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Google Adwords... What a bunch of scumbags

by rosieg
29 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Last week, I set up a campaign in google adwords. I set a max cpc of 30 cents a click, then upped it to 50 cents a few days later. I specifically remember typing 0.50 in the box, because I didn't want to get the decimal point in the wrong place and get charged $5 a click.

I logged in two days later to find that I had been charged $14.57 a click, and my charges had mounted up to over $2000. I emailed google immediately to let them know that a mistake had taken place, and awaited a reply.

Today I got an email from google, explaining that my max cpc was $50 and I was "only" charged "$14.57" per click. What's more, I can't even add a credit card with a bigger limit, as google have blocked my Billing section.

(I have a second account and managed to access that billing section with no problems, so they are not having system errors as they claim.)

I don't mind spending $2000 in 2 days if I'm getting clicks at 50 cents because my product is still profitable at that cost, but I'm really annoyed that google have not even acknowledged that I did not set my cpc to $50 a click.

To make matters worse, about 5 minutes after I got the condescending email from the adwords rep, I got another email that said my account had multiple violations, and my landing page was poor, for a list of reasons that were not even applicable to my site.

Okay, rant over. Thanks for listening!
#adwords #bunch #google #scumbags
  • Profile picture of the author Matt MacPherson
    Yeah, I no longer use AdWords for this reason. I've never had them charge me that amount of money before... but I've been slapped for "violations" because I use a typical sales letter. Google does not seem to like sales letters that convert profitably anymore. So I've cut Google out of my business. Period.

    I've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on AdWords over the years. So they can lose my legitimate business if they so choose.

    Matt
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    • Profile picture of the author jhornung
      The unfortunate reality...

      Google doesn't give a rip about the people who made it what it is today - affiliate marketers and digital info product owners.

      How can they in their right mind honestly believe you intended on bidding $50 a click? Sergei needs a new Zeppelin...
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      • Profile picture of the author Lance K
        If you were getting clicks @ 30 or 50 cents, I'd have a hard time believing there was enough competition to warrant $14+ clicks even if you did accidentally set your max CPC at $50. I get the feeling that there may be more to this story.
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        • Profile picture of the author Landis
          Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

          If you were getting clicks @ 30 or 50 cents, I'd have a hard time believing there was enough competition to warrant $14+ clicks even if you did accidentally set your max CPC at $50. I get the feeling that there may be more to this story.
          He couldve been slapped sending his cpc through the roof
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          • Profile picture of the author Lance K
            Originally Posted by mudbutt View Post

            He couldve been slapped sending his cpc through the roof
            True. Which would be covered by...

            I get the feeling that there may be more to this story.
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            • Profile picture of the author Landis
              Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

              True. Which would be covered by...
              but thats completely irrelevant to his post. If im not mistaken, the post was about google setting his cpc at $50 instead of $0.50
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              • Profile picture of the author Lance K
                Originally Posted by mudbutt View Post

                but thats completely irrelevant to his post. If im not mistaken, the post was about google setting his cpc at $50 instead of $0.50
                Also true. Assuming that it was indeed Google's mistake.

                Also, rosieg, sorry if my reply sounded as if I was being critical of you. That was not my intent. Anyway, I am sorry this has happened to you.
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        • Profile picture of the author christineconte
          Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

          If you were getting clicks @ 30 or 50 cents, I'd have a hard time believing there was enough competition to warrant $14+ clicks even if you did accidentally set your max CPC at $50. I get the feeling that there may be more to this story.
          Hey Lance - I got what you meant when you wrote your first post to this thread and I also agreed - I think that the team over at Google PPC are up to something

          Do you all know that they're now providing "free PPC Campaign setup"? they got me hooked into that mess - but everytime I'd call back to see how the campaign was progressing, they had another reason why they couldn't proceed with setting up my account. I was kinda pissed b/c I was willing to dedicate a few grand a month into their campaign, but in the end, they wouldn't get their act together.
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  • Profile picture of the author riza
    ouch! my sympathies.
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  • Profile picture of the author rosieg
    I wasn't getting many clicks at 30 cents, which was why I tried to increase my bid to 50 cents.

    I'm not sure what "else" there may be to this story. Just wanted a little sympathy, as I'm stinging from getting a huge bill from google, *and* getting slapped at the same time.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    Learn good SEO and you can forget about PPC altogether.
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  • Profile picture of the author ChickenMan
    I can see where Google is coming from concerning "quality" material, but this is ridiculous. Like someone said, it's people like you that have made Google what it is today.

    PPC is a joke nowadays
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  • Profile picture of the author Fraggler
    You don't seem to mention whether your bid was actually $50 or not...

    What was it when you logged back in?

    A bug in the maximum bid system would surely be more widely reported than 1 random case.

    No need to have a got at the AdWords rep if you made a mistake. You will know to double check before and after entry next time.
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    • Profile picture of the author tryinhere
      Originally Posted by Fraggler View Post

      You don't seem to mention whether your bid was actually $50 or not...

      What was it when you logged back in? .
      that is probably the better question, if you account is still set to .50 max cpc then you would have a case to take to The big G.

      If by accident you set it at $50 then the best you can do is ask for some sort of understanding, but at best it will be their call.

      You can check all of the changes made per say by going into the campaigns > keywords then in the graph select the review changes setting in the top right of that graph display.

      this should indicate the dates / times and who did what / when and where for you, so in effect those recordings will verify your call as to the changes you made, and if it was changed to .50 and you were charged $50 you would have some course of appeal.

      As to your letters of not happy Jan, these are separate and unrelated but would also apply to you if you are promoting non preferred G products and or services / not sure what you are peddling so hard to say on that one, but they very rarely send them out wrong but you said unrelated so I am guessing they sent some body else's URL to you ?
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  • Profile picture of the author good2go4
    That sounds just rotten rosieg - and I do know how you feel. Sometimes we don't need to know how to fix somthing (especially if we can't) but we do need to have a spot of support from those around us.

    Strangely enough Google Adwords is the only place I have had my credit card information stolen from - this was quite a while ago and I did get my money back, but I wouldn't use them again for all the money in the world.

    Thank goodness you were keeping a check on things rosieg
    best wishes
    lisa
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  • Profile picture of the author EBiz81
    I definitely feel ya. That happened to me about 2 years ago. I got charged over $300 for something that was not my fault. Adwords can be difficult.
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  • Profile picture of the author b2122313
    Today adwords's rule very suck!!! I'm already leave from them
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  • Profile picture of the author Johstin
    I understand how you feel...I'm glad everything got sorted out for you. I'm brainstorming to find new ways to tackle Google long term. Right now, I am venturing into Yahoo and MSN.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dele
    A pity one doesn't seem to have a credible alternative to Google.

    Yahoo is the next best but in comparison to Google, there is still a lot to be desired.

    Other PPC should not even be mentioned as many vices e.g. ppc fraud, makes one scared of even giving them a try.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rock Solid
    Are you going to be held accountable for their error or how was this resolved? Kind of sketchy IMO...
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  • Profile picture of the author dwpg004
    how much you have set max daily budget. It was more that 2000$
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    • Profile picture of the author jpwilliams
      I can sympathize. I've been going back and forth with them trying to get our pages approved. We are promoting a real estate investment group. Thing is, this is the real deal, with live events and weekly calls and webinars and everything.

      They tell me my page makes "unsubstantiated claims of risk-free investment" even though we have an Earnings Disclaimer that says "we are not offering a risk-free investment"! Retarded in my opinion.

      What happened to Google?
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      • Profile picture of the author TheRetiredBuilder
        Originally Posted by jpwilliams View Post

        I can sympathize. I've been going back and forth with them trying to get our pages approved. We are promoting a real estate investment group. Thing is, this is the real deal, with live events and weekly calls and webinars and everything.

        They tell me my page makes "unsubstantiated claims of risk-free investment" even though we have an Earnings Disclaimer that says "we are not offering a risk-free investment"! Retarded in my opinion.

        What happened to Google?
        Actually there's a lot of fraud and over hyped claims in real estate investment

        Google doesn't want pages using adwords that talk about easy money from anything, regardless of whether it's real estate or an eBook only to have a disclaimer link in the footer because it's very rare that people will even read and take notice of it
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  • Profile picture of the author Jordan Kovats
    Now I know why I am a little paranoid before hitting the 'ok" button...I check check, then double check everytime to make sure all of the i's are dotted and t's are crossed before proceeding...
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  • Profile picture of the author thebitbotdotcom
    Originally Posted by rosieg View Post

    Last week, I set up a campaign in google adwords. I set a max cpc of 30 cents a click, then upped it to 50 cents a few days later. I specifically remember typing 0.50 in the box, because I didn't want to get the decimal point in the wrong place and get charged $5 a click.

    I logged in two days later to find that I had been charged $14.57 a click, and my charges had mounted up to over $2000. I emailed google immediately to let them know that a mistake had taken place, and awaited a reply.

    Today I got an email from google, explaining that my max cpc was $50 and I was "only" charged "$14.57" per click. What's more, I can't even add a credit card with a bigger limit, as google have blocked my Billing section.

    (I have a second account and managed to access that billing section with no problems, so they are not having system errors as they claim.)

    I don't mind spending $2000 in 2 days if I'm getting clicks at 50 cents because my product is still profitable at that cost, but I'm really annoyed that google have not even acknowledged that I did not set my cpc to $50 a click.

    To make matters worse, about 5 minutes after I got the condescending email from the adwords rep, I got another email that said my account had multiple violations, and my landing page was poor, for a list of reasons that were not even applicable to my site.

    Okay, rant over. Thanks for listening!
    How did this happen? Did you not have a daily limit or is your budget THAT BIG?
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  • Profile picture of the author DonChipriani
    I'm truly sorry for you. Thanks for sharing this terrible experience. You've probably gonna save many the pain of going through that. I know that I will triple check now .
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