Mediahub refusing to provide a refund...Scam Alert (16)
Hey guys,
Typically not a fan of writing threads like these but I feel like I have exhausted most of my options. Long story short... I deposited funds into mediahub a year or so ago when I was running pop traffic. I ran a small campaign there which didnt pan out so I paused and forgot that the funds were there. Recently I was looking at my PayPal statements from last year and saw that I made a deposit there. My balance there is a little over 1k. http://prntscr.com/gz0rix
I messaged support for a refund several times, got no response. Used their chat intercom system, no response. Someone here was kind enough to provide information of a rep who answered and stated their policy does not allow to provide a refund after 6 months of deposit. This makes zero sense to me. The rep said that I have two options: A) Set up some campaigns until the funds are exhausted or B) Join their affiliate network, run some of their offers and after some revenue is generated, I would get paid what is owed to me.
Both of these sound ridiculous. Especially since the rep admitted via Skype chat that their ad network pretty much folded due to their traffic being fraudulent.
http://prntscr.com/gz0ujd
At this point this is not about the money, its more about principle. This is simply bad business and shady in my opinion. Anyone considering MediaHub should take note.
"and stated their policy does not allow to provide a refund after 6 months of deposit." IMHO, this is just their policy and I think they are clear about it right? (not saying it's fair or normal, but it's clearly a fact)
The solutions they offer aren't very subtle and I think not really friendly to existing clients.
Maybe find a way in the middle, let's say you try an X amount still on their traffic with a winning angle you run on other media and if turns out to be shit, you still get some refund? At least you gave it a chance! Ask the REP which campaigns do very well on their network and see if you see potential in it.
At the end I think it's best to do it like this, before you get mad or such and you probably won't see a penny at all + your relationship is harmed (already a bit ofcourse hehe). It's clear they won't do a full refund very quickly and going to a attorney or such will cost lots of energy and money, for "only" 1k and you principles.
Looking forward to the solution to be honest.
I agreed to them taking 20% of the funds as a "penalty" ... in terms of running their traffic, what is the point if the rep admitted that their traffic is fraudulent? I can't think that will do anyone any good...
Originally Posted by bizfreak22
Perhaps someone here is banking good on their products and you can "sell" your balance?
For sure, I honestly don't know if anyone is banking there since the rep said their traffic got wiped out. But yeah, if anyone is doing anything on their ad network side I would be more than willing.
Updating thread: Mediahubs rep and I spoke after I posted the thread. He basically reiterated their "policy" of not issuing refunds back to advertisers who deposited via PayPal after PayPals 6 month refund window passes. The rep said that its a policy their accounting department implemented. This is messed up... A) This policy is no where on their site. Refunds are not even mentioned. At least they weren't when I checked two days ago. B) If their accounting department implemented a new "policy", shouldn't that apply to new advertisers and not ones who deposited funds before the "policy" was created. C) As far as I am aware, and I could be totally wrong here.. but no reputable company has a policy as ridiculous as this. In fact, Advertise.com and Content.ad .... same situation.... had funds sitting there for over a year... they had no issues sending the funds back to my PayPal.
This whole situation has me a bit heated. Maybe its because I have been in the business for 5 years and was one of the lucky ones who never got burned until now. It has nothing to do with the amount, and everything to do with right and wrong. Maybe I am being idealistic, I don't know. What I do know is that my blood is boiling and at this point I would spend 10x of the amount for an attorney to sue and get this on record. It's not like I was asking for a refund of money spent on traffic that I was not satisfied with. It's my money sitting there. Anyways..will be updating this thread as I gather more info.
Seems like a solid story man, you are totally right. I guess mediahub needs your 1k badly 
I obviously do not know the entire story, but I do know that PayPal tends to be very buyer friendly, so you can always try to raise a dispute through PayPal.
To me it just sounds like bad business on their side. Reach out to PayPal but also try to cool down and talk to someone higher up in management perhaps? I am pretty sure the industry is so connected you can reach out. The key thing is to approach with a clear head, and explain why you think this is unfair.
One key question that people can't get away from if they are able to make a decision is: "If another business would do this to you as a customer, how would you react?" or along those lines.
If you talk to the CEO of MediaHub for example, and ask him that... Well, he either is human and will say "You are right, let me help you solve this and take a second look at this policy" or be the biggest hypocrite in history. One mistake is to try to solve it with people who just point to policy - make sure the person you are talking to has decision power over the matter.
Thanks! I will contact them shortly. Do you know if they are able to step in even if the transfer was made over a year ago?
Originally Posted by manu_adefy
Originally Posted by stickupkid
Sure seems that way lol...
Originally Posted by bizfreak22
Originally Posted by manu_adefy
Ok, more information gathered.
The rep on Skype who I spoke with is actually not some lowly employee but the owner of MediaHub. So the owner is pretending to be an employee...."have to ask for permission to send you your funds back" .....
I just confronted him with this and he is still refusing to send me the funds. Here is the Skype Convo:
[10/23/17, 4:59:34 PM] Limitless Marketer: 1508792373.png
[10/23/17, 4:59:58 PM] Limitless Marketer: You can stop pretending you are some employee
[10/23/17, 5:04:04 PM] Nick | There can only be one: ��
[10/23/17, 5:04:41 PM] Limitless Marketer: I think it’s funny too. Pretending you have to ask the owners if you can provide a refund when you are the owner of the company.
[10/23/17, 5:05:20 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Never said owners, said accounting
[10/23/17, 5:05:49 PM] Limitless Marketer: Right. I have the entire convo saved.
[10/23/17, 5:06:13 PM] Limitless Marketer: You can do the right thing and send me my money back without this escalating.
[10/23/17, 5:07:05 PM] Nick | There can only be one: I could very easily
[10/23/17, 5:08:10 PM] Nick | There can only be one: But I wasn't bullshitting you before
[10/23/17, 5:08:21 PM] Nick | There can only be one: I've paid taxes on your money already
[10/23/17, 5:08:39 PM] Limitless Marketer: Nick. I am asking you once again, do the right thing.
[10/23/17, 5:08:42 PM] Limitless Marketer: Give me my money back
[10/23/17, 5:09:47 PM] Limitless Marketer: This is money going out, you will claim it as an expense on your next Tax Bill. Just like Content.Ad just did, and Advertise.com.
[10/23/17, 5:10:07 PM] Limitless Marketer: Same exact scenario.
[10/23/17, 5:10:27 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Not at all
[10/23/17, 5:10:47 PM] Limitless Marketer: So you are refusing to give me my money back, correct?
[10/23/17, 5:10:57 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Not at all
[10/23/17, 5:11:12 PM] Nick | There can only be one: I'm willing to honor the balance you have in your account
[10/23/17, 5:11:43 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Giving you a refund will cost me money
[10/23/17, 5:11:59 PM] Limitless Marketer: How much will it cost you, Nick?
[10/23/17, 5:12:11 PM] Nick | There can only be one: 38%
[10/23/17, 5:12:28 PM] Nick | There can only be one: And I really don't care
[10/23/17, 5:12:57 PM] Nick | There can only be one: My only issue is that you are acting as though I've done something wrong
[10/23/17, 5:13:05 PM] Nick | There can only be one: But you simply want a refund
[10/23/17, 5:13:07 PM] Limitless Marketer: You are doing something wrong.
[10/23/17, 5:13:16 PM] Limitless Marketer: You know it.
[10/23/17, 5:13:43 PM] Nick | There can only be one: I don't or else I would have avoided all this talk and just refunded
[10/23/17, 5:14:03 PM] Limitless Marketer: You don’t have the funds?
[10/23/17, 5:14:05 PM] Limitless Marketer: Is that it?
[10/23/17, 5:14:13 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Which I might do anyways but want to get some satisfaction for taking money out of my pocket
[10/23/17, 5:14:20 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Lmao
[10/23/17, 5:14:42 PM] Nick | There can only be one: If you think that's the reason, ok
[10/23/17, 5:15:01 PM] Limitless Marketer: Are you refusing to send me back my funds?
[10/23/17, 5:15:07 PM] Limitless Marketer: That is all that I want to know.
[10/23/17, 5:15:18 PM] Nick | There can only be one: I don't need to answer that
[10/23/17, 5:15:44 PM] Nick | There can only be one: You have a balance in your account I've honored and carried for over 2 years
[10/23/17, 5:15:51 PM] Nick | There can only be one: I've accounted for it
[10/23/17, 5:16:00 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Paid tax as if it were earned revenue
[10/23/17, 5:16:13 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Not because I wanted but because govt forced me
[10/23/17, 5:16:20 PM] Limitless Marketer: You are not talking to someone who is uneducated, NIck.
[10/23/17, 5:16:25 PM] Limitless Marketer: I understand how accounting works.
[10/23/17, 5:16:33 PM] Nick | There can only be one: If that is true
[10/23/17, 5:16:41 PM] Nick | There can only be one: I'll refund u with pleasure
[10/23/17, 5:16:51 PM] Limitless Marketer: Don’t pretend that you are not able to write this off as an expense on your next tax bill.
[10/23/17, 5:16:53 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Do you agree with me then?
[10/23/17, 5:16:55 PM] Limitless Marketer: Send me my funds back.
[10/23/17, 5:17:08 PM] Limitless Marketer: I told you before, I am willing to let go of 20%
[10/23/17, 5:17:10 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Simple question
[10/23/17, 5:17:29 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Answer my question and will be free
[10/23/17, 5:17:46 PM] Limitless Marketer: Are you going to refund my money?
[10/23/17, 5:17:53 PM] Limitless Marketer: That is all that I want to know.
[10/23/17, 5:18:02 PM] Limitless Marketer: The funds that are legally mine.
[10/23/17, 5:18:11 PM] Limitless Marketer: Are you refusing to refund the money back to me?
[10/23/17, 5:19:23 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Lol, if you know accounting and are educated y don't you answer?
[10/23/17, 5:19:28 PM] Limitless Marketer: Paypal already suggested that I report this to ic3.gov… I was going to wait, but now I am getting the feeling that this is truly a case of fraud.
[10/23/17, 5:19:41 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Very simple solution
[10/23/17, 5:20:13 PM] Limitless Marketer: Yes, go to your paypal account, and please send me my money back.
[10/23/17, 5:20:20 PM] Nick | There can only be one: I promise nothing you answer will be admissible to be used against you
[10/23/17, 5:20:29 PM] Limitless Marketer: Takes a minute.
[10/23/17, 5:21:12 PM] Limitless Marketer: Nick, this is the last time I will ask you.
[10/23/17, 5:21:18 PM] Limitless Marketer: Are you refusing to send me my money back?
[10/23/17, 5:21:28 PM] Nick | There can only be one: I will reply again
[10/23/17, 5:21:38 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Your balance is available for use
[10/23/17, 5:21:46 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Has been for last 2 years
[10/23/17, 5:21:49 PM] Limitless Marketer: I am asking you for a refund.
[10/23/17, 5:21:52 PM] Limitless Marketer: I want my money back.
[10/23/17, 5:22:00 PM] Limitless Marketer: Are you refusing to give me my money back?
[10/23/17, 5:23:58 PM] Limitless Marketer: I am filing a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, as per PayPal’s reccomendation and your refusal to send my money back.
[10/23/17, 5:24:09 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Cool
[10/23/17, 5:25:53 PM] Limitless Marketer: After that, I will retain outside counsel to proceed with a lawsuit against you and your business to prevent this fraudulent behavior from happening to others. Best of Luck, Nick. You could have just agreed to send me my money back. I offered you 20%. You declined. Have a nice day.
[10/23/17, 5:26:18 PM] Nick | There can only be one: Tks, appreciate it
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So there you have it. I am going to take the steps I mentioned at the end of the conversation.
Update: The matter has been resolved. I offered to take off 30% but the owner issued the payment in its entirety.
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