Facebook Advertising SUCKS

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Facebook Advertising SUCKS

Thursday, May 08, 2008 12:16 PM | Social Web 2.0 Social Media Facebook Technology Analytics Social Networking Advertising

facebook.com

I decided to test the waters using Facebook's self-service advertising. I should have known better. First of all there is no easy way to contact the advertising department. All emails are sent from "noreply" email addresses, there are no phone numbers, just a crappy and unhelpful "help section". I did eventually find a phone number for facebook.com but of course I got an automated "no one is available" message.

On the Facebook advertising system I added two (2) ads on for one of my 3D content websites called Poser World (www.poserworld.com) and one Designer Today (www.designertoday.com) that I have published since 1998. In short order both ads were declined. I guess the $10.00 daily ad budget I set wasn't enough income for the Facebook management. I sure wasn't going to sink a lot of money into advertising until I saw some results or at least some traffic from the ads.

Since my ads were declined I wanted my credit card removed form their advertising system. YOU CAN'T. You cannot delete a credit card, nor can you edit the card number unless you add a replacement credit card on file. The Facebook self service advertising system also has no way to delete or even request that your credit card be deleted. That sucks big time in my book.

Since I received such an immediate bad taste in my mouth regarding Facebook's advertising system I didn't want my credit card information on the Facebook.com website at all. I want my credit card off of Facebook. I don't plan to ever spend a nickle with you faceless facebook pricks.

Another thing that bothers is I think they store the 3 digit security code (CVV) which is against ALL credit companies policies. the 3 digit CVV code is not to be stored, only transmitted direct to the processor at the time of the sale. Talk about Facebook being ripe for identity theft

They should call themselves "FacelessBook", as they give you no easy way to call or even email them about advertising (or for anything else for that matter).

IN MY BOOK FACEBOOK.COM SUCKS AND THEN SOME.

Sincerely,

Allen Harkleroad
Owner and CEO

GMP Services and Media Publishers

2 Comments

Comments

Posted by Mark on 6/9/2008 1:40 PM: I did a little test this morning to confirm that Facebook stores CVV2 codes. I created a new secure card with Paypal and then entered the information into Facebook. Then I closed the card so that it could never be charged. Then I attempted to purchase one of the little $1 gifts and send it to myself. I selected my stored credit card as the source of payment and proceeded with the sale. It never once asked me to verify my CVV2 code. This, to me, says that it's stored which is against the Payment Card Industry's data security standards. I sent Facebook a message regarding this and I can't wait to hear back. I would like to report them but, I can't seem to find where to report PCI non-compliance. Needless to say, I will be removing my account and requesting all of my information be permanently removed from Facebook's database. Thanks for opening my eyes.
Posted by allen on 6/9/2008 1:44 PM: Good stuff. You will need to contact MasterCard and Visa Directly. I figured they were keeping CVV (security codes) in their database and like you say it is again the Credit Card Companies terms of service.

I wish I could figure out a way to get definitive proof so I could contact the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) about them not providing adequate credit card security. This makes Facebook a ripe target for identity theft.

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