Website in US Owes Me £2000

[entseo]

Hi,

I have a difficult conundrum,

I'm living in the UK but a few years ago I joined what is called an affiliate site based in the US which specialises in digital goods and services. For example, software writers can put their software products on the site's marketplace and thereby sell their software, with a percentage fee going to the website by way of commission.

Similarly, marketers can register with the site and opt to sell someone's else's product on an affiliate basis, and also make a commission.

They had an option for people who use the site to lessen the fees they had to pay the site when sales were made, by pre-paying the site a lump sum. This seemed a good idea at the time, and a few years ago I paid them about £2,000 in order to reduce the amount of future fees.

The website has since changed hands. When I asked the new owner for this money back (which is an option promised on the website in the form of a guarantee - I have screenshots to prove this) the owner said that, as he was the new owner, he knows nothing about my money and that I should contact the old owner.

I did explain that, when a business is bought, the liabilities of that business is bought as well as the business's assets. But he refused to acknowledge this.

(I also wrote to the old owner, who never replied.)

So how do I get my money back? Is it especially difficult to get money back from a US company?

I'd really like someone to help me out with this, as I'm struggling to pay care home costs for my mum and this has come right at a difficult time.

Thanks in anticipation,

Gordo

[des8]

Re: Website in US Owes Me £2000

Don't know about the USA, but in this country a purchaser of a business (you don't say if it is a PLC or not) does not necessarily purchase its liabilities.
So the new owner might be right.

In any event the law differs from state to state.
There are small claims courts in most states, as well as online dispute resolution and settlement services.
Here's a link which might give you an idea on whether or not it is worth pursuing your money http://www.jud.ct.gov/faq/smallclaims.html#23
but I would anticipate it being expensive as I think you will either have to hire lawyers or go to the states yourself.

[Openlaw15]

Re: Website in US Owes Me £2000

Hi,

I have a difficult conundrum,

I'm living in the UK but a few years ago I joined what is called an affiliate site based in the US which specialises in digital goods and services. For example, software writers can put their software products on the site's marketplace and thereby sell their software, with a percentage fee going to the website by way of commission.

Similarly, marketers can register with the site and opt to sell someone's else's product on an affiliate basis, and also make a commission.

They had an option for people who use the site to lessen the fees they had to pay the site when sales were made, by pre-paying the site a lump sum. This seemed a good idea at the time, and a few years ago I paid them about £2,000 in order to reduce the amount of future fees.

The website has since changed hands. When I asked the new owner for this money back (which is an option promised on the website in the form of a guarantee - I have screenshots to prove this) the owner said that, as he was the new owner, he knows nothing about my money and that I should contact the old owner.

I did explain that, when a business is bought, the liabilities of that business is bought as well as the business's assets. But he refused to acknowledge this.

(I also wrote to the old owner, who never replied.)

So how do I get my money back? Is it especially difficult to get money back from a US company?

I'd really like someone to help me out with this, as I'm struggling to pay care home costs for my mum and this has come right at a difficult time.

Thanks in anticipation,

Gordo

What does the website terms or in your contract that you were provide with, right (if not, why not?) state about liabilities in the event of sale of the website? The website as far as am aware comes under US jurisdiction I do not think trading standards in the UK has jurisdiction to do anything about it, but you could make contact with them. You will have to contact trading standards if it was a business transaction or CAB if it is domestic as these organisations will have come across problems like this before. You could alternatively search online for a US equivalent to trading standards and make a complaint direct.

[des8]

Re: Website in US Owes Me £2000

You might get some ideas from here: https://www.usa.gov/consumer-complaints#item-211525