Author Topic: Fotolia blocked account (Read 15243 times)

Clairev · « **on:** March 06, 2009, 16:29 »

Hello,
I had good experiences with microstocks until now. Fotolia blocked my account almost two weeks ago. They did not write me any explanation. I believe it was because of someone´s stolen credit card. Because two days before my account was closed, there were abnormally high sales. After that some 50 UDS has been erased from my account (Credits have been refused). I understad this can happen. I contacted support and received contact on Mr. Chad Bridwell. But after week of writing e-mails Iam still receive no explanation. My account is blocked and Iam starting to be very angry on Fotolia

Please, do you have any experience with this problem? Can you please give me some advice. Your help is appreciated.
Thank you, Klara

madelaide · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2009, 16:50 »

I don't see a reason to block your account because someone used your stolen CC, unless he used your account to purchase images with a stolen CC.

Dreamframer · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2009, 16:55 »

They obviously suspect that you stole someones credit card, and you bought your images with it. So, they blocked your account. They probably think you are involved, otherwise you wouldn't get so many sales just before that happened.

I can't see other reasons for blocking your account...
Or maybe they just inspecting your account now and they will answer soon. They track your past sales maybe...who knows...

cidepix · « **Reply #3 on:** March 06, 2009, 16:57 »

Quote from: Clairev on March 06, 2009, 16:29

Hello,
I had good experiences with microstocks until now. Fotolia blocked my account almost two weeks ago. They did not write me any explanation. I believe it was because of someone´s stolen credit card. Because two days before my account was closed, there were abnormally high sales. After that some 50 UDS has been erased from my account (Credits have been refused). I understad this can happen. I contacted support and received contact on Mr. Chad Bridwell. But after week of writing e-mails Iam still receive no explanation. My account is blocked and Iam starting to be very angry on Fotolia Please, do you have any experience with this problem? Can you please give me some advice. Your help is appreciated.
Thank you, Klara

I believe there is an issue with your images, not with credit cards but fotolia knows the reason better than I do. What type of images do you do? Could they be derivative work from someone elses images?

Norebbo · « **Reply #4 on:** March 09, 2009, 10:03 »

Just be persistent - they will follow through eventually.

But I am curious to hear Chad's comments. Hope he posts in this thread.

tan510jomast · « **Reply #5 on:** March 09, 2009, 11:55 »

my only guess is that they are investigating your account and the sales. so it's best to close it for now.
as whitechild mentioned, it is unusual for someone to use a credit card to buy from one person all the images. usually that would be a cause of suspicion; not that you are suspected of getting someone to use a fraudulent credit card to boost your sales. but you have to think outside the box, if i were working for the credit card fraud section, that would be my first thought.
you know, it's like the old Dick Tracy comic books, "you sir... are my first suspect!".
best thing is to contact FT support and keep in touch with them.

p.s.

Quote from: cidepix on March 06, 2009, 16:57

I believe there is an issue with your images, not with credit cards but fotolia knows the reason better than I do. What type of images do you do? Could they be derivative work from someone elses images?

Clairev, if what cidepix mentioned is so, then that's something else.
once again, best to contact FT one on one for whatever the cause.

Clairev · « **Reply #6 on:** March 09, 2009, 12:48 »

Thanks for replies!
Images are vector and bitmap illustrations. All created by me, I have raw scans (for example) to prove it.
Here is my portfolio on Shutterstock: http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-216823p1.html

Still waiting for some factual answer from Fotolia. I believe, that Fotolia will be able to find out, that I have nothing to do with those problematic (?) transactions.

Nemo1024 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 20, 2009, 08:24 »

A disturbing option presents itself - if you want to get rid of a competitor, steal someone's card and buy lots of your competitor's shots with it... Hmmm :-/

charles79 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 14, 2009, 19:42 »

Clairev, you have my sympathy. Have you reached a resolution yet?

I know of another contributor who has also been blocked from Fotolia, without warning or an explanation. Repeated phone calls and emails have gone unanswered for WEEKS by Chad, who apparently is the only person responsible for blocking/disabling accounts.

I put a challenge out to all you Fotolia contributors: Call the US Fotolia number (718-577-1321) and see if you can reach Chad (director of operations) on the phone. You never will. Consider what implications this would have for you, if you ever had an account dispute.

stockastic · « **Reply #9 on:** April 14, 2009, 21:40 »

The more I learn about these microstocks, the more I think the smart thing to do would be to immediately remove all my photos from all of them, and wait for something better to come along.

The tiny amount of money I'm making from these subscription sales has no importance except as a diversion. And I'm getting increasingly uncomfortable with these people having my full size image files. None of them seem likely to be bound by any agreement they've supposedly made, none of them actually give a rat's @ss about contributors, they think we're just pathetic nerds with DSLRs. All are likely to fold or be sold at some point, and what happens to the images then would be anyone's guess.

Magnum · « **Reply #10 on:** April 15, 2009, 04:29 »

wow,your pessimistic

just relax, if you don´t need the cash. It won´t get any better... for a while...I guess. Internet is Internet. All of your images can be on Piratebay tommorow, who knows? Don´t upload anything you can´t take a risk with.

Clairev · « **Reply #11 on:** April 27, 2009, 12:15 »

Hello,
it took a LOT of emailing, but my account is working again. They are still investigating situation, but I really believe in happy end now.

Charles79: I would suggest to contact more people from Fotolia management. There is section Management on Fotolia Blog, where You can find email addresses. I wasn't trying to contact them on the phone, because I am more confident in written communication in English.

click_click · « **Reply #12 on:** April 27, 2009, 19:30 »

Quote from: Clairev on April 27, 2009, 12:15

Hello,
it took a LOT of emailing, but my account is working again. They are still investigating situation, but I really believe in happy end now.

Charles79: I would suggest to contact more people from Fotolia management. There is section Management on Fotolia Blog, where You can find email addresses. I wasn't trying to contact them on the phone, because I am more confident in written communication in English.

Forget contacting them by phone, they will just tell you to write to Chad.

You might get lucky if Chad has time when you are calling, otherwise it's a waste of time.

michey · « **Reply #13 on:** June 11, 2009, 08:06 »

my account is blocked too with 100 credit left inside without any reason and without any further explanation and a lot of people is in the same situation.
1000 account blocked with 100 credits inside = 100.000 dollars,money easy.
Who starts a lawsuit for 100 dollars?
Fotolia is so smart...

madelaide · « **Reply #14 on:** June 11, 2009, 14:43 »

Here in Brazil we have special justice courts for small causes. You don't need a lawyer, only documentation. We used that against a neighbour once.

willie · « **Reply #15 on:** June 11, 2009, 15:00 »

Quote from: michey on June 11, 2009, 08:06

my account is blocked too with 100 credit left inside without any reason and without any further explanation and a lot of people is in the same situation.
1000 account blocked with 100 credits inside = 100.000 dollars,money easy.
Who starts a lawsuit for 100 dollars?
Fotolia is so smart...

"...ALOT OF PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION? "
wow, that's a pretty blanket statement. I hope you have ample proof of this, as making such a false
statement can be just as destructive to you, that speaking ill of Fotolia in this forum.

michey · « **Reply #16 on:** June 11, 2009, 16:12 »

destructive for what?
i see other people in this forum and other forum with a blocked account, this is not a my statement.
however sorry for my bad english, maybe few people is better...
thanks perseus, i hope you will not have a blocked account too and without any explanations.

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Author Topic: Fotolia blocked account (Read 15243 times)

Clairev

madelaide

Dreamframer

cidepix

Norebbo

tan510jomast

Clairev

Nemo1024

charles79

stockastic

Magnum

Clairev

click_click

michey

madelaide

willie

michey

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