I belonged to this site as a paying member for a year. Recently, I addressed the administration team on what I believed was poor administration practice toward some previous members (who they ran from the site as they are now running me from the site).
When I went public with some of the things they said, they claimed I was a "liar" and that those things were never said. They threatened to ban me from the site if I posted the evidence that showed they really did say those things.
Then the owner of the site told me I "need to get out more" and that I was a "heinous person" for telling these lies (which he later said wasn't a lie, but that I had insinuated these things--again, disallowing me from posting the truth and deleting my posts any time I tried, as this was the site owner).
I have help onto the messages we exchanged privately as I can prove these things are true even if I can't post it on the forum of their site.
ME: Exactly. CC Admin used to be able to do this, but lately that hasn't been the case. They attack and accuse people who don't agree with them and delete their posts and say "you must be friends with those people otherwise you'd agree with us"
Admin: I'm not a writer but I'm pretty sure this is not POV, this is a lie.
Me: it's not a lie. if you give me permission, I will post the message send to me by the admin team telling me who I was friends with.
Admin: Of course you cannot do that since it references a member by name. That mail exchange doesn't help your cause much regardless and I doubt anyone is going to be all that interested.
Me: you say I am lying and I am saying if you want to call me a liar, please give me a chance to present the evidence that I was telling the truth. So, I lied about having an message that references another member (ex member now) by name? But I can't post this non-existent message? If I'm lying, I wouldn't have it to post, and there for you could say "sure post it" because you would know it doesn't reference anyone because it doesn't exist.
Following this drama, (and 100 harassing messages from the site owner, who would NOT leave me alone until my 8th request for him not to contact me again unless I have broken Terms of Service)
My subscription was ending so I renewed it. At this time, I thought the issue was a thing of the past, as I'd put it behind me enough to fork over $34 to the site.
Their email was as follows:
Hi,
While we thank you for your contribution we are actually very reluctant to accept your donation due to the recent run-ins you have had with our administration and hostility that you have shown towards the people which you are making this donation to.
We would like to make it clear at this point that this donation does not put you into any 'paying member' category which will give you any sort of preferential treatment. This donation is also non-refundable in case you would like to quit using the site or if your account would be suspended because of any breach in the CC rules as deemed by the CC team.
This is a donation to help Critique Circle for which you are granted a few perks on the site and that is all.
Please confirm that you agree with this and we will accept your donation. Otherwise you are free to use our site as a regular member but we are unable to accept your donation at this time.
Thank you again.
Best,
The CC Team
My response: I agree on the understanding that it's nonrefundable if I *Actually* break not CC rules, and that you will not just be claiming I have broken them to take my money. As long as that is the agreement, it is fine. Furthermore, I want to know why BEFORE it was refundable if you deleted someone's account, but you have decided to change these rules. Thanks in advance for you willingness to clarify this matter. Try not to forget that despite our recent disagreement, I spent a year being an avid supporter of CC and thinking they could do no wrong. I'd like for that to be restored, but I need to see that from your side as well.
To which they responded:
Hi,
While we thank you deeply for your contribution we regret to inform you that we cannot accept your donation at this time.
Thanks again,
The CC Team
Here is my problem with this (and they know full-well what they are doing)
When I paid my LAST subscription, it was with the understanding that I would get a private queue that I could KEEP AS LONG AS I renewed my subscription. so I paid "points" into this queue, which will not be deleted without a return of those points. How many points did I pay into that queue?
120 points.
How many hours of critique does it take to earn 120 points?
AT LEAST 120 HOURS.
I can't get that time or those points back, and they refuse to allow me to transfer them to someone else. (This is in their TOS, so I understand, but I would think under a situation of showing prejudice a member who has supported your site for over a year, you would make an exception).
They say I can use the public part of the site--but that doesn't do me any good if 120 credits worth of stories are in my private queue that I will no longer be able to access. They should return the credits or return my money. They can't return my time, that's for sure.