If you are like me and have used FocusIn for advertising banners and have yet to receive money owed to you here is a letter I got back from them after several emails, voice messages and finally threatening to contact my attorney.


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David,

We apologize for the delay in receiving your June 10th check. We are in the
process of collecting overdue outstanding receivables from our advertisers
and we will send out your check very soon.

FocusIN has an excellent history of paying members on time, and will get
back to our regular payment schedule shortly. Unfortunately, the prolonged
downturn in the online advertising industry over the past year has
negatively impacted all of the ad agencies and ad networks, focusIN
included. Steps like delaying payments are taken, though regrettable, in
order to ensure survival within the marketplace which we currently operate.
Your patience has been very much appreciated.

We are working out a temporary payment schedule and rest assure, your check
will be sent to you shortly.

Your understanding and co-operation in this matter is much appreciated.
We thank-you for your valued membership in the focusIN Specialty Web
Network.

Yours truly,

Publisher Services
The focusIN Specialty Web Network
E-mail: publishers@focusin.com
http://www.focusin.com

---------------------

The guy who sent this was named Rick Arkell with email address of rarkell@focusin.com although he didn't even sign it. This must mean this is a template email sent to all complainers wanting thier money. :)

When I asked why this wasn't sent out to us sooner he didn't reply. When I said what if I told my provider that I had to collect payment from my clients before I could pay them he didn't reply either. Just plain poor business...

The check was supposed to be mailed on June 10, 2001 as stated on their website. I see this as a business doing poor business and on the verge of bankruptcy. This is the 2nd time my check has been delayed more then the time it takes to mail a package around the world on a horse.

If you use these guys and are wondering where your check is here is the answer. I have finally had enough and removed all thier banners from my site and doubt that I will ever see the money owed to me.

David Smith

arg...
what da crap happened to the advertising market???

oh no!!! how am i gonna pay for webhosting?? AHH!!!

After my reply about how I felt how unethical they are with this matter he replied with the following:

--------------------

David,

As you know the prolonged downturn in the online advertising industry over
the past year has negatively impacted all of the ad agencies and ad
networks, focusIN included. In order to ensure our survival within the
turbulent marketplace that we have been operating within over the past 6
months we have had to take harsh, but necessary, steps like delaying member
payments. We understand your frustration in having to wait and have made it
our primary goal to clear up this situation as soon as possible so we can
continue to grow our business for the mutual benefit of focusIN and you, our
valued members.

We have formulated a temporary payment schedule to begin paying back members
for past due balances. As such, your April 10th, 2001 check should be
mailed out by mid-month. We will be sending out subsequent months' checks
shortly afterwards, and plan to get back to our regular payment schedule as
soon as possible.

We thank-you for your valued membership in the focusIN Specialty Web Network
and greatly appreciate your patience, co-operation and understanding to
date.

Yours truly,

Publisher Services
The focusIN Specialty Web Network
E-mail: publishers@focusin.com
http://www.focusin.com

--------------------

I can't believe that they think this is the way business is ran in order to "survive" as he puts it.

Does anyone else use this company and are owed money from them? I am about to persue any legal actions against them if I can find several others that are also owed money.

Here is a letter sent today to FocusIN as I still have yet to see a check that was set to be mailed on June 10, 2001.

------------

Dear Target.net and/or FocusIN,

Today is July 29, 2001 and according to your records and my own, there is money in the amount of $191.28 owed to me in exchange for internet advertising/publishing. There are two checks, one was supposed to have been mailed seven (7) weeks ago on June 10, 2001 for the amount of $141.00. The other should be mailed very soon on August 10, 2001 for the amount of $50.28. To this day your company has failed to fulfill your end of our agreement set forth in your Terms and Conditions.

At this time it is not about the money but about the people involved whom are in the same situation as I am. Think about it, $200 isn't a lot of money but if there are hundreds more which are also owed money then it means more. I demand a resolution to this situation or I will begin any legal action that federal, state and local laws may allow me to pursue.

If you fail to respond in a timely manner, I will begin by calling the Better Business Bureau to file a formal complaint. Then I will begin looking for others whom are also owed money by your company. After that I will contact the attorney generals office for further legal actions against your company.

Below are detailed descriptions of the amount in question as shown on your website:

Payable To: David Smith
Amount: $50.28 Mailing Date: Aug 10 2001
Cheque Number: 20329
Revenue Source Description Amount
CPM Campaigns 62351 impressions @ $0.219 / 1000 impressions $13.66
CPC Campaigns 88 clicks @ $0.117 / click $10.33
Previous Month $26.30
Total Revenue $50.28

Payable To: David Smith
Amount: $141.00 Mailing Date: June 10 2001
Cheque Number: 19926
Revenue Source Description Amount
CPM Campaigns 205342 impressions @ $0.344 / 1000 impressions $70.54
CPC Campaigns 188 clicks @ $0.122 / click $22.95
Previous Month $47.52
Total Revenue $141.00


Sincerely,

David Smith
317-573-2486

this doesn't sound too good...

I used to use FocusIN (or whatever its old name was) as an my ad service for a site I had about 2 years ago - Everything ran great back then. It's sad to see a good company go downhill.