Major Textbroker Problem, please help

Hi all,

I've been writing for TextBroker on and off for a couple years, and up until now have never had any issues with them. However, they have stopped responding to my e-mails (my last 3 e-mails have gone several weeks without a reply), so I'm looking for advice on my best course of action. Sorry it's a little long, but I think it's necessary to explain everything.

It actually started with an error on my behalf. I moved and had a change of address, which I forgot to update on my Textbroker account. So, when they tried to send my 1099 tax form, it couldn't be delivered, and they froze my account. I apologized for the confusion, updated my account, and assumed everything would be fine. At this point, I was temporarily allowed to write articles again, but I still couldn't cash out until the 1099 form was taken care of.

Then a week or two later, my account was completely frozen again, meaning I can't write articles, can't view their forums, etc. I got another e-mail from them saying that the 1099 form they tried to send was returned again, labeled as "Could not deliver - return to sender" from the USPS. I sent them an e-mail asking them what address they sent it to, because I assumed they accidentally used my old address again. But the address they sent it to (or at least claimed to) was correct.

They told me that this indicates that my postmaster is unaware of my current address, which makes no sense because I regularly receive mail. I went to my local post office, asked if they had any record of a package being sent during the timeframe in question. They said the only way they would know is if there was a tracking number.

I sent an e-mail to TB, explaining that my listed address is current and there should be no issues delivering my tax forms. I also asked them if the package they sent had a tracking number. No response. I sent a follow-up e-mail, still no response.

I currently have a couple hundred $ tied up on TB, but am much more frustrated about the money I could/would be making now. Any advice?

Thank you for reading.

I would just be as upfront and clear with them as possible. Try sending a snail mail letter to their office via registered mail with return receipt. As long as you're proactive and honest about the situation -- and you are not scamming them -- I don't think they would be interested in keeping money from you.

Yeah, that's been my approach. I explained it to them in an e-mail exactly the way I wrote it here. I'm definitely not scamming them - and frankly - they don't seem like the type of company that would try and screw me over either. I doubt they care about my ~$200, it's just weird and annoying that I can't get a reply from them anymore, and I have no idea why.

Sending them a registered or certified letter should be enough to establish your address is real to TB. TB is just going above and beyond to avoid hassles with the IRS, who want third party entities to go above and beyond in being unpaid government informants, or otherwise enforcing things for them. Might be better to restrict your earnings to under $600 per year from them per account (be it real or faux info on it), so the threshold requiring them to issue a 1099 isn't reached. The less tax paperwork generated, the better.

UPDATE: After sending another e-mail re-explaining my situation once more, I finally got an e-mail back saying that my 1099 was sent this morning, that my account was unfrozen for the time being (I checked and I've re-gained access to everything), and apologizing for the inconvenience.

I will say that the TB rep I had been dealing with previously constantly gave me vague and next-to-useless answers; the last reply came from a different person, who unfroze my account immediately and took care of everything (assuming the 1099 form ends up reaching me this time). Dunno if there's any point listing their names though, probably not. Thanks zebrahat for the tip about $600/year/account (although I only have 1 account), I didn't even realize that was the threshold for issuing a 1099.

A business might generate a 1099 for earnings even under $600, depending on how they are set up, but they don't HAVE to do so unless the threshold is reached. Most companies save paper, postage and don't send it, unless the IRS says they have to.

I hope you can solve this situation. As MMBlack told you, it's better if you give them a physical address and that way you can verify your real location.