Author Topic: Finally free of Fotolia (Read 3478 times)

BaldricksTrousers · « **on:** December 04, 2011, 10:18 »

After more than two months of begging for my money (which had to be by wire transfer), more than six weeks after Fotolia emptied my account and posted a "Credit conversion receipt" for wire transfer in my records, after having my account blocked when I said it was clear they hadn't paid when they said they had, finally my $800+ is in my bank and my account with Fotolia is closed.

In the end, it only took notification that I would be registering a formal complaint of internet fraud against them with New York FBI to get everything cleared up double-quick.

What a lovely company it is. Thankfully I don't need to have anything more to do with it.

cobalt · « **Reply #1 on:** December 04, 2011, 11:31 »

Whow! I am surprised they would treat anyone like this, because it is obvious that you will post your experience here.

stockastic · « **Reply #2 on:** December 04, 2011, 11:35 »

I got out of there over a year ago after concluding they weren't a totally honest, reputable company.

jsnover · « **Reply #3 on:** December 04, 2011, 11:42 »

Glad you finally got your cash, although I'm not at all surprised that it was so difficult.

Given FT's stated (and proven) intention of retaliation against anyone who speaks ill of them anywhere on the net, they know that most people with negative stories will keep quiet unless they've already left the site. I'm wondering if the type of "no negative news about me" contract this dentist had patients sign will show up in artist supply agreements with our agencies

stockastic · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2011, 11:46 »

Quote from: jsnover on December 04, 2011, 11:42

I'm wondering if the type of "no negative news about me" contract this dentist had patients sign will show up in artist supply agreements with our agencies

Now that you mention it - sure it will, and I'm actually wondering if it's already in there, in some weasel-wording I didn't fully understand.

I wonder if those sorts of clauses are actually enforceable, or just an attempt to intimidate.

lagereek · « **Reply #5 on:** December 04, 2011, 12:04 »

Strange! but I have always got on very well with FT, they sure as hell sell very well, just had a great week of sales. Sometimes I havent agreed on their best match, changes but apart from that, no complaints at all.

antistock · « **Reply #6 on:** December 04, 2011, 12:35 »

i'm not surprised.
despite moving a large amount of money microstock agencies are basically still fly by night amateurish web sites.

for instance, how many of them have a proper legal department or at least a real in-house lawyer working there full-time ?

stockastic · « **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2011, 13:08 »

At the time I left, a new shadowy, tacky-looking "partner" site was being discovered every other day. I decided I didn't want these people having my images. I only hope they actually deleted them.

fujiko · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2011, 14:43 »

I'm glad you are free from Fotolia.

StockCube · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2011, 14:55 »

Their payout threshold is $50, I don't know why anyone would let a company look after their funds beyond that level. They aren't covered by any sort of banking code - you may consider that to be 'your money' but I don't think that is how it would be dealt with if one of these companies ever went bankrupt. My fear is that I would be treated as a ranking creditor just like anyone else and would only receive cents in the dollar back to me once all was wrapped up. I know that employee's wages are usually treated more favourably by Insolvency Trustees, but as 'money owed to a supplier' I don't believe we would be.

Payments into your paypal account are free, same goes for transfers from there to your bank account. I really don't understand why anyone wouldn't do this at the earliest opportunity. Not having a go or saying 'I told you so' I just genuinely don't understand it.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2011, 15:34 »

Stockcube, check it out, their minimum payout for bank transfers is $500 and they charge $50 for that.

cclapper · « **Reply #11 on:** December 04, 2011, 15:40 »

Congrats on your freedom, so glad you got your money!

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #12 on:** December 04, 2011, 15:45 »

Quote from: cobalt on December 04, 2011, 11:31

Whow! I am surprised they would treat anyone like this, because it is obvious that you will post your experience here.

It's not obvious at all. Most people wouldn't post it here. They would take the cash and shut up, or never say anything in the first place and do without the money.
My name, btw, is Paul Cowan.

cobalt · « **Reply #13 on:** December 04, 2011, 16:02 »

Paul! Thanks for lifting the veil, I´ve been wondering who you are.

The blackaddr reference put you into a certain region and age group, but otherwise...

StockCube · « **Reply #14 on:** December 04, 2011, 16:05 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on December 04, 2011, 15:34

Stockcube, check it out, their minimum payout for bank transfers is $500 and they charge $50 for that.

So why not withdraw to your paypal account and transfer to bank from there? Like I said, it's free....

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #15 on:** December 04, 2011, 16:13 »

Quote from: cobalt on December 04, 2011, 16:02

Paul! Thanks for lifting the veil, I´ve been wondering who you are. The blackaddr reference put you into a certain region and age group, but otherwise...

The only point of it was that Fotolia has a record of punishing people who speak against it. I know of no other site that does that and now I no longer have a relationship with FT, it is no longer relevant.

However, what am I to do with the facts I have?

It's late. I'm tired, but this may well turn out to be more interesting than anybody imagines

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #16 on:** December 04, 2011, 16:16 »

Quote from: StockCube on December 04, 2011, 16:05

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on December 04, 2011, 15:34
Stockcube, check it out, their minimum payout for bank transfers is $500 and they charge $50 for that.
So why not withdraw to your paypal account and transfer to bank from there? Like I said, it's free....

I cannot have a paypal incoming cash account because of rules from the US financial regulators. I live in Qatar and Paypal is a bit iffy about the arab world

lagereek · « **Reply #17 on:** December 04, 2011, 16:57 »

Hi Paul!

nice to know, well youre a good photographer, thats for sure. As I already said, man you kept that well hidden. So now we go out and get zozzled.

all the best. Christian

lagereek · « **Reply #18 on:** December 04, 2011, 17:00 »

Quote from: cobalt on December 04, 2011, 16:02

Paul! Thanks for lifting the veil, I´ve been wondering who you are. The blackaddr reference put you into a certain region and age group, but otherwise...

What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean, Im in the same age group as well and I can still spill my seeds, tisk, tisk, tisk.

SNP · « **Reply #19 on:** December 04, 2011, 17:41 »

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on December 04, 2011, 15:45

Quote from: cobalt on December 04, 2011, 11:31
Whow! I am surprised they would treat anyone like this, because it is obvious that you will post your experience here.
It's not obvious at all. Most people wouldn't post it here. They would take the cash and shut up, or never say anything in the first place and do without the money.
My name, btw, is Paul Cowan.

I once thought that was you Paul. but for the most part I wouldn't have guessed. now that you've outed yourself, I can hear your voice as Baldrick

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #20 on:** December 05, 2011, 05:10 »

Quote from: SNP on December 04, 2011, 17:41

Quote from: BaldricksTrousers on December 04, 2011, 15:45
Quote from: cobalt on December 04, 2011, 11:31
Whow! I am surprised they would treat anyone like this, because it is obvious that you will post your experience here.
It's not obvious at all. Most people wouldn't post it here. They would take the cash and shut up, or never say anything in the first place and do without the money.
My name, btw, is Paul Cowan.

I once thought that was you Paul. but for the most part I wouldn't have guessed. now that you've outed yourself, I can hear your voice as Baldrick

It's funny, I thought my writing style was so distinctive that most people would have a pretty good idea of my identity.

BTW, this was only the latest of a number of problems I've have getting money from Fotolia.

Herg · « **Reply #21 on:** January 11, 2012, 09:29 »

Well I am submitting to them for the first time after reading Stockcube's excellent blog and stats :-)

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #22 on:** January 19, 2012, 01:26 »

Quote from: Herg on January 11, 2012, 09:29

Well I am submitting to them for the first time after reading Stockcube's excellent blog and stats :-)

Well, I hope you don't have to resort to threats of legal action to get your 13% commission.

wut · « **Reply #23 on:** January 19, 2012, 06:19 »

Quote from: lagereek on December 04, 2011, 12:04

Strange! but I have always got on very well with FT, they sure as hell sell very well, just had a great week of sales. Sometimes I havent agreed on their best match, changes but apart from that, no complaints at all.

Yeah, their double cuts last year were lovely.

IMO, they're worse than IS, in fact, they're copying them; cuts, best match changes. True, the site isn't nearly as buggy, but the traffic is also way lower

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #24 on:** January 19, 2012, 06:55 »

Well, I simply wouldn't trust them after they spent two months stonewalling me over the payment of more than $700, even to the extent of creating a false document claiming it had been paid to me. When I eventually demanded that they attend to the matter they immediately blocked my account and when, after that, I told them that I would be making a formal complaint to the FBI in 48 hours, they instantly paid up.

I don't deal with companies that do that to me.

And it wasn't the first time, either. In a previous round I also had to wait several months and was treated with appalling arrogance by The Chad whose observations included the assertion that he was only paying me my commissions out of the goodness of his heart because they didn't have to send money to people without Paypal. He also told me that if I didn't like the way they were treating me I could always leave. (I do have all the documents to support what I am saying).

Those who can get Paypal payments seem to get by OK but goodness help anybody who needs paying by bank transfer (for which you not only get insults and delays, you have to pay them $50 for the "service").

I really do not like Fotolia and am glad to be out of it.