Etsy Ads turned on automatically?!

[#1]

I've received two emails indicating that I had turned on Etsy ads and have been charged for them. I did not turn on ads! I've gone in and "paused" the ads, but am worrying that this will keep happening. Also I've been charged for this. Can anyone advise me? Is Etsy aware this is happening?

[TheWoollyDesignCoUK]

@CozyExpressions I have sent a new help request about 5 hours ago - but no response yet!

[TheWoollyDesignCoUK]

I have just checked my stats this morning only to find that overnight I have had 4 Etsy Ads clicks costing 78p. While this might not be a huge amount I am in a panic now as I have never opted into the Ads feature and this was done without my knowledge or permission. I even still have the notice on my dashboard inviting me to start a campaign!

Has anyone else experienced this? Will Etsy refund and explain if I contact them? Can I even speak to a real person without just going round and round the automated FAQs?

[Amaradorn]

In the help centre you need to click on a problem that is close to yours and then look for the contact button at the bottom of the page. I think it says 'I still need help'.

[TheWoollyDesignCoUK]

I have contacted Etsy about this now so will have to wait and see what they say but I would be interested to know if this has happened to anyone else?

[CozyExpressions]

Yes, this is a known bug.  Turn them off and contact Etsy and request a credit if you were charged anything.   I received an email from them thanking me for starting my ad campaign and that I was charged a specific amount for clicks days after they activated them.    I had not used Etsy ads for YEARS.  I contacted CS and demanded a credit, which I did receive.

I am reading more and more about this in the forums.   Something their coding department is doing is causing this and apparently they do not know how to fix it.      Surprise surprise

[ACertainFeel]

Yes this is a known bug!  They reimbursed me for the $2.00 that got added. Something to do with their new listing form. I got someone in Support chat. 

[TheWoollyDesignCoUK]

@ACertainFeel Thank you. I have just had a reply from chat advising me that they can see I have now turned Ads off and to be assured that I won't incur any further charges! What about the feeling already taken! I did not ask for any advice campaign to be started at any point!

[TheWoollyDesignCoUK]

'fee' not 'feeling'!

[AAANativeArts]

@ACertainFeel  Yes, it's always the new listing form. Why do they force us to use a form before they have the kinks worked out of it? Everything was so much easier with the old form.

[SpottedDog1]

I find that when renewing a sold listing it may in fact have the check mark next to it to start an etsy campaign, if you don't pay attention you may start one without intending to do so. It appears to be an "automatic" pre-filled money grab just like the automatic renewal charge. If 7k+ listings are on manual renewal how come AI can't just assume I want to manually renew items? It seems to be able to do everything else, like calling things handmade that aren't, or that are a violation of etsy policies which they also don't. So, pay attention when renewing sold listings for sure. I can't explain why people are having them show up out of thin air when you haven't even had a campaign before, but then again, neither can etsy.

[MothersCharms]

I had this happen to me this morning! I have never used Etsy ads and would not have known if I didn't receive the email notifying me! At least, I suppose, it was nice THIS email actually came through as most of them don't and they don't go to spam or trash either. I 'paused' the ads but what a waste of time to have to check several times a day to make sure they didn't turn them back on! I have no idea when or what time of the day they turned them on...could have been when I was asleep for all I know. This is extremely frustrating!!

[Crochetlovemelbourne]

This also happened to me, I didn't realise there was a thread about it. I most definitely did not turn etsy ads on! I contacted support and they paused the campaign although it is still creepily there... thanks to another forum member I was also able to ask for a refund for the charges. of course no sales since then so guess I am persona non grata for a while now, sigh....

[MothersCharms]

Me too...no sales since 'pausing' the ads. I received another email about an hour ago welcoming me to Etsy ads which made me promptly go in to make sure they hadn't turned them back on =/

[MothersCharms]

Update: When Etsy ads were turned on without my consent I contacted Etsy support through email and today was credited back the amount taken. They do acknowledge they are aware of this issue and they are working on fixing it.

[Crochetlovemelbourne]

Yes I did finally receive a similar acknowledgment and was refunded.

[Bizareart]

It surely does

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