The Ads

[Sasq]

I have it set to blank instead of community service ads.
Not that I have anything against community service ads, or community services.
I just have never seen a google one that targets appropriately.

[GuchiGuh]

I didn't get deported!!
I am such a good alien citizen of the Commonwealth of Australia *COUGH*

which reminds me, I haven't paid my parking fines which I got from Uni, BWAhahah!! Mainly because they havent send me any infringement notices to my house yet and I didn't get sanctioned as well, so they can stick their 30 bucks up their dark side!!!

anyway...*clicks on the ads...*

[VJ]

The ads are back...

I hadn't noticed them...
Sheezz, I'm away for two weeks, and already everything is falling apart...

(just kidding)

I will sort something shortly so that those of you who donate can choose to turn them off.
Gimme a few days on that pweese.

Would be a nice touch though...




Jörg

[Sasq]

Hello Danny Webb,
It has come to our attention that invalid clicks have been generated on
the Google ads on your site(s). We have therefore disabled your Google
AdSense account. Please understand that this step was taken in an
effort to protect the interest of the AdWords advertisers.

A publisher's site may not have invalid clicks on any ad(s), including
but not limited to clicks generated by:

- a publisher on his own web pages
- a publisher encouraging others to click on his ads
- automated clicking programs or any other deceptive software
- a publisher altering any portion of the ad code or changing the
layout, behavior, targeting, or delivery of ads for any reason

Practices such as these are in violation of the Google AdSense Terms
and Conditions and program polices, which can be viewed at:

https://www.google.com/adsense/localized-terms?hl=en_US

https://www.google.com/adsense/policies?hl=en_US

Publishers disabled for invalid click activity are not allowed further
participation in AdSense and do not receive any further payment. The
earnings on your account will be properly returned to the affected
advertisers.

Sincerely,

The Google AdSense Team

Now, in particular I would like all to note that is the entire of the email, no link for 'if you feel this is in error' nadda zip, zilch
I have replied, to the email at this address, and also tried to contact google directly via telephone
at this point, Until suchtime as google can give me a satisfactory answer as to why, I recomend you use yahoo search.

thankyou for your time.

oh and lets make this clear, Google at this point is ripping me off just under $100 in advertising fees

[schmosef]

ridiculous.

[Brian Ellis]

I received a warning, once, from Google because of the wording I used, which they interpreted as inciting surfers to click: I put in "Support our advertisers" (nothing like "support us by clicking on the ads"). I changed it to simply "Advertisement", which is acceptable and they agreed as such.

An alternative is the Amazon so-called self-optimising links, which are more flexible (and compatible with Google). Unfortunately, although they give 5% commission on all sales, they see remarkable ineffective as a selling medium: not a penny revenue in 1½ months The effectiveness of their context sensitivity is not nearly as good as Google's. You can see them side-by-side at my Environment forum at http://www.cypenv.org/smf/index.php

Do let us know what the outcome of your berating Google is.

[Sasq]

Well the problem is, google never even *warned* me, just have canceled my account, with no redress or secondary review process.

Google is not god, no matter how much they wish they were.

[Jessterw]

A$$hats. Not surprised though. This is all part of their crackdown on click-fraud and it appears they are being a good bit overzealous in proving to advertisers that they can combat any so-called fraud. It's this sort of thing that has prompted a number of sites (that I do and do not frequent) to switch to other forms of advertising for revenue generation.

I do imagine it was this very thread that prompted the action on their part. That initial wink perhaps...

[Sasq]

they will be asked directly to explain their actions, if they do not comply , they will be asked to explain their actions under japanese law.

[Sasq]

lets make this really clear.
their system has made and automatic decision, I have emailed them to the correct support address.
no response, it is the weekend, so no one is home...

Up until this point, I trusted googles 'do no evil'...

[GuchiGuh]

I was payed by google US$64 and then they kicked me as well!

those cheap bastards!!!!

[Sasq]

At this point I am considering what action to take. Apart from letting the world see what google has become - or maybe always was.
My simplest form at this point is to block the googlebot as it is over half the bandwidth used by murc.

Please be aware that as of now this whole process will be made public including your responses to my questions.
I find your business practices to be most unprofessional.

Thank you for your understanding.
Danny Webb

Google AdSense wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Thank you for your appeal.
>
> After receiving your response, we re-reviewed your account data
> thoroughly. We have reconfirmed that invalid clicks were generated on the
> ads on your site in violation of our Terms and Conditions and program
> policies.
>
> https://www.google.com/adsense/terms
> https://www.google.com/adsense/policies
>
> We have these policies in place to help ensure the effectiveness of Google
> ads for our publishers as well as our advertisers. According to our policy
> on this matter, we are unable to reinstate you into the program.
>
> Please bear in mind that subsequent or duplicate appeals may not be
> considered and you may not receive any further communication from us. We
> appreciate your understanding.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> The Google AdSense Team
>
> Original Message Follows:
> ------------------------
> From: Webb Danny <dan@sasqs.com>
> Subject: Re: [#65651633] Google AdSense Account Disabled
> Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 09:55:22 +0900
>
> Google AdSense wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> As you know, Google treats instances of invalid clicks very seriously.
> By
>> disabling your account, we feel that we have taken the necessary
> measures
>> to ensure that invalid clicks will not continue to occur on your site.
> Due
>> to the proprietary nature of our monitoring system, we're not able to
>> disclose any specific details of these clicks.
>>
>> Publishers disabled for invalid click activity are not allowed further
>> participation in Google AdSense. However, if you can maintain in good
>> faith that the invalid clicks we detected on your ads were not due to
> your
>> actions or negligence, or the actions or negligence of others working
> for
>> you, you may appeal the closing of your account.
>>
>> Google reserves sole discretion in considering whether to take any
> action
>> on an appeal.
>>
>> In order to appeal the disabling of your account, please email us at
>> adsense-adclicks-appeal@google.com with the details requested below.
>> Please compose a new email and do not reply to this message. We're
> unable
>> to consider appeals that do not contain all of this information:
>>
>> - Your name
>>
>> - Your company's name (if applicable)
>>
>> - Your publisher ID number (located in the AdSense code on your website
>> with the format, pub-################)
>>
>> - Your website's URL
>>
>> - Date your account was disabled
>>
>> - Your website's audience
>>
>> - The source of your website's content
>>
>> - Frequency of content updates
>>
>> - The primary sources of your website's traffic
>>
>> - The number of people involved with the administration of the site
>>
>> - Any relevant information that you believe would explain the invalid
>> click activity we detected
>>
>> If Google decides to evaluate your appeal, we will do our best to inform
>> you quickly and will proceed with appropriate action as necessary. If we
>> have reached a decision on your appeal, subsequent or duplicate appeals
>> may not be considered.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> The Google AdSense Team
>>
>>
>>
>
> In order:
> Danny Leslie Webb
>
> No Company Name
>
> ID Number: pub-2162769942542911
>
> main accessed URL is http://forums.murc.ws
>
> Disabled 15 Jul 2006, on my side of the Plant (Japan)
>
> Target Audience: Primarily IT professionals, with a sub section for
> Video professionals.
>
> Source of Content: primarily user supplied, it is a forum...
>
> Frequency of content updates: hourly to every 15 seconds, again it is a
> forum.
>
> The primary sources of your website's traffic: googlebot, then my users.
>
> Administration: as far as an real power goes, just myself.
>
> Any relevant information that you believe would explain the invalid
> click activity we detected: As I can not even log into my account to see
> if there was even a spike in clicks, I have no idea.
> Recently I have been receiving lots of access from 'Eastern Block' IP
> address.
> However as I appear to have been convicted of fraud by your team without
> even being charged or shown the evidence, I really have no idea.
>
> Lets also make something clear, as I am sure you are unaware, I shall
> inform you, I have a firm belief in fairness and justice.
> You have accused, tried and convicted me of a 'crime' without even
> suppling me evidence.
> I expect from you the following.
> 1) full disclosure of the IP addresses the 'fraudulent' clicks came from.
> 2) The understanding this correspondence with you, and all future
> correspondence with you can and will be made public.
> 3) Action on your part to include the appeal information in all first
> contact emails sent to all of your publishers in the future.
> 4) I Repeat I have not by action or inaction to my knowledge caused
> fraudulent clicks. I request a full apology, as well I hope to hear
> details of a review of your current policy regarding this. First contact
> was my account being disabled, that is unacceptable in any business
> relationship.
> 5) I hereby make a formal request that you pay out the undisputed funds to
> my bank account.
>
> Regards
> Danny Webb

[Jessterw]

A$$hats. This just reeks of a problem in their system that they don't want exposed. It's complete bullsh*t to talk up your automated fraud detection system and how you've verified the results and yet offer not one iota of information as to how any clicks were fraudulent.

Google does no 'evil' as they claim, but they surely can't say the same about not farking up their relations with customers.

As an addendum, surely the all knowing Google could have at least paid out for the clicks that were not fraudulent. Given they seem to know exactly which ones were and were not - or so we are led to believe.

[rylan]

Love how their "responses" appear to be totally cut and paste standard replies or computer generated.
Seems they totally ignored any of your questions.

[Sasq]

well seeing as some of those clicks go back over 12 months...
I find their circular logic to be most unprofessional, as well as inability to even take the time to place my name in the email, let alone answer any of my questions with anything more then a form letter.

At this point, I have taken stage 1 of options available to me, which is publish the emails publically.
Stage 2 will be to block googlebot on murc and a start promoting other search engines.
Were only small, but I know I am not the only one google has shafted recently.
All I can do is spread the word.