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.

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...

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.

Tweet loudly at Orringer on Twitter about it.

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?

Quote from: Uncle Pete on October 17, 2021, 09:05

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.

Quote from: marthamarks on October 17, 2021, 15:15

Quote from: Lowls on October 17, 2021, 13:00

Quote from: Uncle Pete on October 17, 2021, 09:05

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!

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

Quote from: For Real on October 17, 2021, 19:30

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

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) 

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.

Quote from: For Real on October 17, 2021, 19:30

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.