In the right or wrong? Need some feedback regarding a rogue business and poster here

[AK]

I sold one of my sites to a poster/ business here. They broke the contract with some links we had on the site and now these particular sites want a refund and or back up for remainder amount of time. This individual has refused to do this. Several of these companies have asked me to put some pressure on the individual and contact there affiliate programs to suspend there accounts until resolved. I have done this with several large affiliate teams and they have complied in helping me in this situation by temporary suspending there accounts until resolved. The reason I went this way was do to legal reasons and living in the United States as legal concussions would probably not be favorable here and the individual would not show up.

This person also is unable to go back to Costa Rica as he has a a warrant out for child molestation.

Should I pursue this further and go after there other affiliate packages? Does this put any hardship on me with these particular other affiliate teams?

If anyone wants other information on this please feel free to contact me via pm.

[LiveCasinoPartners]

I agree 100% that whoever bought the site should leave the links there.

That's a tough situation. You will probably have to give a refund to the people you sold links to. Ultimately, it's your responsibility. I know it's hard to hear, that's just my opinion.

I can't imagine an affiliate program would hold back funds because he removed links on a site you sold him. That does not seem like the sort of thing they would get involved with.

best of luck..

[AK]

I take business very seriously however I want to insure I do not "bug" or put an affiliate team in a position where there put in the middle. Several sites have had no problems assisting since I produce a large amount monthly for them.

I think I will just keep the 2 on hold until something is resolved. If anyone buys or sells a website its very important you keep records and contract handy just in case something like this happens. I have produced the documents over onto the correct parties. I did not find out about the child molestation charges until after I sold the site in which I would never have sold the site if I would have known ahead of time.

[Jamesblunt]

Removed

[universal4]

I didn't post about this right away because I wanted a day or so to decide how I felt about it.

I do not agree that asking Affiliate programs to get involved because someone you sold a site to doesn't honor a link agreement.

I do agree that the link agreements should be honored when the site is sold, and that it is the sellers responsibility to see that they are honored.

I do agree that it is wrong for the buyer to NOT honor the link agreement, but only if it was defined as part of the sale.

I just feel asking the programs to become involved in this situation is above and beyond the scope of where they should get involved.


Rick
Universal4

[AK]

The Year Paid Link sales where in the contract and other tracking links in question. I agree should be honored however You have to deal with Honorable people to have things honored when they should be. I think the key word is Honorable.

Anyhow, I have emailed the two affiliate companies and told them it's OK to release next month as I personally don't care anymore as its not worth my time. The people that have contacted me however I do appreciate the support on deciding not to promote there product on your websites.

Have a Merry Christmas!

[Marcopolo]

I know AK for 4 years now. He is one of the most honest men in the industry I've ever seen. I've done 15k business deal with him several years ago and he observed every smallest obligation towards me.
I have looked into his issue and I feel mandatory for the other party to do the right thing.
Just my five cents...

I take business very seriously however I want to insure I do not "bug" or put an affiliate team in a position where there put in the middle. Several sites have had no problems assisting since I produce a large amount monthly for them.

[matted]

That's why we have written contracts. I guess the crappy part is the international nature of the business and the cost of the legal system.

I think a business decision has to be made. It is AK's responsibility to honor the contracts he signed with the link buyer - or come to some amicable resolution in this case where the obligation cannot be fulfilled.

And it's up to AK to pursue legal resolution, if financially viable (worth the trouble) as it seems necessary, to enforce the contract that was signed when the sites were sold. Or, just write it off... And maybe spread word about the rogue webmaster as a bargaining tool.

[TheGooner]

IF the links were pointed out as part of the sale and agreed too .. then obviously you would expect the purchaser to honour that deal.

However, I think the problem is that the seller (AK) has pocketed that revenue but handed the on-going responsibility to the purchaser ... without ensuring that there was something financial in it for the purchaser.

(I know you hoped he /she would act honourably - but the internet is full of small time people with no business ethics. You should never rely on trust alone.)

It might have been prudent for the seller AK to ring-fence the revenue that those links would have made at that time ... and agree to pay it to the purchaser at due date.

If the purchaser did not comply and display the links ... then the monies could be refunded to the link buyers instead.

--------------------------

Or of course even simplier ... AK should have made contact with the link buyers, explained he was selling the site, and ended the deals early and refunded a pro-rata refund.

You could also have provided the purchasers details so the link buyers could deal with him directly if they chose too.

This way you don't even have to act as link police either.

[Jamesblunt]

Marcopolo signed up on Dec 16 and made one post that same day... isn't it obvious who Marcopolo is?

To all the others: by replying to AK with serious answers, you're legitimizing this con artist and giving your approval to his acts.

[DaftDog]

How can an affiliate "instruct" a program not to pay another affiliate?

How can you go about accusing someone of being a child molester on a public forum? Doesn't say much about your "business ethics."

There are always two sides to every story.

[AK]

How can an affiliate "instruct" a program not to pay another affiliate?

How can you go about accusing someone of being a child molester on a public forum? Doesn't say much about your "business ethics."

There are always two sides to every story.

This isn't accusing "someone" as I have never posted this business and persons name. This person has admitted to it to me via msn messenger and after further research there actually is a warrant out for his arrest in Costa Rica.

Contracts are very important and a contract don't lie

[universal4]

I agree that discussing a person's unrelated legal issues should not be done here in a public forum.

Also, please refrain form resorting to personal attacks.

Rick
Universal4

[Amateur]

Ethically, you cannot accept payment for services over which you have no control. Since you sold the site, the thing to do was to reimburse the client and remove the links prior to the sale.

It was not ethical to ask the buyer to agree to make income for you, after you sold the site, which is, in essence, the deal you wanted.

At this point, the only thing to do is to "take your medicine", and make a pro-rated refund to the advertisers, and leave this topic alone. It does nothing to help you or your situation.

Since no one here can act as a vigilante, your remarks on the personal issues don't serve any purpose. If you are sincerely concerned about that, you can contact police to find out what you can do to bring a fugitive to justice.

[joeyl]

I don't think affiliate staff should be acting as judge, jury and executioner ergo webmaster disputes.

[AK]

Ethically, you cannot accept payment for services over which you have no control. Since you sold the site, the thing to do was to reimburse the client and remove the links prior to the sale.

It was not ethical to ask the buyer to agree to make income for you, after you sold the site, which is, in essence, the deal you wanted.

At this point, the only thing to do is to "take your medicine", and make a pro-rated refund to the advertisers, and leave this topic alone. It does nothing to help you or your situation.

Since no one here can act as a vigilante, your remarks on the personal issues don't serve any purpose. If you are sincerely concerned about that, you can contact police to find out what you can do to bring a fugitive to justice.

excuse me?

Obviously You do not know much about this situation and contract thats in discussion. Until You "take your medicine" it does not help us for You to comment on this particular situation.

[mojo]

it does not help us for You to comment on this particular situation.

I agreed with Amateur.

Originally Posted by Amateur
Ethically, you cannot accept payment for services over which you have no control. Since you sold the site, the thing to do was to reimburse the client and remove the links prior to the sale.

It was not ethical to ask the buyer to agree to make income for you, after you sold the site, which is, in essence, the deal you wanted.

At this point, the only thing to do is to "take your medicine", and make a pro-rated refund to the advertisers, and leave this topic alone. It does nothing to help you or your situation.

Since no one here can act as a vigilante, your remarks on the personal issues don't serve any purpose. If you are sincerely concerned about that, you can contact police to find out what you can do to bring a fugitive to justice.

[Jamesblunt]

You guys actually don't know who this AK guy is ha... it's better that way, trust me.

[Amateur]

AK, by posting here, you are, in fact, asking for comment. Because I don't happen to agree with your self-serving approach, doesn't mean I don't take your situation seriously.

Also, I don't see the point in furthering this discussion.

And yes, I have a very good idea who this person is. I've been a member here for a very long time.

Thread closed.