Here is the stock email you will receive once Google has shut your Adsense account down.
I've highlighted many of the important or interesting points in bold for clarity.
Please take the time to read everything, it will amaze you!
Subject: Google AdSense Account Disabled
Hello (member name),
It has come to our attention that invalid clicks have been generated on
the Google ads on your site(s). We have therefore disabled your Google
AdSense account. Please understand that this step was taken in an
effort to protect the interest of the AdWords advertisers.
A publisher's site may not have invalid clicks on any ad(s), including
but not limited to clicks generated by:
- a publisher on his own web pages
- a publisher encouraging others to click on his ads
- automated clicking programs or any other deceptive software
- a publisher altering any portion of the ad code or changing the
layout, behavior, targeting, or delivery of ads for any reason
Practices such as these are in violation of the Google AdSense Terms
and Conditions and program polices, which can be viewed at:
https://www.google.com/adsense/localized-terms?hl=en_US
https://www.google.com/adsense/policies?hl=en_US
Publishers disabled for invalid click activity are not allowed further
participation in AdSense and do not receive any further payment. The
earnings on your account will be properly returned to the affected
advertisers.
Sincerely,
The Google AdSense Team
Technically it doesn't explain the exact reason, rather suggesting several alternatives. This is Google's way of covering their butts so to speak. They feel this elevates any further legal responsibilities. You would think an established company such as Google would at least offer live tech support for Adsense. They do not! They do not even have the ability (or desire) to respond with a detailed explanation.
The following is our first response back to Google:
11/21/2005
Hello,
I don't understand as to why my adsense account would be disabled. I have many clients who have requested that I place your ads on their sites in order to generate extra relevant content for the site. It is also my understanding that the changing content can also benefit in the sites rankings. If this is not the case, I would remove any questionable code.
How am I going to explain this to my clients? We had made arrangements for Noodleware to forward any moneys generated from adsense to them directly. I do test each page beforehand from my computer, so there will be extra impressions generated - there is no way around that, but this should not effect the click-throughs.
Thank you,
Rick Horvath
President - Noodleware Software Co.
Here is another attempt at us to shed some logical light on the folks at Google. As you will begin to understand, the problems existing with Adsense have a direct effect on the Adwords program as well. It is our belief that many advertisers using Adwords will begin looking for a more secure method of advertising, such as Yahoo's Overture.
After not hearing back from Google for our last email, we quickly shot off another one describing in more detail what our concerns were:
11/23/2005
Hello,
This is my second response to you since I have not received an email back. After doing a search for a contact number, I found one in some forum! I did call tech support for adwords and asked the person to have someone get back to me. It is very discouraging that you do not have a phone support line available and you do not reply to emails!
I would like this email forwarded to a senior tech for adsense, someone who has their hands in the technology. As a programmer myself, I want to attempt to explain some flaws to you.
Our company offers search engine promotion for many clients. Many of them use Overture, which has proven results. Some of our clients use Google adwords. Each of these accounts are charged under my company's account, not the individual clients. It was easier to set up this way since many people do not understand how to set up such things. We simply charge them a fee for the service.
We then thought it would be a good idea to 'upsell' the idea of putting adsense on their sites. The understanding is that it offers dynamic content which should enhance search engine presence, and create extra relevant content for each site.
The programmers do test each site using adsense code so there will be extra impressions from our IP. We also do click on every adsense link. This benefits us in seeing our clients competition and to give us ideas as to how to improve the sites. Your technology knows that these clicks should be ignored. You should not become suspicious about them.
Noodleware should not be reprimanded in any way if someone creates clicks in this manner.
This brings me to the point of our adwords accounts. I have paused all accounts since I am now concerned that my clients are being charged for unusual clicks. After all, it is coming out of my pocket! To play it safe, I might just move everyone over to Overture. How would you feel if you didn't receive your money for the last months clicks - that's the same thing you are doing to me. I wouldn't do this, but it's something to think about.
You need to rethink the adsense logic. You really only have two choices: leave things as they are - with suspicious clicks occurring at times; or simply not offer the service at all. There is absolutely no way to tell where suspicious clicks are being derived from. What if someone was driving around with a wireless laptop and clicking all day long? There are plenty of articles online discussing this problem about Google.
You cannot simply disable an account because it has been flagged as suspicious. You have not even given us exact details as to why the account is shut off, you simply listed 4 possible reasons!
I would like a Google rep to CALL me personally to discuss this matter. I do expect the account to be reactivated. We did make over $144.00 in our first month to promote YOUR business. That money is rightfully ours. I have also seen that many companies are taking legal action. I do not want to take this route, so please have someone contact me as soon as possible.
Thank you,
Rick Horvath
President - Noodleware Software Co.
Again we got a cookie-cutter type response talking about how Google can not disclose their programming secrets. I was hoping for them to at least explain the 1 reason the account was closed, not give me the runaround. The part I wrote about the 'extra impressions' is a valid argument. Testing a site and its ads is essential to any programmer and Google's programming logic should be able to ignore any clicks generated from the originating IP which set up the account.
As a programmer myself, I could easily explain how Adsense works but I wanted their explaination. I would also be able to recreate it completely if given the time.
Here is their next response:
11/29/2005
Hello,
Thank you for your email regarding the action taken on your account.
We understand that you wish to receive specific information regarding the
invalid clicks we observed on your account. However, due to the
proprietary nature of our algorithm, we cannot disclose any details about
how our monitoring technology works or what specifics we found on your
account.
As you know, Google treats instances of invalid click activity very
seriously. By disabling your account according to our policy on this
matter, we feel that we have taken the necessary measures to protect our
advertisers and to ensure that invalid clicks will not continue to occur
on your site.
Publishers disabled for invalid click activity are not allowed further
participation in Google AdSense. We appreciate your understanding.
Sincerely,
The Google AdSense Team
That was the last time we heard from Google but still offered up another email, this time with a more serious tone:
11/29/2005
I was anticipating your stock email response. So many others have received the very same one. This is unacceptable and quite suspicious on Google's part. There are many customers of yours that wish to take whatever steps necessary to stop this bad business practice you so blatantly display.
Maybe you do not understand the effects of your actions? You risk losing many AdWords customers as a result of your inability to define the exact reasons for shutting down Adsense accounts. I am one of them.
Fellow members of support forums and web designers will be filing a petition and submitting it to the proper authorities if we do not get a clearer response soon.
Thank you,
Rick Horvath
President - Noodleware Software Co.
Anyone can see the dilemma being caused by Google themselves. We here at Noodleware.com take our business very seriously and do want to make this problem known to everyone affected.
If you would like to support this cause please sign our petition
We will be presenting this petition to the proper authorities and media. This will not go unnoticed!
Thank you all,
Rick Horvath
President - Noodleware Software Co.
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