Author Topic: Closing account (Read 26379 times)

thx9000 · « **on:** March 13, 2017, 06:37 »

Hi , Long time lurker here . I finally decided to pull the plug on iStock/Getty . I have been a member since 2010 and up to the acquisiton sales were really good . I decided to stop uploading and it was a freefall ever since . The ESP fiasco was the last drop for me . There's still money coming in but I really feel disgusted dealing with these people . The delays , the '90s interface , lack of detailed stats is beyond a joke now . I'm done , I just want out . The problem is I already sent 2 messages to them and none has been answered yet .
The first message was about deactivating my entire portfolio but keeping my account/username just in case . The second one , 10 days later , was a formal ticket for closing my account . A week later both tickets are open and still no answer .

Why everything is a struggle with that agency ? What are my choices besides waiting ? My english is not good enough for a phone call and I'm afraid I won't be able to keep my cool speaking to them

cathyslife · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2017, 06:50 »

It took them about a month and 2 or 3 emails from me to get them to close my account. They aren't going to jump right on it, that is for sure. It doesnt work any better than anything else on their site. They have managed to get tens of thousands of people to support management in a good lifestyle...why would they be anxious to ruin that?

ShadySue · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2017, 06:57 »

In any case, contributers aren't allowed to phone them.

thx9000 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2017, 07:18 »

Wow , so waiting is my only option . That just reminded me a quote from a movie . To paraphrase : they treat us like mushrooms , feed us crap and keep us in the dark .

derek · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2017, 07:38 »

No theyre not going to jump all over it thats for sure. I was with them from 2008 and closed my account in Nov last year. I had a portfolio of approx 6000 files. I would have just left it if it wasnt for the fact that one of my macro agencies categorically refused to deal with me if they were left at Istock. Strange really I guess there must be some hard feelings somewhere between them perhaps an ex-employee or something.

panicAttack · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2017, 08:22 »

what if you just go exclusive?

they will close your account when they find out you aren't really exclusive

worriedistocker · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2017, 09:16 »

I think we may be at a tipping point after these recent changes. I just learned on FB that a black diamond contributor dropped their exclusivity.

To me, that's a pretty big deal when someone who has sold hundreds of thousands of files is fed up enough to take that step.

thx9000 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2017, 10:47 »

What are the odds ? I just got an answer to my first ticket about deactivating the port but keeping the account . I asked a specific question and got a canned answer about their new rules regarding deactivating content . Not much surprise really , at least I was right to ask for closing my account and not waiting for an answer .
I am doing illustrations mostly and my port is small but with a nice RPI . There was a point just before the acquisition where iStock almost caught up with SS , what a disappointing tease that was .
I'm stunned by the number of contributors who not only don't seem to be bothered by the current state of affairs but are complaining about their images not getting accepted fast enough

cathyslife · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2017, 11:55 »

Quote from: thx9000 on March 13, 2017, 10:47

What are the odds ? I just got an answer to my first ticket about deactivating the port but keeping the account . I asked a specific question and got a canned answer about their new rules regarding deactivating content . Not much surprise really , at least I was right to ask for closing my account and not waiting for an answer .
I am doing illustrations mostly and my port is small but with a nice RPI . There was a point just before the acquisition where iStock almost caught up with SS , what a disappointing tease that was .
I'm stunned by the number of contributors who not only don't seem to be bothered by the current state of affairs but are complaining about their images not getting accepted fast enough

Those are the ones with the mantra "it's far better to get paid a penny per image as opposed to nothing at all."Or on the other end of the spectrum, the elite contributors who have gotten some special deal.

Mantis · « **Reply #9 on:** March 13, 2017, 12:01 »

Quote from: thx9000 on March 13, 2017, 07:18

Wow , so waiting is my only option . That just reminded me a quote from a movie . To paraphrase : they treat us like mushrooms , feed us crap and keep us in the dark .

Don't keep waiting. Keep sending at least one email per week.

sharpshot · « **Reply #10 on:** March 13, 2017, 13:02 »

I had no response to a ticket for about 5 weeks, emailed them here and my account was closed in a few days [email protected]

thx9000 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 13, 2017, 13:53 »

Judging by other people's experiences this is just normal business for them . Won't hold my breath for this one . Any idea how much it takes for the images to be taken down from all the partner sites once they confirm ? Was that a month or 3 months ? How about the rest of my earnings once I have no longer access to the site ?

PixelBytes · « **Reply #12 on:** March 13, 2017, 21:52 »

Quote from: sharpshot on March 13, 2017, 13:02

I had no response to a ticket for about 5 weeks, emailed them here and my account was closed in a few days [email protected]

Thanks for that.

Bookmarked

Nica · « **Reply #13 on:** March 14, 2017, 13:27 »

Quote from: sharpshot on March 13, 2017, 13:02

I had no response to a ticket for about 5 weeks, emailed them here and my account was closed in a few days [email protected]

same for me

Wrighty · « **Reply #14 on:** March 17, 2017, 06:36 »

Sadly that email doesn’t work anymore. I got this reply back:

Body of email:
ATTENTION: Thank you for contacting us, but this email address is no longer in use. Please instead:

1. Sign-in to the Getty Images | iStock contributor system, ESP: https://esp.gettyimages.com
This is our new system which gives you single sign-in access to ESP, the Contributor Community website and Account Management.
Once signed in please use the ‘Need Help?’ link in the top right corner. From that page you have access to FAQs, links to Account Management if you need to update or access your account information and the ability to contact us if needed.

2. If you have problems signing in to ESP there is an option to contact us for sign-in help.

We hope this helps you find what you need.

Many thanks,
Contributor Services and Relations

Does anyone know how to disable your media for sale using the new ESP portal?

Nica · « **Reply #15 on:** March 17, 2017, 09:30 »

what a mess
.... what am I happy not having to do anything anymore with istock....

worriedistocker · « **Reply #16 on:** March 17, 2017, 10:08 »

Quote from: Wrighty on March 17, 2017, 06:36

Does anyone know how to disable your media for sale using the new ESP portal?

If you mean deactivate, we're no longer allowed to deactivate our own content. You need to pull a support ticket and request that the file be deactivated and give the reason why. They may or may not deactivate the file. Generally, legal concerns are considered a valid reason. Other reasons are at the discretion of istock.

The only way to ensure that your content is deactivated is by closing your account.

Wrighty · « **Reply #17 on:** March 17, 2017, 10:24 »

Quote from: WorriedIstocker on March 17, 2017, 10:08

Quote from: Wrighty on March 17, 2017, 06:36

Does anyone know how to disable your media for sale using the new ESP portal?

If you mean deactivate, we're no longer allowed to deactivate our own content. You need to pull a support ticket and request that the file be deactivated and give the reason why. They may or may not deactivate the file. Generally, legal concerns are considered a valid reason. Other reasons are at the discretion of istock.

The only way to ensure that your content is deactivated is by closing your account.

Thanks, that’s what I suspected. I’ve raised a ticket to close my account. Let’s see how long it takes... $:-\$

drd · « **Reply #18 on:** March 17, 2017, 12:47 »

Quote from: WorriedIstocker on March 13, 2017, 09:16

I just learned on FB that a black diamond contributor dropped their exclusivity.

Would you mind sharing the link to fb post? Thanks

worriedistocker · « **Reply #19 on:** March 24, 2017, 09:57 »

Quote from: drd on March 17, 2017, 12:47

Quote from: WorriedIstocker on March 13, 2017, 09:16
I just learned on FB that a black diamond contributor dropped their exclusivity.

Would you mind sharing the link to fb post? Thanks

Hi, sorry for the delay in responding. They posted this to their personal FB page, not a FB forum, and I'm reluctant to "out" a contributor who doesn't participate on this forum, at least not very often. But it's true, they gave notice, 30 days have passed and they are uploading to other sites.

It's sad, but I think we're in an industry wide price war and race to the bottom, and stock photography is quickly becoming a less and less viable option to make a living. Even for the best and most talented among us. :-(

thx9000 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 24, 2017, 10:36 »

It's done . I got the confirmation email today . I still have access to ESP for now and I'll be following the removal of my images on iStock/Thinkstock . Thanks everyone for your support and don't hesitate putting an end to a toxic relationship

stockastic · « **Reply #21 on:** March 24, 2017, 11:33 »

I got out of IS long ago, and closed my accounts at DT and SS in January. It's like you said, I just felt angry about how these companies operated. And like a sap for giving them my work.

I really wonder where they'll end up. Probably being bought and sold, bought and sold, until they're gone and replaced by something better.

tickstock · « **Reply #22 on:** March 24, 2017, 11:37 »

Quote from: thx9000 on March 13, 2017, 06:37

Hi , Long time lurker here . I finally decided to pull the plug on iStock/Getty . I have been a member since 2010 and up to the acquisiton sales were really good .

What do you mean by acquisition? Getty bought iStock in 2006.

drd · « **Reply #23 on:** March 24, 2017, 12:19 »

Quote from: tickstock on March 24, 2017, 11:37

Quote from: thx9000 on March 13, 2017, 06:37
Hi , Long time lurker here . I finally decided to pull the plug on iStock/Getty . I have been a member since 2010 and up to the acquisiton sales were really good .
What do you mean by acquisition? Getty bought iStock in 2006.

He means the aquisition of Getty by the Carlyle Group (AKA Bushes and Clintons) for $3.3B in 2012. Read here article and comments as well, so that you know who is your master: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/aug/15/getty-images-bought-carlyle-group

PixelBytes · « **Reply #24 on:** March 26, 2017, 01:08 »

Quote from: drd on March 24, 2017, 12:19

Quote from: tickstock on March 24, 2017, 11:37
Quote from: thx9000 on March 13, 2017, 06:37
Hi , Long time lurker here . I finally decided to pull the plug on iStock/Getty . I have been a member since 2010 and up to the acquisiton sales were really good .
What do you mean by acquisition? Getty bought iStock in 2006.

He means the aquisition of Getty by the Carlyle Group (AKA Bushes and Clintons) for $3.3B in 2012. Read here article and comments as well, so that you know who is your master: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/aug/15/getty-images-bought-carlyle-group

Yes, and before that it was bought by another venture capital firm, Hellman & Friedman. Both firms leveraged Getty to the hilt with nothing much leftover.

Wrighty · « **Reply #25 on:** March 27, 2017, 13:16 »

Just an update on the cancellation of my contributor account at iStock.

It has taken 10 days from raising a ticket to the deletion of all my content. So not too painful. I can still access the ESP account, but all of my media has been pulled.

I feel cleansed...

thx9000 · « **Reply #26 on:** March 27, 2017, 13:41 »

Quote from: drd on March 24, 2017, 12:19

Quote from: tickstock on March 24, 2017, 11:37
Quote from: thx9000 on March 13, 2017, 06:37
Hi , Long time lurker here . I finally decided to pull the plug on iStock/Getty . I have been a member since 2010 and up to the acquisiton sales were really good .
What do you mean by acquisition? Getty bought iStock in 2006.

He means the aquisition of Getty by the Carlyle Group (AKA Bushes and Clintons) for $3.3B in 2012. Read here article and comments as well, so that you know who is your master: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/aug/15/getty-images-bought-carlyle-group

That's exactly what I was referring to .

Quote from: Wrighty on March 27, 2017, 13:16

Just an update on the cancellation of my contributor account at iStock.

It has taken 10 days from raising a ticket to the deletion of all my content. So not too painful. I can still access the ESP account, but all of my media has been pulled.

I feel cleansed...

You made me search for my images on iStock and Thinkstock . They're gone from both sites and all remaining links in Google lead to an error page . Nice reaction time , I definitely didn't expect it to be so fast .

RoamingPro · « **Reply #27 on:** March 28, 2017, 13:35 »

Time to throw in the towel on iStock/Getty

I just entered a support ticket at: newbielink:https://accountmanagement.gettyimages.com/Help/SupportTicket [nonactive] with the category of: My Agreement and sub-category of: I want to close my account

I would think that would get the ticket to the correct representative, so we'll see how long this takes. Now I have to decide what to do with my meager little portfolio.

dpimborough · « **Reply #28 on:** March 29, 2017, 05:05 »

Quote from: Wrighty on March 27, 2017, 13:16

Just an update on the cancellation of my contributor account at iStock.

It has taken 10 days from raising a ticket to the deletion of all my content. So not too painful. I can still access the ESP account, but all of my media has been pulled.

I feel cleansed...

Good for you!

Feeling cleansed of iStock must be like having a colonic irrigation

Video-StockOrg · « **Reply #29 on:** March 29, 2017, 10:07 »

istockphoto / getty has reached new bottom for contributors.... even if your files are online, they aren't searchable through their search engine: http://video-stock.org/istockphoto-getty-images-affecting-search-results-with-only-specific-media/

dpimborough · « **Reply #30 on:** March 31, 2017, 16:58 »

Aww boo hoo seems once you get a deletion confirmation you can't sign in to the forum anymore bye LOBO miss you NOT!

And they soon removed my content from thinsuck too gone inside 4 days

Seems my stuff is no longer on isuck either what was all that about 90 days waiting period?

Seem they can move when they want too

Bye guys see you in the next life

ShadySue · « **Reply #31 on:** March 31, 2017, 17:17 »

Quote from: Video-StockOrg on March 29, 2017, 10:07

istockphoto / getty has reached new bottom for contributors.... even if your files are online, they aren't searchable through their search engine: http://video-stock.org/istockphoto-getty-images-affecting-search-results-with-only-specific-media/

That file is perfectly searchable.
I found it, and two sisters by the same contributor, by searching peeling apple.

I see that report was searching for some reason on 'first time peeling apple', which isn't a search someone would use for this file, maybe only for a small child peeling an apple for the first time. It doesn't make any sense in relation to this image, almost certainly an English language problem. I guess they were thinking of the first cut into an apple then peeling from there.
Since at least 2007, files on iStock are not searchable within the site on titles, only on keywords which are in their CV system. 'first time peeling apple' is highly unlikely to be in the CV.

BTW, some of the keywords for this file are totally inappropriate, e.g. "bare tree", "domestic animals", "healthcare and medicine", "table knife", "dieting", and others are very marginal.

Video-StockOrg · « **Reply #32 on:** April 01, 2017, 09:07 »

Searching was very specific as I would search for something in google... but the search keywords were identical to what the title states. I even tried even searching some other files with no luck.

Regarding the irrelevant keywords... some may be there by mistake when it was imported or smthing :\ thank you for noticing.

ShadySue · « **Reply #33 on:** April 01, 2017, 09:45 »

Quote from: Video-StockOrg on April 01, 2017, 09:07

Searching was very specific as I would search for something in google... but the search keywords were identical to what the title states. I even tried even searching some other files ...

Google searching should in theory throw up the file on a search on the title. Allegedly even the now-invisible description also counts on Google (even when it showed, it didn't count for the internal search). I didn't do a Google search as I assumed you were talking about searching in the site, as you said "aren't searchable on their search engine".

dpimborough · « **Reply #34 on:** April 07, 2017, 05:11 »

Just read something interesting on another forum it seems Getty/iStock are inviting
contributors to upload to their site via linkedin.

A contributor said they were invited to upload their entire portfolio and Getty/iStock would do the work for them!

What's the matter boys did too many contributors delete their accounts!

zsooofija · « **Reply #35 on:** April 07, 2017, 09:05 »

Quote from: thx9000 on March 13, 2017, 13:53

How about the rest of my earnings once I have no longer access to the site ?

I would also like to know that, so i can plan closing my account. Can anyone share that with us? Thanks!

sharpshot · « **Reply #36 on:** April 07, 2017, 16:49 »

I reached the payment threshold and got a payment before closing my account and they sent another payment several weeks after I lost access to the site. Funny how the only good thing to happen in many years there was after I left.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #37 on:** April 08, 2017, 02:52 »

Quote from: Sammy the Cat on April 07, 2017, 05:11

Just read something interesting on another forum it seems Getty/iStock are inviting
contributors to upload to their site via linkedin.

A contributor said they were invited to upload their entire portfolio and Getty/iStock would do the work for them!

What's the matter boys did too many contributors delete their accounts!

This is great news!! While other agencies have more content than they know what to do with too.

drd · « **Reply #38 on:** April 08, 2017, 03:25 »

Quote from: Sammy the Cat on April 07, 2017, 05:11

Just read something interesting on another forum it seems Getty/iStock are inviting
contributors to upload to their site via linkedin.

Could you post a link, I would love to read this. Thanks!

ShadySue · « **Reply #39 on:** April 08, 2017, 03:44 »

It's not new. A few years back they had a lypse in Paris and they were contacting local non -iS photographers to invite them to take part.

BTW, I hope they're not going to use the same bunch of incompetents that they hired to "improve" the captions and descriptions of naive volunteers a couple of years back. Many of the results would have been hilarious if not maddening and embarrassing.

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #40 on:** April 08, 2017, 04:03 »

Quote from: ShadySue on April 08, 2017, 03:44

It's not new. A few years back they had a lypse in Paris and they were contacting local non -iS photographers to invite them to take part.

BTW, I hope they're not going to use the same bunch of incompetents that they hired to "improve" the captions and descriptions of naive volunteers a couple of years back. Many of the results would have been hilarious if not maddening and embarrassing.

All the agencies used to do it. Offering to upload for bigger contributors, financial incentives, better placement, decent referral programs. They haven't had to do it for years, especially the big boys. SS even risked alienating all their big time contributor referral machines by pulling the rug out from under them. Warms my little heart to think IS is back there again.

ShadySue · « **Reply #41 on:** April 08, 2017, 04:46 »

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on April 08, 2017, 04:03

Quote from: ShadySue on April 08, 2017, 03:44
It's not new. A few years back they had a lypse in Paris and they were contacting local non -iS photographers to invite them to take part.

BTW, I hope they're not going to use the same bunch of incompetents that they hired to "improve" the captions and descriptions of naive volunteers a couple of years back. Many of the results would have been hilarious if not maddening and embarrassing.
All the agencies used to do it. Offering to upload for bigger contributors, financial incentives, better placement, decent referral programs. They haven't had to do it for years, especially the big boys. SS even risked alienating all their big time contributor referral machines by pulling the rug out from under them. Warms my little heart to think IS is back there again.

Didn't SS offer to do it some years back, the last time a goodly number of iS exclusives were thinking of leaving exclusivity? Didn't they say they could send their entire ports, etc?

Justanotherphotographer · « **Reply #42 on:** April 08, 2017, 05:00 »

I believe that is correct.

PixelBytes · « **Reply #43 on:** April 08, 2017, 14:29 »

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on April 08, 2017, 04:03

Quote from: ShadySue on April 08, 2017, 03:44
It's not new. A few years back they had a lypse in Paris and they were contacting local non -iS photographers to invite them to take part.

BTW, I hope they're not going to use the same bunch of incompetents that they hired to "improve" the captions and descriptions of naive volunteers a couple of years back. Many of the results would have been hilarious if not maddening and embarrassing.
All the agencies used to do it. Offering to upload for bigger contributors, financial incentives, better placement, decent referral programs. They haven't had to do it for years, especially the big boys. SS even risked alienating all their big time contributor referral machines by pulling the rug out from under them. Warms my little heart to think IS is back there again.

True. Envato solicuted me a couple years back and uploaded my whole port for me. Now they've thrown me off the site even tho I was still a good seller, making between $100-200 per month and sometimes more.

At least it was THEIR time wasted putting my port on their site and not mine. There is NO logic to their recent actions.

RoamingPro · « **Reply #44 on:** April 09, 2017, 15:52 »

Update: I requested they close my account on 3/28/17. Received confirmation account was being closed on 4/5/17. I just couldn't live with 15% - example: an image sold for 24.90 & I received 3.73 - thanks, but no thanks!

PigsInSpace · « **Reply #45 on:** April 09, 2017, 22:21 »

Yeah, I think it was a wrong decision to include the iStock portion of the take in the new reports. When you realize how much you're not getting it's not encouraging.

PigsInSpace · « **Reply #46 on:** June 07, 2017, 19:12 »

I officially submitted a request to close my iStock account. I said I would give them two months after the unification, and I ended up giving them more, although that was only because I had a payment issue that wasn't their fault that I wanted to fix before I asked them to close my account.

Two cents for a download is a joke. Maybe if it had been a rarity, but it just happened too much.

goober · « **Reply #47 on:** June 07, 2017, 19:49 »

I closed my IS account last year. I probably did myself out of 20K over the next few years but I just couldn't take the 75c anymore.

MilanLipowski · « **Reply #48 on:** June 11, 2017, 12:18 »

I just don't know why people are non-stop complaining about iStock. They are making business and they are making rules, so: Take it, or leave it. So simple.

dpimborough · « **Reply #49 on:** June 11, 2017, 12:50 »

Quote from: MilanLipowski on June 11, 2017, 12:18

I just don't know why people are non-stop complaining about iStock. They are making business and they are making rules, so: Take it, or leave it. So simple.

Because this is an open forum and contributors can discuss what the hayull they like.

JPSDK · « **Reply #50 on:** June 13, 2017, 14:03 »

I closed my account on istock (deleting images) more than 3 years ago and left one telling image (Picture of a dead cockroach), and watched how royalties were dripping in after the images were deleted. Not much, not many, but still. That must mean that they still sold my images via afiliates or somewhere, God only knows.. That is a copyright violation!

So now today, after at least two years of not looking at my istock account, I retrieved a password and took a look.
And there was no nothing.
That means that they have not only sold my pictures after I deleted them, but they have also stolen what meagre earnings I had.

Not only do they violate my copyright, they also steal.

What a filthy and unworthy business, istock. Shame on you!

and yes, I will continue to spread the word.