Gay Mafia Tactics ?

[gonzo]

Caution: Cybersocket vs. Sue and Collections happy
We have encountered some problems with Cybersocket that I want to share with other webmasters or websites which may or may not advertise with Cybersocket.

May, 2005 we began advertising with Cybersocket in their classifieds areas of the print publication, advertised 5 ads in their annual print directory, as well as through online marketing through Cybersocket.com by both paid banner ads as well as link exchanges. We also purchased ads in their holiday e-mail newsletters.

January, 2009 a decision was made to cease advertising with Cybersocket. After much investigating we discovered we never received any traffic from advertising in all of those areas with them. A letter was sent to them by mail with signature confirmation, email, and fax to cease advertising.
After they signed for the letter, after they received the fax, and even after they acknowledged they received everything they still continued to run our ads.

Earlier this month we were notified by their collection agency attempting to collect a $1200.00 debt from Cybersocket for print advertisement. We explained everything to the collection agency of what occurred. Supplied them with all of the emails and signature signing for the letter, the email communications, etc. The collection agency would not acknowledge it.
Our attorneys were notified and we met with our lawyers at Scherline and Associates in Allentown, PA. (www.scherlinelaw.com). The law firm spoke with the collection agency and the debt collection was dropped.

Today, this email comes through from Morgan:
As long as you refuse to pay for the ads that we ran for you and honor your contract, we will not promote your sites, or your program. Your account is being sent to our national collection agency today.

This is the second time they have submitted us to their "National Collection Agency."

The first time they didn't even have our business name right. They also made an attempt to have it placed on our Dun & Bradstreet account. It did not hold their either.

On any advertising contract, we add a term that clearly states that we can basically back out at any time for any reason as long as it is provided in writing. We followed this protocal.

So we shut off Cybersocket's affiliate accounts today. Not that there's ever been any clicks, but we did remove them from being able to promote us through affiliate linking.

A call just came in from Cybersocket and a message was left. I do not know at this time who it was, but now we are being threatened we're going to be sued.

Anyone who plans to use Cybersocket's paid advertising / marketing services will read through forms on GWW (Primarily this one: http://forums.gaywidewebmasters.com/...ad.php?t=29206), and if you should, I highly suggest doing advertising month to month. We have been through hell with them and continuing to be harassed by them on ads they ran without permission. And why any print publication, magazine, or print media would run ads without any payment prior to it being printed is beyond me.

I wanted to take this time to let others know our experiences.
__________________
Derek
www.SebastianBucks.com & XXXDTO.COM
DerekT@SebastiansStudios.com

http://forums.gaywidewebmasters.com/...ad.php?t=30078