Struggling neighborhood non-profit, Google disputes over excessive ad charges and aggressive telemarketing

A billing disagreement between Google’s Adword and a fledgling neighboring non-profit has remained unresolved. Alleged aggressive ad marketing practices that lured the new startup into an expensive service may contribute to its demise.

Tony Coleman, manager and executive director of the year-old non-profit Bikes for Life, exhausted all efforts with Google to reverse or at least credit part of the invoices that started when a volunteer activated the “Adword” account promotion without his knowledge and after giving in to persistent telemarketing by Google Adword salespeople.

As Google explained to Coleman’s volunteer, Adword is supposedly geared to allow businesses to control their own advertising and elevate their brand thru search engine optimization. Coleman was unaware that each “click” on an ad is billed to the advertiser by internet users that may or may not be prospective customers.

“The more I discussed my situation with colleagues, I found out that there was no truth or benefit to signing up for Adword; anyone in the world can click on an ad, but still not generate any sales leads, ” said Coleman. “This is where I suspect that Google may be taking advantage of small startups such as Bikes4Life through predatory and aggressive marketing.”

Three months had passed when Bikes4Life was billed more than $900 of Adword advertising. Business hadn’t picked up for Coleman since then proving no benefit to the struggling nonprofit on the verge of possibly closing shop due to the effects of the economy.

Despite feeling that he was scammed, Coleman contacted Google Adword to terminate the service and negotiate payment for the invoicing due to the nonprofit’s limited income stream. Google refused to negotiate and insisted the charges and the sales approach were legitimate.

Bikes4Life is a West Oakland local non-profit bike shop in the neighborhood that helps out at-risk youth through mentoring and vocational training. But as with a lot of non-profits, Bikes4Life has also been struggling to stay afloat and may have to close its doors due to lack of funding.  

Unfortunately, slick predatory practices to acquire more unsuspecting customers have been on the rise taking advantage of unsuspecting small start-ups. Google’s focus on domination, diversification and expansion of its presence in cyberspace, it has set its sites on small start-ups.

"The public should beware of this Adword pay-per-click advertising service Google is offering because it’s an easy way to be taken advantage of, “ said Coleman. “I have every reason to believe that my experience proves that Google has been very aggressive in their targeting small businesses and organizations.”

In the spirit of corporate social responsibility, Google may have worked out a reasonable payment arrangement with Bikes4Life, however, the non-profit has learned the hard way that the best interest of the customer isn’t one of Google’s core values.

Anyone interested in helping Bikes4Life remain in business to sustain its mission of helping disenfranchised youth, please send checks written out to One Fam/ Bikes 4 Life to 1600 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607.

I created a campaign in Google Adwords to get estimated keyword prices. When I setup the campaign I set the cost per click and daily limit to the highest levels. I did not realize that Google created the campaign in a "Running" state. Later that day Google started running my ads.

My Google Adwords account says "Your credit card will be charged every $50". I did not have a valid credit card on file (it had expired some months before setting up the campaign). Still, Google ran my ads. Instead of charging me at $50, they attempted to charge me $193 -- which of course failed.

Instead of turning off the account, Google ran an additional $2600 worth of ads, then tried charging the card a second time! Only after racking up almost $3000 worth of charges (way more than the $50 it says it will charge), did they turn off the account.

I've attempted to get this issue resolved many, many times. I spoke with multiple customer reps explaining it was a mistake (the ad was pointed to www.test.com, and was called Test Campaign). I've even paid the original $193 because Google said they would "consider" removing the additional charge.

Now Google is sending me to collections! I didn't apply for a line of credit. Their site clearly says "Your credit card will be charged every $50", yet they attempted only two charged $193 and $2600!!

This company leads you to believe it's affiliated with Google and vice versa when, in fact, it ISN'T. They are located in southeast Asia. I too fell for their 'make money at home' scheme and figured the postage and handline wasn't a total loss to satisfy my curiosity. I did NOT request the CD but rather the online software. I got the CD anyway. Then the next thing I know is that they tapped my checking account for the infamous $39.95. That's when I called the bank and reported my debit card stolen and stopped payment immediately. They will also launch an investigation and in all probablility credit the account if the money has already been withdrawn. Then I phoned 1-877-495-1173 and got right through. I spoke with a guy named Chad in southeast Asia and I told him I was there 40 years ago fighting Viet Cong and he didn't want me to come back and kick more ass. I told him to call his supervisor and refund the money. My son, a Navy K-9 police officer was in the background yelling things like INTERNATIONAL FRAUD AND INTERPOL AND FBI loud enough for them to hear. We'll see how soon this is resolved to my satisfaction. I hope these tactics can help anyone else who has been duped by this unscrupulous, cyber-fraudulent racket.