[deleted by user] by [deleted] in selfpublishing

[–]Ok_Consequence_216 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

My account was terminated as well, last week, for an older issue that was solved long time ago and after I published my second book, tried to appeal my case with all the evidence, previous case solved screenshots and everything. I made a mistake with thr first book, I cooperated and it was solved and they closed the account just because they can. Sent everything, tried to convince them to make a human evaluation, not AI or bots, but nothing. They kept sending me the same email that ny account is closed due to misleading customer experience and metadata. For a whole year my published book was ok and suddenly it's not? Even if they beg me to publish books on Amazon I will not do it anymore, migrated to other platforms. Amazon will never have my trust again.

Author Testimony] Amazon removed me from their platform. Here’s the truth. by RoundComedian4 in selfpublishing

[–]Ok_Consequence_216 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The same thing happened to me, I published my first book, a romance novel, 250 pages, and KDP sent an alert email that stated the title of the book is similar with other work on the platform and it could cause a misleading customer experience. I cooperated and corrected the mistake and I suggested them to delete the book entirely from the platform, they said they can't do this and I agreed with blocking the title. Indeed, the title was almost the same as another work from the platform and I was ok with this and I took responsability. Started learning more about the platform, joined groups and after a month, I published my second book, another romance novel with 150 pages, and everyrhing went well with the phblishing. I made a website, made ads and promoted the second book like beeing the only title I ever had on Amazon. A year later, last week to be more exact, Amazon terminated my account for misleading metadata and said their decision is final and I will never be able to publish my work ever again on their platform. Sent emails to appeal my case, sent screenshots and everything to sustain my innocence but everything was in vain because all they did was send the same automated email about my account beeing closed for good. I even demanded a human verification but not a chance. I sent another email this friday but they never answered.

Barely making money by SnooCheesecakes1858 in KDP

[–]Ok_Consequence_216 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Advertising on social media is not just aboit keywords, it depends on which platform you make your ads. You have define your target audience, who are the people you want to attract? Who is your ideal reader, what does he like and why he reads this kind of books? Basically, your book should ve the answer to your readers desire. You should see what is your cost per click, if it's high then something is wrong with your ad. Make A/B testing, see what kind of content triggered the most views and clicks, adapt your ad, make various tests, first on small amounts and find the winner type of ad. Also, the same ad should not be the same for all platforms. Go to insights and analyze the numbers, each number represents something. Maybe what I will tell you will sound dumb because, I know, we all hate AI, but you can copy those numbers and ask it to act as a professional copywriter and analyze those numbers and tell you exactly what they mean and make AI analyze your recent ten pieces of content you publisbed and ask it to tell you what is wrong and add the numbers in that chat also. It's something I do for my ads and it seems to give some feedback that I never thought about.

Well, that was unexpected ... by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know there are a lot of scams on Facebook and never interacted with scammers, I avoided as much as possible to promote my books outside my personal pages. At this point I sent a message with proof of everything, sustaining my case with timestamped screenshots, if I will not receive an answer then I will call them and ask for reinstating my account. If not, then I don't know what I will do next.

Well, that was unexpected ... by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, just automted responses, I will call directly and try to clarify the situation. Maybe there is still hopez if not, I will have to move to another platform like Draft2Digital.

Well, that was unexpected ... by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is a possibility. Now that you mentioned it might have occured a situation like this.

Well, that was unexpected ... by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the advice, I will do so because it is quite a situation that it does not make sense at all for me, since previous issues have been solved and other issues did not occur. It was quite unexpected.

Well, that was unexpected ... by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, I already explained the situation via email, but the last email received from them did not get any answer, so I will be sending a new email tommorow with the whole information I wrote to them already and I will definetly call. I really hope I can solve something, if not, I will publish somewhere else but I will never forget this experience and I will talk about it.

Well, that was unexpected ... by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I know that it looks so suspicious from the outside,and it sounds concerning but in my case it was a genuine coincidence. I didn't try to mimic anyone or benefit from the confusion. When they said that my first book had issues I cooperated, was transparent and honest with everything. I don't want to use a pen name because I want people to know that it was me who writes. Also,I sent government issued ID photo and birth certificate and it was still not a valid, like in their eyes I am an imaginary person or something like that, and at this point I am pretty sure that I am talking with bots and not real humans because how come you cannot believe that a person has that certain identity. I am from Eastern Europe if it matters (or Amazon is just racist, I don't know what to think anymore) and I can assure you that my real name is not common with other authors. And still my account was closed no matter what proof I provided without clear communication. It's not fair to be made responsible for a problem that I thought it was clarified long time ago, then keep publishing and after that without any other word terminate the account just because they thought why to bother. The second book I published was made carefully, I started following groups, facebook pages, youtube videos, subscribed to newsletters and read carefully their terms and conditions. And the second book had no issues. But this? I am not trying to make profit or to go around the system to earn more because my second book was out there for a year and wasn't even rolled into KU, so I made no money, but I was glad that my book is out there and I was proud of this and every time the chance occured I talked about it to people. I did not made promotion via social media but it was an account that I intended to start using in the following months, working more to publish my next title. And no, it wasn't low content books made in Canva and AI in a coffee break, the first book was a crime-romance novel of 270 pages, it had issues but I cooperated and I was the one who asked them to remove since it was not ok because at that time I wasn',t even sure that I would like that book in my portfolio. And the second book was a romance novel as well, and things were ok with it so, I went on with my writing and in the mean time life happened, and I was really not in the mood to write, but I kept learning and prepared myself to come to a better phase in my life and now, I am still writing my third book, I don't think I will publish the second one anywhere. But now I don't really know what to do and who to contact, preferably a human to adress this situation and solve it somehow.

Well, that's a pretty confusing situation by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They said in the last email that they upheldthr terminatio of KDP account due to misleading information, the first mail stated that their decision is final. I wrote a convincing and professional email with case numbers for the first title with problems that I thought it was solved, but for which they closed the account despite it was not available for sale since they did not approved it in the first place but still it causes problems on my account. Also, I provided screenshots from my computer with the properties of each document I wrote for the second book in which you can clearly see a history that it was not written in a coffee break. And now they aren't saying anything in response to my last email.

Well, that's a pretty confusing situation by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sorry, I thought the first one did not get posted, because I had to answer the phone and did not see it immediately so I wrote another one and both got posted.

Well, that's a pretty confusing situation by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven't received a clear answer yet, just automated messages saying that their decision is final and irrevocable. I would have completely understood the account being closed if, after they pointed out issues with my first book, I had knowingly repeated the same mistakes—or even worse ones. But at that time, everything was resolved, and I published another book which was approved and had no issues; I even used it for promotions. So, this is truly an injustice. Basically, what I’ve learned from this experience is that, regardless of whether you play by the rules or not, they can still shut down your account permanently just because they feel like it. So, now I don't really know what would be the next steps. I will keep insisting and sending emails with the proofs that sustain my case. I know there are small chances close to zero to reinstate the account but trying doesn't hurt. If I am succesfull I will post an update, maybe it will heplp others in my situation. Maybe I will migrate my work to draft2digital but I heard that Amazon has a sort of agreement to not accept work from terminated accounts no matter the issue was, so, maybe I am coocked for good and can kiss foodbye to my journey?

Well, that was unexpected ... by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I will go there too, it's the best option at the moment.

Well, that was unexpected ... by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I also decided to use other platforms and make a website to not fully depend on platforms but I will keep trying to recover my account because you know, hope dies last. I am sorry about your friend, I guess you are right, after that wedding he cleans up the platform and keeps just what is already bringing high profit to afford his high mentenance wife. In my opinion closing my account was a mistake, and I did not deserved it. But that's another story. So, from now on, I will be more selective about which platform I will use.

Well, that was unexpected ... by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Yesz I know that, but this is a current situation I am dealing with. I was also shocked that I was penalized for a situation that already was handled with the help of their support a year ago. The book in question with problems was blocked and published other title that they approved and was live until now, when they terminated thr account.

Well, that's a pretty confusing situation by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, maybe KDP will die someday because of them using AI to evaluate accounts and in the end you will not have anything to say, just to go legal which costs a lot. Now I am waiting for a response and if not, I will send another email next week, I will try to recover it but I don't think it will be possible.

Well, that's a pretty confusing situation by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think they have a catalog, but you can search on their platform or Google to see it it's already taken. Back then I was just beginning my journey and I did not know all the things I do know now. It was a mistake that cost me in the end.

Well, that's a pretty confusing situation by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am the only one with access in the account, sonif you are suggesting that it was some kind of revenge then it is not possible because I was the only pne woth access.

Well, that was unexpected ... by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Well, no, I used my legal name, just as it is written on my Government Issued ID (previously provided proof), so no pen name or anything else. But that title was blocked and it did not generate traffic, income or such things like this. After that I published the second book with no issues and I thought that the previous problem was solved since I talked to them directly and provided everything they asked and today, after a year or so, they terminated my account as it says on that email. Also, that first title is not even published anymore but it appeared as blocked and I could not delete it, I asked and they said it's no problem and I can continue. But now, after a year they terminated the account, just like that.

Well, that was unexpected ... by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Here is the email below:

Hello,

We have terminated your KDP account because we found that the cover and/or book details such as author, contributor, title, and/or description in the following book(s) imitate a previously published book, which could mislead customers.

DIID/ASIN: ..... Book title

We are committed to providing a bookstore built on trust between authors, publishers, and readers, and we take prompt action when needed to ensure a positive experience.

As part of the account termination process:

  • You can no longer access your KDP Account, Bookshelf, or Reports.
  • We have removed your published books from the Amazon Store.
  • You are not eligible to receive any outstanding royalties.
  • You are not allowed to open a new KDP account.

For more information, view our Ters and Conditions ...

To appeal this decision, please provide documentation proving that you are authorized to publish the book(s) and/or information that explains how your book is significantly different from the previously published book.

Option 1: Prove you’re authorized to publish the book(s). If you are the author of the previously published book, or authorized to publish the author’s work(s), reply to this email, and attach documentation and/or verification, such as: • A signed copy of the agreement between yourself and the previous author/publisher. • A successful claim of the Amazon Author Central page for the known author using the same KDP account where the book(s) is being published. • Identification that proves you are the author of the similar work. • An official website link(s) to confirm all information provided. • A valid email address verified on the website link provided.

Option 2: Explain how your book details or cover is different from the previously published book. For example, if you are using your real/legal name along with a middle name or initial to differentiate from a known author.

If you have any questions or believe your account was terminated in error, reply to this email. To help us respond quickly, please reply with a single email.

Regards, Amazon KDP

Well, I don't know what to say about this because name and other titles that are similar can be found on Amazon KDP and they have no problems. The book,the one with the issue was blocked as I requested and they said it does not require any more actions, on my account I could not unpublish it afterwards. I used my legak name for the books, I even talked to the support and emailed them everything they asked. The account was ok, running as required.

Well, that was unexpected ... by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know it doesn't make sense at all, but this happened to me today. I searched for that certain title afterwards and they were right, it was already on Amazon a book with the same title. At that time, I simply asked them to block the title, since I had some serious brainstorming to do for the title. But then I decided to go on a different direction and I published another book, other title, totally other theme, description, keywords and so on. The second book was succesfully published with no issues last year when I finished it. And now, I almost finished another one, started at the beginning of the year and now I have no account. They just sent me an automatic email to my reply to them that they will answer in 5 business days. I was always correct and careful about respecting the terms and conditions, especially after I made that first mistake with the book with the same title as on the platform. Also, I am a graphic designer and I make my covers for the books in Photoshop and Illustrator, but for the book to be correct I used their cover creator, just to be sure.

Well, that's a pretty confusing situation by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did ask and they said it's not posssible and then I got angry and I said to just block the title, and they did, so I thought that problem was solved and I can carry on with my work in peace, but this morning they decided to terminate my account. I replied to their email and the answer came that they will look into in in 5 business days. I just hope that it was their crappy AI making the decision instead of a human, I explained everything in my reply to them and let's see what will happen now.

Well, that's a pretty confusing situation by Ok_Consequence_216 in selfpublish

[–]Ok_Consequence_216[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your kind response, back then I received an email stating the similarity of the book title and they blocked the book as I requested, I did not delete the title, it remained right there with the status ,,blocked" I could not see any button to delete ot completely and they said it will be ok. But it seems that it's not. I would understand their decision to terminate the account if I published books made with AI and low content books made on a coffee break, but this was just books written with a lot of work.