Click Fraud Update: Citysearch Lawsuit
August 28th, 2008I wrote an article in January ’07 on my experience with Citysearch click fraud and since then have written articles on a client’s experience with YellowPages.com click fraud as well. Both of these article continue to collect comments from people who find them selves stuck in pay-per-click contracts that aren’t yielding any valid traffic. Many times these readers phone me looking for advice, which prompted me to write yet another article warning small business owners about signing pay-per-click contracts. I wanted to write this article to give readers an update on Citysearch and click fraud.
A small business owner in San Diego, CA decided to take on Citysearch and sued them for click fraud. I’m including these links here in the event my readers wanted more information about this action:
Google Search Of Citysearch Lawsuit Articles
Citysearch Lawsuit Attorney Firm - Kabateck Brown Kellner, LLP
Citysearch Lawsuit Attorney - Alfredo Torrijos
One of the neat things about this lawsuit, is that the plaintiff Tom Lambotte, actually left a comment on my blog article about Citysearch click fraud back in late December of 2007. It’s a small world!
Jill--------------
J. Olkoski
Aldebaran Web Design, Seattle
Jill Olkoski has a BS in Engineering, a BS in Computer Science and an MA in Clinical Psychology. She delights in using her advanced technical and psychological skills to help small business owners develop cost-effective and successful websites.
August 28th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Jill,
Thanks for posting again on this topic. Looking at comments on one of your earlier posts that have been submitted in response to my story, it seems that most people are not able (yet) to get these companies to terminate their contracts, let alone refund their money. I didn’t get back the money I had already spent (in the $400 neighborhood), but I did get yellowpages.com to terminate the contract. I think that was a rare success, and it only happened after lots and lots of persistence on my part. So it’s a great idea to warn your clients about PPC ad campaigns! Don’t do it! Google Adwords is your friend! Everyone else is your enemy!!
May 6th, 2010 at 8:28 am
I own a carpet & Air duct cleaning business in Chicago.
The agreement with Citysearch was $500 flat fee per month will get me the top position.
In addition,I open an Air duct cleaning campaign with a budget of $800 a month.
The representative, Kimberly Woolfe, promised me a high budget will get me to the first position but since the demand for air duct cleaning is low i would never exceed $100.
I asked Kimberly to link both my campaign so I could view it under the same invoice.
And now for the ridicules part:
I checked my bank account yesterday and I was in a complete shock!
They been charging me 3 times a month!
on the 1st of each month $500.
In the 6th of each month between $200-$500 for my carpet cleaning campaign (additional for the $500 FLAT FEE)
on the 26th $800 !!! my maximum budget for my air duct cleaning campaign. But and are you ready for it?
I didn’t get a call regarding air duct cleaning service wanted for the past 6 months!!!
All the over fees they charged me excluding the $500 flat fee I agreed upon = to $6,000.00 !!!!
As a 26 year old girl that came to the usa to build my feature they definitely ruined my career and small business I’d been working on for the past 5 years!
Beside…I’d start smoking again after 4 years i didn’t touched a cigarette….but this is all my fault
I talked with Kimberly and asked for a refund, I’d been told she would speak with her manager & try to get me a $800 refund- Not helping!
I’m looking for a lawyer who would help me to sue Citysearch and get my money back.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,Didi
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