Hello everybody. Have you had an experience with ClickBank when it asked you to send a selfie and identification document? According to them, I had an account with them five years ago. It is closed now. I did not recall it. Anyway, ClickBank Support asks me to verify my existence as a real person.
I move between the USA and Europe most of the time, but I registered as I am living in the USA because of my legal status. Besides, I use a VPN.
Is it worth doing that? I mean, sending them my documents?
@nemira Firstly, I'm so sorry that no-one's answered you (WHY??? People!!! WHY??? Hahahaha!!)
I've got to be honest, and say that I opened my first Clickbank account 16 years ago, I've got 4 accounts, but the last one I opened about 4 years ago, so I have never experienced any of the issues that some are currently facing (it was EASY back then).
I'm guessing it's due to using a VPN and having a previous account, so they're probabl doing this to protect YOU, i.e. they don't want someone using your name to open an account, especially as they cant pin down your IP address, and the fact that you can't recall the previous account.
Anyway, as for is Clickbank "safe"?
Let's just say I've had a payment from them EVERY SINGLE WEEK without fail since around June 2008, they've neevr missed a payment, I've never had a dispute, so I completely trust them.
So, I see no issues with doing the KYC (Know Your Customer) identification verification
BUT
Only if you can do everything online, DO NOT send them any physical documents, plus, only do it if YOU feel comfortable doing it.
If not, in the lesson I added a couple of days ago to the Parasite SEO course there are details of LOTS of other affiliate networks, so you don't have to go with Clickbank.
Plus, if you really want to promote any Clickbank products, but don't wish to sign up, I can issue you with a personalized affiliate link for any products from one of my accounts (you'll just have to trust me to tell you whether you've had any clicks or made any sales, lol).
But, as I say, the lesson I published the other day has a few more affiliate networks and programs you can go after, in fact, Digistore (very easy to sign up) often has exactly the same products as Clickbank and also some very similar ones too!! 😉
@partha Thanks for the answer. It is funny and strange at the same time that after proving my identity (scanning my driver's license and sending them a selfie), they asked me to provide utility bills for my address verification. Maybe later, they will ask for my shoe number; who knows?
Anyway, I will use your mentioned ways to join other affiliate networks.
@nemira Hahaha!!!
I think it's definitely to do with the VPN and the former account, and them thinking about potential fraud.
We actually used to do the same in the banks for KYC, and the amount of times someone would say, "Why do I need to give you a utility bill for proof of address when my address is on my driving licence?"
We never gave the "actual" reason, but it's simply that someone scamming or committing fraud is highly unlikely to have a lot of DIFFERENT proofs of identification or proof of address, e.g. they may have scammed someone's driving licence, but they haven't probably got a utility bill or bank statement to "double prove" their identity and address.
It does sound like a pain, but I think they're just being extra vigilant due to the VPN (VPNs have been used for years by scammers and blackhat marketers to "get around" certain issues, so I think a lot of coompanies and platforms, especially in terms of Internet Marketing/Affiliate Marketing WRONGLY assume that someone using a VPN is a scammer or trying to commit fraud)
Unfortunately, it's the way of the world, the small percentage that do "bad things" ruin it for "good people" who are completely legitimate.
Anyway, see what happens, and the new lesson obviously has loads of other links to affiliate networks and programs.
@parthaThanks for the comment. I guess that my explanation of why I use VPN would not soften their objections. The main reason I had this service was a Britbox channel that was canceled in all parts of Europe after Brexit. Later on, I saw that it works to keep in touch with all kinds of services in the USA.
I've had multiple Clickbank accounts and they've always just shut them down, I guess from inactivity or something. Might try Digistore instead!
@expatgen Yep, correct! I can't remember the timescales, but dormant accounts (no hops) get closed down eventually.
@partha Well, now that I'm doing your course, hopefully I'll have frequent payments coming in and no more reason to lose the account, lol.
@expatgen I only opened my Clickbank account a few months ago and don't remember it being that difficult, I also have an account with Digistore and they seem pretty easy to open. They have a phone app too if you want it to monitor your account
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