Author Topic: Shutterstock bounced checks, what is going on with the re-issue? (Read 13068 times)

gbg2000 · « **on:** August 22, 2011, 19:09 »

As I am sure it isn't news, the SS contributors who are paid by check got their checks bounced in January/Feb this year because SS used some naive check issuing company which went belly up.

To all affected SS contribs out there: did you get the re-issue check including the 'bounce' fee charged by your bank?

I have got big, fat NOTHING from SS!! They don't reply to emails, there is no phone support and there is no money. I posted on their forums with questions about this, but my posts get instantly deleted. What is going on here??? Is it possible that SS is a fraud and trying to cheat us out of our money? Is a legal action the only way to collect the money???

peace,

leaf · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2011, 19:41 »

Shutterstock certainly isn't a fraud. They are a legit company and are not in the business of scamming people.

That said, that doesn't mean they don't have poor contributer support or workflow for this problem. I get paid by paypal so this situation doesn't affect me at all but I would guess (hope) they are still working on this. Perhaps someone else knows more??

stockastic · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2011, 20:58 »

Yikes.

Carl · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2011, 06:22 »

I've always gotten my PayPal payments from SS on time. This surprises me and gives me reason to be quite concerned.

gbg2000 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2011, 10:25 »

so, nobody here gets paid by check from SS?

I guess that's why paypal is still in business

lisafx · « **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2011, 11:24 »

Quote from: csproductions on August 23, 2011, 06:22

I've always gotten my PayPal payments from SS on time. This surprises me and gives me reason to be quite concerned.

There's no reason to be "quite concerned" if you are getting paid via paypal. In over 6 years my payments have been on time, every time.

GBG, I would be upset too, if I were in your shoes. This is something SS should sort out for you and the others affected ASAP.

cathyslife · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2011, 11:29 »

I have contacted them by phone before, I believe they are in New York. But after checking their current Contact Us page, I see they no longer have a phone number listed. Guess they can't be bothered.

I would be upset if I were you, too. I hope you get it sorted out. I too get paid by Paypal and have not had an issue in 6 years.

kingjon · « **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2011, 11:33 »

Never had any issues with SS payments in just under 5 years. I also get paid through Paypal.

stockastic · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2011, 12:54 »

I can understand a payment problem. What's really bad is that they aren't responding to email, don't even have a phone number and are apparently trying to conceal a problem by deleting forum posts.

And I just re-read the original post and noticed it says this has been going on since February. If that's true, I suggest to the OP that he contact the NY BBB.

ShadySue · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2011, 13:32 »

On SS's privacy page, it says their phone number is 1-866-663-3954. It might be worth phoning that number, even if it's only to get the number of the person you need to contact.
http://submit.shutterstock.com/privacy.mhtml

cathyslife · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2011, 14:06 »

Quote from: ShadySue on August 23, 2011, 13:32

On SS's privacy page, it says their phone number is 1-866-663-3954. It might be worth phoning that number, even if it's only to get the number of the person you need to contact.
http://submit.shutterstock.com/privacy.mhtml

There you go. Don't look under Contact Us, the logical place. Look through every other page on their site!

ShadySue · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2011, 14:30 »

Quote from: cclapper on August 23, 2011, 14:06

Quote from: ShadySue on August 23, 2011, 13:32
On SS's privacy page, it says their phone number is 1-866-663-3954. It might be worth phoning that number, even if it's only to get the number of the person you need to contact.
http://submit.shutterstock.com/privacy.mhtml

There you go. Don't look under Contact Us, the logical place. Look through every other page on their site!

I googled Shutterstock phone number, but that was the only real 'hit' I got.
I thought having 'real' phone number on your contact page was good practice to encourage trust that you're not a rip-off merchant.

cathyslife · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2011, 14:33 »

I googled Shutterstock phone number, but that was the only real 'hit' I got.
I thought having 'real' pbone number on your contact page was good practice to encourage trust that you're not a rip-off merchant.
[/quote]

Me too. It's a new day.

stockastic · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2011, 21:38 »

Imagining myself in this situation, I fantasize that I'd document all the failed attempts to contact this business, then file against them in small claims court. They'd fail to send anyone to the hearing, I'd get a judgement against them, and eventually show up at their door with a cop. It would all be worthwhile just to see the stunned looks on people's faces as they had to look away from the monitors and deal face-to-face with a real person, in the real world. Doin' it old school.

Pixart · « **Reply #14 on:** August 23, 2011, 22:00 »

Found on 411.com, 2 results for Shutterstock NY

155 West 19th St. NY, NY 10011
(212) 242-2491 (212) 242-3686 (646) 419-4452

60 Broad Street NY, NY 10004
(212) 459-1919

ppdd · « **Reply #15 on:** August 23, 2011, 23:26 »

I get paid by check monthly - nothing bounced and not problems last 18 months.

Cogent Marketing · « **Reply #16 on:** August 24, 2011, 08:00 »

I just called them on their 020 number and spoke with a delightful young lady. I also emailed them as a follow up and got an immediate email response (2 minutes later). The footer of their email has their address and the phone numbers are shown in the body copy.

I never had such a polite response from the customer service people at iStockPhoto. But in their defence, how could they say 'friendly and knowledgeable support staff' when they employ a * like Lobo?

Dear Cogent Marketing,

Thank you for contacting Shutterstock. A member of our friendly and knowledgeable support staff will respond to your message within one business day.

We are also available by phone 24 hours a day on weekdays, beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday through 7 p.m. Friday, New York Time. Call us toll free from the U.S. at 1-866-663-3954 or +1-646-419-4452.

You may also find our FAQ helpful: http://www.shutterstock.com/faq.mhtml

We look forward to serving you soon. Thank you for choosing Shutterstock.

Best regards,

The Shutterstock Support Team
http://www.shutterstock.com
60 Broad Street, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10004

gbg2000 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 24, 2011, 13:17 »

That's all great and dandy, Cogent, but all those phone numbers and nice replies are for CUSTOMERS ONLY!!! Please mind the difference. I am an independent photographer, a CONTRIBUTOR, and none of those numbers are for us, contributors..I called all of them (yes, of course I did 411 search, and yellow pages search, and I called a cop buddy in NYC as well).. And yes, the people on the phone were nice, telling me TO GO WRITE AN EMAIL, as there is nothing they can do to help me, because I am a CONTRIBUTOR.

To the guy who gets paid every month by check: good for you bud, for having the time and motivation needed to build a portfolio that will get you a payment every month! However, I nether have that kind of time nor motivation, so I usually receive 1-2 checks per year, and the one from February is still not here (for real).

lisafx · « **Reply #18 on:** August 24, 2011, 13:30 »

Quote from: gbg2000 on August 24, 2011, 13:17

To the guy who gets paid every month by check: good for you bud, for having the time and motivation needed to build a portfolio that will get you a payment every month! However, I nether have that kind of time nor motivation, so I usually receive 1-2 checks per year, and the one from February is still not here (for real).

I believe his point was not that he gets paid every month, so much as that he hadn't experienced the problem you did back in January/February. So not everyone who gets paid by check experienced the same thing.

That may not be a comfort to you, but from your OP I got the impression this was a well-known, sitewide problem. If PPDD got all his checks, then maybe your case is isolated and there's something else going on with your account?

For example, do they have your up-to-date tax ID information?

gbg2000 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 24, 2011, 13:35 »

Lisa, I know you mean well (and great pics btw

, but no, that is not the case. I am aware that this is not a site-wide problem. Only a small subset of the contributors getting paid by check got their checks bounced. The vast majority of the contribs got their payments fine. That IS the major problem. THere are quite a few of us, I got PMs on SS site from at least half a dozen in the same situation. They also tried to get through to SS and are getting cut down. I don't care that there are only a few of us who got affected, SS needs to fix their crap equally across the board, and waiting SIX MONTHS for a check is ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.

gbg2000 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 24, 2011, 13:37 »

And I am on SS, iStock, Fotolia, DT and all the others since 2004, so there was plenty of time to iron out any and all info/tax problems. And all my checks arrived fine until this one. Just to preempt any future conversation in this direction

Cogent Marketing · « **Reply #21 on:** August 24, 2011, 14:57 »

Quote from: gbg2000 on August 24, 2011, 13:17

That's all great and dandy, Cogent, but all those phone numbers and nice replies are for CUSTOMERS ONLY!!! Please mind the difference. I am an independent photographer, a CONTRIBUTOR, and none of those numbers are for us, contributors..I called all of them (yes, of course I did 411 search, and yellow pages search, and I called a cop buddy in NYC as well).. And yes, the people on the phone were nice, telling me TO GO WRITE AN EMAIL, as there is nothing they can do to help me, because I am a CONTRIBUTOR.

To the guy who gets paid every month by check: good for you bud, for having the time and motivation needed to build a portfolio that will get you a payment every month! However, I nether have that kind of time nor motivation, so I usually receive 1-2 checks per year, and the one from February is still not here (for real).

Dear gbg2000

I am also a independent, non-exclusive photographer that contributes stock to SS, FT, ISP, Veer, RF123, Canstockphoto, DT Superstock, Depositphoto, Alamy, Crestock etc etc... My comment earlier was in relation to contact with SS on,a 'contributor issue'. Just because I buy images too doesn't necessarily mean that I see things so differently from you. Not everything is always as it seems at first glance, buyers also contribute sometimes.

nruboc · « **Reply #22 on:** August 24, 2011, 15:15 »

Shutterstock is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can set my watch to their payment. No problems ever there!!!!!

BTW.... Jon Oringer for president 2012!

lisafx · « **Reply #23 on:** August 24, 2011, 15:34 »

Quote from: gbg2000 on August 24, 2011, 13:35

Lisa, I know you mean well (and great pics btw , but no, that is not the case. I am aware that this is not a site-wide problem. Only a small subset of the contributors getting paid by check got their checks bounced. The vast majority of the contribs got their payments fine. That IS the major problem. THere are quite a few of us, I got PMs on SS site from at least half a dozen in the same situation. They also tried to get through to SS and are getting cut down. I don't care that there are only a few of us who got affected, SS needs to fix their crap equally across the board, and waiting SIX MONTHS for a check is ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.

I completely agree - whether it's one, or dozens, or thousands, any contributor having to wait months for their payout is completely unacceptable. I was just trying to search for a possible reason. Best of luck getting paid ASAP.

gostwyck · « **Reply #24 on:** August 24, 2011, 15:51 »

Quote from: nruboc on August 24, 2011, 15:15

Shutterstock is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can set my watch to their payment. No problems ever there!!!!!

BTW.... Jon Oringer for president 2012!

Agree with that. I'd settle for Jon Oringer to be President/CEO of Istockphoto though. Where do we vote?

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Author Topic: Shutterstock bounced checks, what is going on with the re-issue? (Read 13068 times)

gbg2000

leaf

stockastic

Carl

gbg2000

lisafx

cathyslife

kingjon

stockastic

ShadySue

cathyslife

ShadySue

cathyslife

stockastic

Pixart

ppdd

Cogent Marketing

gbg2000

lisafx

gbg2000

gbg2000

Cogent Marketing

nruboc

lisafx

gostwyck

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