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Author Topic: ||RESOLVED|| SS Account Suspended, $1400 Earnings Gone  (Read 10197 times)

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« on: October 16, 2021, 03:14 »
+3
I'll start by saying that I was part of the Boycott Shutterstock crowd, but I was making reasonable earnings with them and was willing to take the hit on the new payment terms given this money goes back into paying for equipment/trips.

Got an email off Shutterstock two days ago to inform me that one of the images that I uploaded wasn't my own. Very blunt and to the point that my account was suspended and I am no longer entitled to be a contributor.

The email said that I was entitled to make an appeal, so long as I provided proof. So I did just that and sent over the DNG of the image in question, along with three other images from the shoot to show that I took the photos.

I've had no reply, aside from the auto responder promising me a reply in 24 hours. I also followed up on it yesterday afternoon (9am NYC time) to make sure that I'd really pointed out that a mistake had been made here.

Anyway, they've taken away my earnings and shut the account. So if there's a lesson to be had here, it's to make sure that you don't set your payout to $2000 and let the money pool up each month. They can and will pull the plug on you at any time, regardless of the proof you can provide.
« Last Edit: October 19, 2021, 13:16 by cloudvisual »


« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2021, 03:33 »
+4
I am sorry to hear that. Unfortunately that's not the first time I am hearing of such cases (though in the other cases I am not sure whether the accounts were suspended rightfully or not. Sometimes thieves had the nerves to go to the Shutterstock forum to ask for advice or complain). Ever since I've constantly be worried that something like this might happen to me, even though, of course, all photos I submit are mine.

In a normal scenario this could been attributed to a mistake and should be fairly easy to sort out, if, in like your case, you have proof like other photos from the same shoot. However, nowadays it has become close to impossible to actually get any kind of "support" from Shutterstock if you are on the contributor side. I have had support cases I never got a reply to from 2 years (!) ago. Since it was about a technical error on their side, I gave up as I found a workaround for my side, so it's really not my concern if some customers can't see some photos of other contributors. :(

In your case, since this is quite a lot of money, it might possibly be worth calling them? They do have a phone number up on their support page. Not sure what good it will do, since showing proof won't work on the phone, but maybe you can at least get someone to look at the case that way?
Wishing you lots of luck that you get the issue resolved.

« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2021, 03:51 »
+3
I am sorry to hear that.

Thank you. I did actually call up yesterday evening, but the answer was that any phone number designed for calling is purely for someone buying. Whilst the guy on the other end of the line was very understanding and concerned, he said that there was absolutely nothing he could do and that I need to raise it with the email address given to me in the suspension contact message.

I'm not expecting an email back from them. It's just very disheartening when creating stock footage is already an uphill battle, with an ever-steepening mountain to climb.

« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2021, 03:58 »
+7
Sorry to read that :-(
What the fxxck is wrong with them ?! I already told on this forum that when I send them multiple notices of thieves accounts with dozens of duplicate videos, they just - in the better case - pull the videos and let the thieves account online. And here - from what I understand - for just one image, they shut your account all the way down...

JaenStock

  • Bad images can sell.
« Reply #4 on: October 16, 2021, 04:47 »
+6
I had a similar problem that was resolved in three days. I worked with a German macro distributor and when I closed my account with them, due to a shutter or distributor error, the images were still online at shutterstock premier. They closed my account and I had to investigate the repeated photos (they did not send me thumbnails but thanks to stock performer I got what images were by ID) I sent a lot of emails with RAW, model contracts ... and I was very insistent. Finally my account was re-established.

I always charge shutter every month and despite not going up much I had 500 dollars that month by that date, finally my money appeared

« Reply #5 on: October 16, 2021, 06:35 »
+7
wow! totally unacceptable. now I wonder what else I'll hear about this company. horror story after horror story. no surprise they shut their own forums down.

watching SS grow since 2003 is like watching Anakin turn into Vader.
« Last Edit: October 16, 2021, 06:50 by Digital »

« Reply #6 on: October 16, 2021, 12:25 »
+6
That stinks.

I have found (and bear in mind that Shutterstock threw me out last year over my social media campaign over the royalty cuts, so this isn't a quiet route) that public shaming on Twitter over something like this can help.

A month or two back, I sent them mail and then DMCA notice about a portfolio full of stolen stuff (including one of my images). They did nothing until I took to Twitter and then miraculously - and I sure totally by coincidence - they took the portfolio down. Be careful in how you word things so you don't libel them (no sense in giving them any more ammunition).

At the very least, you should be paid your earnings.

Edited to add, if you don't mind going public about this cockup of theirs, I'm happy to tweet about it too if you want. There's not much they can do now they've closed my account :)

« Reply #7 on: October 16, 2021, 12:28 »
+8
Tweet loudly at Orringer on Twitter about it.

« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2021, 06:44 »
0

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2021, 09:05 »
+8
If the OP is the original artist, they will re-instate his account and return the money.

I'd think for all the times people have written and complained about real thieves, and the time it takes to get something done, because SS was being careful, I'd guess they made a mistake this time.

Why does the forum turn into an angry lynch mob so often?

« Reply #10 on: October 17, 2021, 13:00 »
+2
If the OP is the original artist, they will re-instate his account and return the money.



Are you Shutterstock liason? Curious how you state as fact.

marthamarks

« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2021, 15:15 »
+7
If the OP is the original artist, they will re-instate his account and return the money.



Are you Shutterstock liason? Curious how you state as fact.

BINGO!!! There's a perfect example of the hostility that we really don't need brought in from elsewhere.

Having hung out for many years on this forum with Pete, I'd bet my life that he is not a Shitterstock liaison.
« Last Edit: October 17, 2021, 16:05 by marthamarks »

For Real

« Reply #12 on: October 17, 2021, 16:16 »
+1
If the OP is the original artist, they will re-instate his account and return the money.



Are you Shutterstock liason? Curious how you state as fact.

BINGO!!! There's a perfect example of the hostility that we really don't need brought in from elsewhere.

Having hung out for many years on this forum with Pete, I'd bet my life that he is not a Shitterstock liaison.

Also knowing Pete for many years the only liaison that he is: Green Bay Packer fan, scotch drinker and taking great race car images!

marthamarks

« Reply #13 on: October 17, 2021, 17:44 »
0
If the OP is the original artist, they will re-instate his account and return the money.



Are you Shutterstock liason? Curious how you state as fact.

BINGO!!! There's a perfect example of the hostility that we really don't need brought in from elsewhere.

Having hung out for many years on this forum with Pete, I'd bet my life that he is not a Shitterstock liaison.

Also knowing Pete for many years the only liaison that he is: Green Bay Packer fan, scotch drinker and taking great race car images!

Good points! :D

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #14 on: October 17, 2021, 18:56 »
+4
If the OP is the original artist, they will re-instate his account and return the money.



Are you Shutterstock liason? Curious how you state as fact.

No I'm not, I wouldn't take that job, and no I'm not a fan of being cut down or what has happened recently. I'm just asking for a little bit of patience.

When we ask for action, they take time, then some people become hostile, because SS doesn't act fast enough. When they do make a mistake and close an account, that shouldn't be closed, some will say they acted too fast. We have seen over time, that the mistakes are eventually corrected.

That's all. I said IF, don't twist my words please.

You can have fast action, or allow for agency investigations into details. But you can't have review of theft without some errors. I hate to see someone wrongly accused of something they haven't done.

My personal hope is that the OP will come back and tell us that the unfortunate error was corrected and his earnings and account were fully restored. In the past they have been.

What's your point in accusing me which has nothing to do with the actual situation?

For Real

« Reply #15 on: October 17, 2021, 19:30 »
+1
What if the OP works for the agency? Would they be considered a double agent spy (007)  8)

marthamarks

« Reply #16 on: October 17, 2021, 19:40 »
+3
What if the OP works for the agency? Would they be considered a double agent spy (007)  8)

LOL!

With the way things are going these days with Shitterstock, Crapstock (whatever that is), and Stinkystock, I wouldn't be one bit surprised to find we've got double-agent spies in our midst! :/


Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #17 on: October 17, 2021, 20:42 »
+1
What if the OP works for the agency? Would they be considered a double agent spy (007)  8)

LOL!

With the way things are going these days with Shitterstock, Crapstock (whatever that is), and Stinkystock, I wouldn't be one bit surprised to find we've got double-agent spies in our midst! :/

Not directed at you personally, but I thought today. Shutterstock couldn't even read their own forum or care about what happened there. I doubt they would spend money to send anyone here to spy on us. If they do, I'm not on the favorite Son list, that's for sure.

What if the OP works for the agency? Would they be considered a double agent spy (007)  8)

Or maybe Secret Agent Man? But I don't think either of those two was a double agent. Kim Philby, was a traitor to democracy and freedom.


marthamarks

« Reply #18 on: October 17, 2021, 21:23 »
+1

Or maybe Secret Agent Man?

I like that! Can't you just see the headline? "Secret Agent Man hits unruly microstock forum, reports back to agencies that contributors are just plain nasty folks."

« Reply #19 on: October 18, 2021, 00:51 »
+5
What if the OP works for the agency? Would they be considered a double agent spy (007)  8)

LOL!

With the way things are going these days with Shitterstock, Crapstock (whatever that is), and Stinkystock, I wouldn't be one bit surprised to find we've got double-agent spies in our midst! :/
I would be surprised, because it would mean that Shutterstock would need to use recources (=money) on contributors. And we all know they don't want to waste any money on us.

« Reply #20 on: October 18, 2021, 02:55 »
+6
The next logical step for SS would be to buy the MSG, then shut it down.
« Last Edit: October 18, 2021, 03:00 by Digital »

« Reply #21 on: October 18, 2021, 04:06 »
+2
Sorry for the late reply, I was filming all weekend. Glad to see this got a bit of interest in the group!

I had a similar problem that was resolved in three days.

I'll see what happens this week, but they aren't likely to reply at this stage.
Quote from: For Real

link=topic=36717.msg567794#msg567794 date=1634517039
What if the OP works for the agency? Would they be considered a double agent spy (007)  8)

Haha, I don't think I could work for such a company. I can assure you that I'm nothing to do with them.

Tweet loudly at Orringer on Twitter about it.

I'm blocked by all their accounts following the #BoycottShutterstock campaign. John himself even blocked me on LinkedIn.

So I think based on being blocked by their Twitter accounts I was already on an unannounced final warning, hence the blunt and instant suspension.

I'm not upset about departing from the platform, it was only headed one way, but I wish they didn't steal my money on the race to the bottom.

« Reply #22 on: October 18, 2021, 05:41 »
+3
I don't think they will steal your money, if that is your only concern. And no, I don't work for SS :)

« Reply #23 on: October 18, 2021, 05:53 »
+4
I don't think they will steal your money, if that is your only concern. And no, I don't work for SS :)

Why wouldn't they keep my money if they think I broke the terms I agreed? Their thinking is that I used a photo I didn't take to earn money on their platform.

« Reply #24 on: October 18, 2021, 06:18 »
+3
I don't think they will steal your money, if that is your only concern. And no, I don't work for SS :)

Why wouldn't they keep my money if they think I broke the terms I agreed? Their thinking is that I used a photo I didn't take to earn money on their platform.
I don't think that can pass. Is all your earned amount from that picture in question? If not, they don't have any right to keep it. Besides, they haven't proved anything yet.


 

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