Merchant Won't Pay - What Would You Do?

I only realized after I was finished that I wrote a lot so if you don't want to read all this just skip to the last three lines. Thanks

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There is one product that is one of my main sources of income but I have had problems with the person on and off for about a year and a half or more.

I'm supposed to get paid at the end of the month following the month when I made the sales. So if I make sales in January I get paid at the end of the month of February, etc.

Anyway...

At first this person answered questions after hunting them down for almost a month or something and their info didn't line up with the info in my affiliate stats page or with the names of the people who contacted me to get their bonuses.

This person made excuses, said that the Butterfly Marketing Script was to blame for something and whatever else. I can't remember all the details.

They never gave any answers and it was sort of a "Take it or leave it because what are you gonna do about it?" type of thing (That's why I like sites like Clickbank. It has more competition but I know the check will come. When affiliate programs are in house not everyone may be able to promote but you're basically in a trust situation hoping they pay you)

This person is often very late paying, I'm never sure that I am getting all I've earned and even if they do pay me all that they owe I sometimes rely on getting paid on time or it seriously messes me up, they won't give any explanations, even their customer service guy can barely ever get a hold of this person (that's what he tells me) and never gives any satisfaction whatsoever not even a typical "I'm sorry but I'll get you straightened out as soon as possible" type of thing.

This person is practically impossible to reach.

But they must be paying the customer service guy (who almost left once for not getting paid himself) otherwise he wouldn't be there.

I've heard all sorts of excuses one being family problems and I think hearing these things through the grapevine is what has made me be more patient. I've suspected these things may not be true but then I think "what if they are" and I try to be understanding but this has been going on practically since they launched the product and it's always excuse after excuse. Lately I've heard no excuses but then again I've heard nothing. Almost no one can reach this person.

Once I heard this merchant was having some crisis and that's why they couldn't handle problems as quickly as they'd like, except then I find out that this person is at a seminar on another continent (I personally suspect it was the 7 Figure Code).

I'm not the first to complain and many have been pissed and screamed bloody murder in the past. I don't know if I'm one of the top affiliates or not but I usually sell a reasonable amount and sometimes I am on top or close judging from the transaction id numbers.

This person still owes me for June, July and also August will be due before I realize it and I don't have much hope of getting that either.

I stopped promoting this product once because I had finally had enough but then I was thrown some money and I picked it up again.

This person seems very unappreciative and they can't even give any satisfaction with an excuse or tell the customer service guy to tell me their excuse. I get so many complaints from people who take it out on me because they think I am the merchant and some get stupid with me even if they know I am not this other person. Some are okay but then I often get swamped with complaints and cries for help because of all their various problems not being able to download their product or whatever, even those who didn't buy through me and make me a commission, and I'm sick of doing damage control for this merchants apathy or incompetence and taking care of all their customers.

It makes me feel bad when I ignore people asking me for help, but I can't do it much longer.

They are in another country and even if I could do something it would probably cost more just to scare them than what I am owed. So maybe this is a hopeless situation that I should just quit and call a loss.

But I really want my money, especially since I use Adwords and I'm basically throwing that campaign money away being that I'm not getting paid.

What would you do in a situation like this to get your money?

Any advice whatsoever?

Thanks very much.