

Self loathing bump for answers and more abuse. It'd be nice just to get a "fuck off" post from Platinum. Getting ripped off is one thing, but "I'm not going to be ignored Dan!" - Fatal Attraction

1) Why was our account terminated without warning or reason.

2) Why is there no contact at all from Platinum?

3) Why is there not a "check in the mail" for the $ 280 they owe us for previous sales.

4) Why nothing at all?

We did not break the rules in the TOS. We are so small and just had a few sales per month. Is it because we sold 5 sales in one month? Did we break the bank? Is Platinum slowly going under and we are the first in a series of fuck overs?

We've already switched sponsors, but is sure would be nice to hear back from this company.

Judging from all of your past posts I can not even imagine what you could of done to break some rule that they have in place. Few people have actually amazed me in their sheer ignorance and ability to fuck up, and you took the pole position faster than that one time I had curry in mexico while drinking the local water.

How many people did you email or call to inquire about your account?
Why are you asking us why a third party has not responded to you?
Do you think we work in the mail room, well actually you may think that so why did you not leave your address?
It also seems they did give you nothing at all, so why ask why nothing at all?

Now tell me with a straight face, you have read their TOS. If you have did you email the special email address?

I sent them over 100 emails, to our rep and to the company. I did not break the rules. I posted here as a last resort as it seems so many others do, to offer their own personal experiences with these large companies that feel they can do whatever they want to us smaller people.

I know we are nobody in this biz, but this is a free public board and I have the right to bitch, just like the 1000's that bitch to us on a daily basis becuase our "tour doesn't look right" or cause "we don't know how to run an affiliate program." on and on it goes.

I'm just posting here to get some kind of response out of "Big Brother." I've read many other posts about webmasters getting ripped off from larger companies. I want to know why we're getting ripped off also and being treated like scum. Not enough sales? too many sales? who knows , who cares... I know we'll never get our money, I just wanted an answer.

ahh sniffle.

I will email them this thread. You should get a response. Just because everything you have said sounds super fishy. Like 100 emails. I say check back perhaps after the weekend. I know I will.


PS - not an affiliate of theirs that is active, do not think I have sent them traffic in a couple years.

Yeah, we finally got a response. A nice 2 liner.

"Your account was terminated due to fraud. We detected multiple signups from the same PC."

Platinum offers 8 free sign up sites. We advertised all 8 of them, which I'm sure many affiliates do. So if some horny man signs up for 2 of them, we get terminated due to fraud.

Their rules are total bullshit. We should not have been terminated because somebody wanted more than one of their FREE SIGN UP SITES.

Platinum should have just 1 sign up for all 8 programs together to eliminate this problem. OR, if one person signs up for multiple sites, simply pay out only 1 commission and send proof of multiple sign ups to the affiliate for confimation of a reduced commission.

But their limited thinking is to TERMINATE THE AFFILIATE because some drunk horny jack off wanted more than 1 free sign up. HELLOOOOO?? It's a free sign up. What is Platinum thinking?

Platinum sucks and we want our money due us. $ 280.

We feel they are using this as an excuse to NOT pay affiliates and to slowly shave down the commissions due affiliates because their sales are starting to decline. Have you seen their content? It's from the 80's. All their content can be seen on a tube site. BUT, sell more than 1 sign up to the same person and you get terminated.

Another lesson learned in this terrific business.

I lost IQ points reading that.

Thanks.

I am sure all will work out

Not sure what to make of the OP but I do know that if I end up getting fucked by a sponsor, I will throw all of my ethics out of the window and I will rip their content until I am compensated for what I have earned. Its no different for shooting content and then not paying your talent.

Having said that, that has to be a growing concern among affiliates these days and some programs getting hit harder than they expected. It's nothing for a program to blow off someone who has a few sales or even scrub someone with a sale. I know for a fact one of the programs I promote has two sales from me yet my stats show 0. The reason I know they are two sales is because I bought them yet their support team claims I have not made a sale yet. If I don't get a resolution this week on the "error", I will definitely out them as well as provide my credit card receipt here on the forum to prove. But I guess they can just turn around and play the "fraud" card.

What can you really do about that? Nothing. Affiliates have to trust that program owners are being honest and are keeping up with their books. But I do bet there are some programs that play "fraud" card because there is no way an affiliate can dispute it or prove the program is lying and its easy cash especially in tough times.

That might make me a bitch but if you don't pay me for honest work and sales, be certain I'll get my money one way or another, even if it means me having to download your content and hock it myself. I don't ever steal unless stolen from.

I am dying to know where you are from. Please enlighten the board to that fact. Also please enlighten the board to how you are promoting Platinum Bucks.

For once I would love to see someone that bitches openly admit who they are. I'd be willing to bet your signups are shit.

Otherwise, I'll double your $280.00. Hell, I might even throw you $100.00 (US or Canadian) or 100 Euro, Pound Sterling, Forint, Crowns (in all the different countries they call it crowns), Rubles, Rupees or any other currency that is used where you live.

They cut you for fraud any you most likely deserved it.

you cant be serious?

Total Bullshit.

Did you read my last post.

Fraud? Try again with another :2 cents: theory.

Platinum's program is flawed. They want you to "sell" but if you "sell" too much, YOU'RE OUT.

"Advertise our sites, bring us traffic, but DON'T SELL 2 FREE SIGN UPS TO THE SAME PERSON OR YOU'LL GET TERMINATED WITHOUT NOTICE."

Flawed design, as nobody can control what some horny man will do with a credit card staring down at 8 FREE SIGN UP SITES.

Like I stated earlier, it should be "1" sign up for "all 8 sites" to eliminate this problem.

Actually yes but if, and only if, I follow the terms of service and get fucked out of what I have honestly earned. So let me get this straight, if a program wants to pull some shady shit like that, I would be wrong to recoup what I am owed? Then maybe it would be smart for a program to pay what they owe. I don't foresee that being he case with the majority of sponsors but why should I be the one fucked if I do the work, drive the traffic, and get them the sale? I am not doing this for free.

:1orglaugh

I did read your last post. Give me just a little bit of credit. You have to stop yourself and ask how is what you quoted (Platinum's program is flawed. They want you to "sell" but if you "sell" too much, YOU'RE OUT.) valid for any program. Seriously, find me any program that cuts you off if you "sell too much."

Do you not see the fraudulent logic of selling to the same "customer" multiple times? Of course there are circumstances where it can happen, but I am willing to bet this isn't one of them.

So I ask you this, did you even read my post???? Enlighten me as to where you are. I'd be willing to bet you won't come out with the facts. I'll even double my offer. If I have to respond to this post again because you still avoid my answers I'll triple my offer. Fuck it, I'll go higher then that. I'd be willing to bet they are 100% right in this situation and I have zero to gain in this.

very weird thread but their response is weirder

"multiple signups from the same pc"

how can a webmaster stop that from happening. When I promoted FEB I would regularly get some idiot joining 20 of them at a time....

If someone doesn't pay their tab, you can't shoot them in the head either. Two crimes do not equal not a crime and you are really not talking about equivalent things.

Holy fuck you can't be serious. Do you even think about what you have written before you hit the submit button?

Let's start with this, "Not sure what to make of the OP but I do know that if I end up getting fucked by a sponsor, I will throw all of my ethics out of the window and I will rip their content until I am compensated for what I have earned. Its no different for shooting content and then not paying your talent." Think like a thief, act like a thief, you are a thief. Unless of course you are just some immature fool spouting off at the mouth to act like a tuff guy/girl(?).

I'm not quoting the second paragraph because it is too long. I just want to say this. If a program is really holding back the sales you think you have then why would you even hesitate to mention it? Who are you protecting? The program that you think is ripping you off? Your reputation because it might be damaged if it is found that you are wrong? Other sponsors? The last one can't be right otherwise you would let everyone know what issue you are having with the program in question.

This one I am absolutely fucking tired of, "What can you really do about that? Nothing. Affiliates have to trust that program owners are being honest and are keeping up with their books. But I do bet there are some programs that play "fraud" card because there is no way an affiliate can dispute it or prove the program is lying and its easy cash especially in tough times." Any affiliate with half a brain can tell if they are being ripped off. It's about time someone stands up and tells "affiliates" to give it a rest with the fraud and shaving accusations. There are plenty of programs that tolerate neither. I take exception to the bullshit fraud and shaving accusations.

I'll end with the last sentence, "I don't ever steal unless stolen from." Nice logic. Grow up. You just called yourself a thief and that makes you no better than anyone you are calling out.

You mentioned you were promoting the free trials; often free trials with any sponsor will generate these types of problems. People will sign up for the same trial over and over again or multiple sites with the same sponsor. If you did everything on the up and up they should pay you, but I can see why they wouldn?t want to continue doing business with you moving forward.

The only reason I have not outed them yet is because they say they are going over the system to see if there is a glitch and I'm not asshole, I'll give them their time and if they do not deliver, then its out they come.

If I do the work, I deserve to be paid for my efforts provided I adhere to the TOS for promoting the sponsor. Again, you miss the point. If you steal money earned from my pocket, fuck yeah I'm gonna rip your content and make sure I make my money I am earned.

You can be tired of affiliates raising the questions of "fraud cards" or shaving but you are foolish if you do not think it occurs. It happened when times were good and I am positive that is occurring that times are bad. That said, I am sure its a small number if it is occurring. But honestly, what power does affiliates have IF it is occurring? Not send any more traffic? Big deal. The affiliate would still be out money in the end.

Do any programs have their program books audited by an independent third party to make sure all affiliates are being paid correctly? Furthermore, why if a customer uses a fraudulent CC to get some free porn without the affiliate knowing what has occurred should lose all of their sales and not just the fraudulent one?

I am all for ethical biz practices provided everyone plays by the rules. The second anyone breaks those rules, they should expect the same done to them. You want "turn the other cheek"? Go get religion. Biz is "eye for an eye". Everyone else does it, why not me? (note, Im not saying steal for the fun or profit of it but Im sure you will find a way to twist it to that.)

show us a site you are promoting them on, $280 is peanuts, they wouldnt can you if you werent doing something shady, I know plenty of people sending 20+ joins a day and they love the checks they get

Isnt it odd after your 100 emails, I email them once and you have a response and I am not even promoting them. Or you also going to assume that it was just a coincidence that they finally answered one of your 100 plus emails and ignored mine?

You have made it clear early on that you do not understand even the basics of this industry. Fuck I think you actually thought you invented crosssales at one point last year. It is of not suprise that you violated their TOS. However I do not think you actually set out to cheat them, I just figure you made some dumb ass mistake that would of been clear to everyone else not to do and you did anyways.
Then again you very well may have signed up a few times yourself with different peoples cards but I doubt your mind has reached that level of complexity yet.

OK, I'm going to pick this apart a little and try not to be a complete dick.

1) If this program is going over their system then I would have given them a few days of due diligence. But if what you say is true about this program saying they are going over their system then I call bullshit. A sign up is a sign up. It shows up. I get sign up details quickly. I hold off payments when I want to make sure credits don't show up late or we get slammed by chargebacks. There are early signs that this might happen. If what you are saying is true then the program is most likely fucking you over. I have always been clearly up front when I held anyone's payments. Look on this board for an example of this. Always up front. I just hope you are not saying this to help your case.

2) I did not miss your point. If I piss on your front yard tomorrow I know you will come to my front yard and piss on it as well. Stop saying you will do the same thieving tactics. It doesn't make you look good. Two wrongs don't make a right even if it feels really good sometimes.

3) Do you do any due diligence on the company you are going to promote before you promote them? I do know there are plenty of shit programs/businesses out there. I just get tired of hearing the same bullshit whine grouping programs together. I challenge anyone to see any program I am associated with shaving or playing the fraud card (without valid reason) to get out of paying anything.

4) Business is not about "Everyone else is doing it so I will." Business is about survival. Survival is about adapting. There is a reason that we got out of the pay site business years ago. We knew where it was heading. We adapted and continue to adapt. It is those that flounder that complain the loudest about recent trends.

Surprise, surprise. I sent them an email earlier with a link to this thread and magically got an email saying they located the "error". It only took them two weeks but they state "we expect you will have no further problems in getting credit for your sales from here on out."

maybe it was the "same PC" that also signed up as an affiliate in the first place? :1orglaugh

Now I'm lost, you emailed them about Alpha Sky's issue and they replied to you? :helpme

Exactly what I was thinking. :1orglaugh

No, the sponsor I had an issue with I sent them an email linked to this thread and they "fixed" the problem. I have no clue whats up with Alpha Sky.

Can I get the credit? ;)

what you dont want to have happening to yourself, then so not do this to another....

this is 1 of the many lessons Mister train wreck will have to face.
was it not you who deletes his own affiliates also?

its fun reading u... you actually make a very good shot here

We didn't "sell" to the same customer. Platinum implied that the same customer purchased multiple free sites. There are 8 free sites. In fact, I really don't know what he purchased and which sites because Platinum refuses to disclose the details. They simply terminated us and implied that we commited fraud. It's total bullshit.

I stick to my original theory that they are simply not paying affiliates due to declining sales. The smaller affiliates, which we are in that category, as we only sold 2 or 3 per month, we are the ones to cut off first. It starts off small, cut here, pinch there.... just shave 10% across the board. then, 15%...etc...etc..... Well, they got our $ 280.

Enjoy it Platinum.

Thank you. Some horny guy buys a couple different free sites, and we get fucked for it?

Platinum has 8 different free sites to join. We promote all 8. We can not control who joins what and when? We've been promoting them for some time now, and when one guy joins a couple, we get terminated and we don't get our previous sales commision??
Isn't the goal to SELL as many memberships as possible?
This is nuts.

But thank you for your supporting statement.

The rules around here state that if you claim a company is shaving or doing anything shady you must post proof or be banned.

If I had to wager, I'd bet this is one of your last posts.

All they have to do is Block the user that is abusing their site.

Why do WE have to be punished for some horny ass guy with a credit card signing up over and over to their different free programs?

Not fair.

Wow, 20 a day? Our peak month was like 6 or 7. We normally have about 4 or 5 a month. Small potatoes here. This makes no sense at all. We have no history of any wrong doing.

Nice. Taking the side of Big Brother. I'm shocked.

There was no fraud. We didn't send over fake joins.

Yeah, so in your mind we set up the entire affiliate program, and then waited 9 months later to make $ 280??

That small # of affiliate sales per month + the same IP making multiple purchases does indeed seem to indicate something fishy. Can you blame them?

Once again, you are the only one who thinks that way. You've proved time and time again your lack of understanding of the adult business, actually business period.

give us some more details of your situation