First Helium now AC....

@mimpi1911 (25464)
India
April 29, 2010 12:39pm CST
I just received a mail from AC which clearly states that we are no longer entitled to enjoy the performance payments which we have been. We need to be Featured Contributors which means we have to submit United States W-8BEN tax form and get enrollment for the same. Helium has long closed the door for us and now AC. Payment, as little as 1-3 dollars, that I used to get was an incentive but it seems that we no longer can publish there. This is really sad for AC has been a motivator all through. This month has not so good news for me. Nings is phasing out of free service, AC is off and I am anticipating more. I have other places but it's not the same. So, do you write in AC?
5 people like this
21 responses
@mommaj (23155)
• United States
1 May 10
How much would it cost you in taxes to stay with AC? All you have to do is fill out a form and you can stay? I don't understand. Why wouldn't you want to fill out the tax slip to continue writing on AC? Any American writer who makes over a couple hundred dollars has to submit a w-9 before they will let you publish more. I don't understand the problem.
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
2 May 10
The featured contributor thing is the catch! Do you think we all can qualify to their upfront criterion? Also, I for one, do not want to confine myself to only one category. I also do not have much expertise on any specific field. Also, there is no featured contributor category for poetry section which is my forte. Thanks mommaj.
@mommaj (23155)
• United States
2 May 10
Hi MS.F. Luckily I do not have to worry about the new rule. Someone copied the email they were sent from AC and it looks more complicated. The writers have to be featured contributors and it is hard to become a featured contributor unless you have writings in that area that are free of spelling and grammar errors. I was turned down in one section, but taken in another. Go figure. AC is just making rules as they go unless they are so big that they got audited.
• Boston, Massachusetts
2 May 10
Hi Mommaj, I hope this input of yours will be of help to our mylot friends having this concern. i am glad to know that you are spare from this. how are you friend?
@unique16 (1531)
• United States
29 Apr 10
Hello, I write for Ac and did not receive that notice yet. Sorry to hear this about AC. It seem many writing sites are changing there rules. eHow is now owned by Demand Studios and you had to five quality articles to get accepted again there which I did not. So I cannot write for them either. A lot ehow were not accpeted after this happen and amny more lost there articles in trasition. Thanks and Have a great day Sincerley Uique16
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
29 Apr 10
I think you are from US and you are not included I guess. I used to write in eHow but after I joined Ac, I had virtually stopped going there. So, do they require five quality articles now before they actually allow you? I have no idea at all!
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
17 May 10
Hi magtiba I heard that it is a good site. I have been writing there but not as actively as I was in AC. Send me your link. I will add you as my friend. http://www.bukisa.com/people/mimpi
• Philippines
16 May 10
What about Bukisa? What can you say about Bukisa? I need to ask this because I just joined Bukisa and have submitted to articles. I need feedback from you, experts. Your feedbacks will determine if I will pursue (or not to pursue) writing on this site.
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
29 Apr 10
Hi Mimpi, I was also so disappointed and had just started a discussion a few minutes ago. It is sad indeed!
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
29 Apr 10
Its really saddening Kala. It seems, we have to wash our hands off online publishing. I have little idea about the new policies of Triond and Bukisa. Haven't gone there since long. Are you planning to pulling off your articles from AC?
1 person likes this
@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
30 Apr 10
Hi Mimpi! I also got this mail and was utterly shocked to read it that we will no longer be paid for our write-ups on Associated Contents. You are right, whatever little we used to earn from AC, would now be stopped, because we do not belong to US. I think we have no choice but to comply with their directions. I write on AC primarily for fun and for indulging in some 'creativity' and earning is/was secondary (same is the case here on mylot, though mylot pays much more than AC but I do not bother about earnings here). Therefore, I feel that I should continue to write on AC, even if no payment is made. What do you say? Have a great day! Deepak
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
30 Apr 10
Will they permit that? Even I want that. The Obama government will phase out of services for the international writers and you never know what's going to happen next. while I respect their internal policy, it feels sad.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
2 May 10
I just came to know that they will allow us to publish. They should actually with the amount of traffic they get from us! No way they cannot.
@dpk262006 (58673)
• Delhi, India
2 May 10
It means that you have a doubt that AC will even permit us to 'submit' our articles, live alone making payments? If they are not going to allow us to submit any new articles, then we will have no option but to switch to some other site, to satiate our hunger for 'writing' articles/poems. Is not it?
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
4 May 10
I am aware of the stuff happening over on AC, but what about Helium? I think a friend told me but is it the same as AC's latest implementation. Just curious...I can imagine how disappointed any writer would be for sure. Policy and tax law are tricky, no choice but to comply.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
9 May 10
Helium was working fine with us Indians until a few years ago when they blocked us from writing. That was a surprise and the first on the US agenda to have had shut down on us.
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
10 May 10
This has to do with the new Obama policy. So, I don't think these websites can do much even with he best of intentions.
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
10 May 10
That's really sad.. if only they can work out whatever the issue is.. then more people will have a chance at earning on sites like that, for instance.
• Philippines
29 Apr 10
Oohh. Just started a similar discussion, i didn't see yours when I started making mine. Just started writing a couple of months ago, and I haven't really posted much. but it's still sad :(
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
29 Apr 10
No worries friend. I think, myLot would be spammed with AC topic today. I noticed that you are from Phillipines. did you get similar mail? Are you planning to withdraw your articles?
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4060)
• United States
5 May 10
Hi, I am so sorry to hear that you have been having problems with the writing sites. I recently joined AC and had my first article published. I was very excited and shared that excitement with myLot. But since then, I've been going back and forth as to whether I really wanted to continue writing for AC or any other site on a regular basis. It seems as though things keep changing and not for the better. Right now, I'm concentrating on Article Marketing and not just Article Writing. I wish you all the best.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
9 May 10
That's just so great to hear! I wish you luck!
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
17 May 10
• United States
11 May 10
Thank you so much.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
1 May 10
I have discussed this with another MyLotter a short while ago. I am affected too as I received the same email. I still have not decided what to do with my content there as to whether to remove it or cut my losses, leave it there and forget about it. It is very disappointing; our writing does not seem to be worth very much anymore...
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
1 May 10
Yes Paula. Even i am undecided at this point in time. And it seems that many more freelance writing sites would adopt the same.
1 person likes this
@ifa225 (14364)
• Indonesia
30 Apr 10
I am sorry to hear that. I don't write for AC, but i know how it feels. I ever write for ciao, but the payments and the sites change. it was really making me down.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
1 May 10
That would require good amount of networking and promoting!
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
30 Apr 10
Ciao as well? What is the new policy could you explain?
@ifa225 (14364)
• Indonesia
1 May 10
it was a years ago. first, they change the amount of pay, from $1 to $0.25 per review. Then they change it again, we can only earn if someone read the review and give us a rate.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
30 Apr 10
Hi Mimpi, at least your income is just $1 to $3. My passive income from Associated Content ranges between $9 to $12, and I am already Clout 8, reaching clout 9 in a couple of months. Too bad this has to happen. I seriously considering deleting all the articles in AC. I'm still waiting to see how the tax law going to affect the rest of the writing site. Since most of my income comes from Helium. I am more concerned with the changes in Helium. I hope Helium gets a better lawyer.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
1 May 10
I agree with you. Its difficult getting restricted to one category specially when you are a voracious writer. Pulling off sounds good, you can post them elsewhere like Bukisa, Triond. Good luck and keep me updated.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
30 Apr 10
I am really sorry scheng. Why don't to apply for featured membership? You can still get to retain your the publishing right and earn from it. Have you given it a thought? Could you pls send me the link so that I can read you and leave some page love?
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
1 May 10
Hi Mimpi1911, I do not like the tax withholding thing. There is no point letting Associated Content withholds $100. My annual passive income from Associated Content is less than $200. I read the requirement for featured membership, and do not like the idea too. I like to write on a varieties of topic, and hate to restrict the writing to just one particular category. I may not like the assignment too. Anyway, I have started to delete the articles, and will delete all of them after the last payment is safely in my paypal account.
@Ritchelle (3790)
• Philippines
30 Apr 10
i used to write for helium. then i switched to triond.com. it is very taxing for me to write since english is just my second language and i think it has been a month now since i stopped writing for helium. however, i still receive payments from them as my old articles are still being read by people. i even get friend requests from there. people i never heard of are asking me to be their friends in twitter and since triond is linked to twitter i figured that it is my article that made me exist for them.
@sblossom (2168)
1 May 10
I don't know what's wrong with my AC account. when I posted my articles, they said these articles are published in different names on other sites. It's true. I have two names I use to publish my articles. I have no problem with other sites, but just AC said they can't accept it. they request me to change my names. I don't want to do so at last I have to give up. so far I just have one article there. I even don't know the earnings. Helium is not bad to me.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
3 May 10
This is new to me! AC gives me the right to pull off my article or to publish it elsewhere as well. May be yours are exclusive where they do not allow you to publish the same article elsewhere.
• Boston, Massachusetts
2 May 10
Hi Mimpi, Inasmuch as i want to write and contribute articles in AC and helium...i never get the chance to take it seriously. but i have friends here in mylot who are active in both. they are consistently inspiring me to write in AC and helium. i am trying my best but due to lack of time to focus, i was not able to make it. i feel sad to hear this update. i hope my friends are not affected with this new development. so, friend what happens now with you and your contributions?
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
3 May 10
I know the kind of talent you are sweet heart and highly recommend you channelise your thoughts in a proper place. I write in other places as well but primarily it was AC. now, may be, I will slowly shift my focus to the other forum. If you are interested, will tell you.
1 person likes this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
9 May 10
You must dear! I will await that day. Good luck!
1 person likes this
• Boston, Massachusetts
9 May 10
thanks for the trust and confidence in me and my abilities to make one. i will keep you posted for any development as it relates to my decision to write articles and contribute to other sites.
@UmiNoor (4483)
• Malaysia
2 May 10
I'm a member of AC but I've never contributed anything to the site. I feel that AC is such a hypocrite. At first they refused to pay upfront to non-US members but then non-US members can still earn performance payment. They claim that this is because of US tax laws. What's the difference between upfront payment and performance payment? They both constitute cash that needs to be paid out. And as far as I've understood the newly reformed tax law, it is meant to prevent US based companies from setting up foreign financial institutions, foreign trusts and foreign accounts and channeling funds to them so as to evade paying taxes. Is AC siphoning funds by paying international writers? International writers are independent members who "sell" their products to AC. International writers are not foreign institutions or foreign trusts or foreign accounts which AC is channeling funds to so as to avoid paying taxes. I don't know where AC is getting their legal advice from. But even I who am not a trained lawyer can see that the newly reformed tax laws have got nothing to do with purchasing products from foreign countries. Or perhaps AC is just using the new tax law to phase out all international writers. Methink we international writers should also phase out AC. Don't visit the site any longer. Delete all your articles there. AC wants the international community to go to their site but they're not willing to pay international writers for their contributions. I say boycott AC! http://www.bukisa.com/articles/281410_writing-for-associated-content
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
4 May 10
I am not sure as to the tax aspect but one thing is for sure that people are moving out to different sites like Bukisa, Triond etc. and AC is losing out o a galaxy of writers. The amount of traffic generated I think, was humongous. Would they not now lose out on it!
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
30 Apr 10
Its sad that when such sites that give small income to freelance writers close down. I am a member of AC but I have not had the time to write for them or submit any article. So I am like a dormant member there but I do know some people who got paid by submitting their work to AC.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
1 May 10
I haven't had time to write much, but I do write in AC on occasion, but living in the US apparently this is not going to be a problem.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
1 May 10
Apparently that puts you in an advantageous position.
@mensab (4200)
• Philippines
29 Apr 10
yeah, i do write and earning some extra bucks from my articles. i received an email too. my understanding from the email is that anyone could apply to be a featured contributor. like you, i live outside the US. there are less incentives for us to write but we rely on performance payments which come in trickles. i will read the website again and will try to apply as featured contributor. it is sad though because of these changes.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
29 Apr 10
Hi Mensab, yes you can do that but will you be able to provide them with the US tax form? I am not sure as to the intricacies of it though. It seems, that they are slowly phasing out of US. A lot of things have happened in the last few months. Helium happened long time back and before we could shift the base Ac has a new policy. Nings Creators is also phasing out of free service and we have had enough for the last few months regarding the Paypal issues with India. What next?
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
30 Apr 10
Well dear don't despair, for as long as you are a good writer then there is always a way for you. If AC closes its door then there certainly will be a new door open unto you. I am also writing for AC and got that same e-mail but since I only have around six articles with them I have not even earned from them. Nevertheless, I believe it is not really a loss. It is their loss rather believe that!
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
30 Apr 10
Thanks Salonga, I needed this. I hardly get 1-2 dollars fro them but its a beautiful place which I have always loved. Yes, when one door closes another opens. I am hopeful.
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
30 Apr 10
Wow. I did not know this. So many writing site are changing their requirements lately.
• Indonesia
30 Apr 10
we can not rely on the income of the parties
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
30 Apr 10
i am not sure what you really mean but myLot seems very good when it comes to earnings and payout. I contribute and I get back.