How I got suspended from WidgetBucks because I had $500

For all folks that use WidgetBucks (and especially those who defend it), here's a story I thought it would be nice to share. I added WB ads on Fun house ( http://funhouse.bubble.ro ) about 3 weeks ago and like many others I got very excited about the revenues. Of course I was very disappointed when I saw the real profit was sometimes half of the red figures, but still it was decent.

That is until 2 days ago when I got an email from them:

So what they're saying is that my website is pornographic in nature and they'll just suspend my account, get all my money and give me a kick in the shin.

I mailed them back to ask for a proof or an explanation, maybe it was an error, maybe there was a page with content they didn't like or something, but guess what, they didn't answer (I'm still waiting for their answer actually, although I doubt they will).

What shocked me most was that I didn't get any warning, they simply suspended my account without mercy and I have doubts they even took a look at the website (if you find anything "pornographic in nature" there, please let me know, maybe I just think differently.

And how much did this cost me?

$500 and 7 referrals lost.

Of course the money was not lost of WidgetBucks, they just took them. Isn't that called stealing in some countries? When you get some money for someone without a proof and without an explanation?

So, what can prevent this from happening to anyone else? Absolutely nothing! Can you do anything about it? Well, I'm actually still thinking about that one.

So, if you're using WB ... good luck with it, if you plan on using it ... think twice before you do.

 

that sucks. hopefully they can give you a specfic example of the problem. some of the sexy vids are probably pg-13 stuff and that's nothing to get booted for IMO. hope it works out for you.

 

There's no form of nudity though, some girls in bikini at best ... you see that when you go to the beach ffs, not to mention all magazines, if Adsense is fine with it, I don't see any reason why WB would suspend an account for it.

And what I find funny is that I didn't hear about any other program (for example Adsense) to ban an account without a warning, I received a complaint myself (for a different website), but they said exactly which page didn't comply to their TOS and simply told me to get rid of either the page or the ad on the page, after which everything got back to normal.

 

They might have assumed category http://funhouse.bubble.ro/category.php?cid=6 as pornographics material. But theres no porn...as there r some sexy videos(like video blog) so they should unban you else we assume that Widgetbuck is dying....

 

If they are against sexy videos (I don't consider them exactly sexy because there's no damn nudity however, they're just more teasing at best), they should state it like that and not as "pornography", also they should have just told me to remove it from that section or something, not just ban the account, but then again, I'm not the one in charge with banning there.

 

thanks for the heads up on Widgetbucks, for something like this that is just a judgement call, they should still pay you, it is not like it was anything obviously wrong you did

I know I would never use them after hearing your story

 

WB is really scammer, don't use it.

 

No, it isn't. Stealing is when someone takes something that belongs to you - the contents of your WidgetBucks account does not until you have been paid.

 

Hi there

I think it would have been common sense for Widget bucks to pay you out, and maybe ask you to clear up any problems before the next payout, or maybe withhold your payment until you sorted any problems they have with your site, it does seem a bit unfair, but i suppose we dont know their side of the story.

Woc

 

:| they are just scammer my 923$ and 23 referrals gone because of the same reason you mentioned above, and i receive the same email from them,beware and never try them again.

 

I had also ~600$ on October and ~500$ for this month - November...

I have signed-up with the site, they reviewed and approved it and nothing was wrong... But today I have received an e-mail stating that my site is NON-ENGLISH so they suspended my account.

I mention that when I have signed-up there was nothing in their Terms & Policies to specificy that NON-ENGLISH sites are not allowed. They have modified and added this item one week ago I think... And I haven't received any warning or something like that.

We should do something really quick because Widgetbucks will earn very very much money from us.
Just think about this... If we let this happen anyone can start their own site and claim they are an ad agency, offer a big CPC and in the end suspend most of the accounts... What do you think about this?

 

m 100% agreed with paki-webmaster they r scammer i loose 49 refferals and $1200+ in WB

$1200 is nothing .... there r many guys who $1500 and more with Widgetbucks i think they should change there name with widget sucks

 

We should do something with this issue... Take some legal action...

 

Did you not read their terms?

If you signed up to the program you persumable read, understood and agreed to that term. So legally, you haven't got a leg to stand on.

 

I second that

Although, for pornographic thingy they are doing the same as adsense does always. Adsense bans for some half naked wallpaper, and it looks like WB is banning for Sexy videos lol!

 

i wonder if they return the money to there advertisers

 

Typical...if they were going to ban non-english sites then they should have stated this in the first place. Lots of people are losing/facing to lose out on big amounts of their earnings.

Sorry to hear about your losses.

 

I agree with the fact that they can not server any more ads to Non-English sites but to those that have already earned them lots of XXXX $ they should return at least the money earned at the stage or allow us to use another site at least, but not suspend our account...

I am seriously thinking in my spare time to make a community of all banned users and promote A BAD IMAGE OF WIDGETBUCKS... let's see if they will like this!

 

Though, it wont work, cause i think there are loads of guys who are earning high from WB still without any problem, i have seen a guy who have earned XX,XXX$ from WB till far without any problem

And you guys are talking about getting sweaped around XXX - XXXX$

 

This is a very good question from a legal standpoint!