Need some advise!!!

[concerned_man]

I just received a letter from a company called NCS IP Solutions, LLC out of Sarasota, FL. I like many people got someone to do my website for me and they used an image that was RM on Getty. They are asking for $850.00 but now are ready to accept $425.00 for the use of the image. I have done a google search and the page in which the image was held on has been viewed 54 times over the past year. I have tried to locate the web designer but he has now living out of country and can't find a contact number.. What should I do? I have been given to May 15th to respond. Please help need some advise on this.. Should I be dealing with this so called collection agency or should I be dealing with Getty. Help!

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

Spend some time reading thru the forums, all of the answers are provided, you just have to look for them, we've been down this road too many times to count, rest assured you're not alone..you might want to start here:

http://www.extortionletterinfo.com/forum/getty-images-letter-forum/fair-debt-collection-practices-act-(eli-highlights)/

If you find you don't have the time to find the answers, you can make a contribution to the site and get a consultation call with Matt, for a down and dirty, quick lesson..

[Matthew Chan]

I would like to see a copy of this letter if you are willing to share. I can better comment on it if I can see it. You can email it to matt30060 at gmail.

I just received a letter from a company called NCS IP Solutions, LLC out of Sarasota, FL. I like many people got someone to do my website for me and they used an image that was RM on Getty. They are asking for $850.00 but now are ready to accept $425.00 for the use of the image. I have done a google search and the page in which the image was held on has been viewed 54 times over the past year. I have tried to locate the web designer but he has now living out of country and can't find a contact number.. What should I do? I have been given to May 15th to respond. Please help need some advise on this.. Should I be dealing with this so called collection agency or should I be dealing with Getty. Help!

[concerned_man]

Hi MAtt! Thanks so much for viewing this information. I sent the letters to you. It's all very confusing to me as I did not build my website.. and the image at hand did not have a watermark on it.  I am a very small business and paying 425 for a image that has only been seen so little time seems crazy to me. I just don't know what to do.

[Greg Troy (KeepFighting)]

Concerned_man, just hang in there and spend a few days reading all the information here.  I received my letter around the same time as you; mine was from Getty images though.  I felt a lot better after doing some research.  Remember these letters are designed to scare you and try to get you to settle quickly before you have time to calm down, do your research and think about it.  There are pretty much all the tools you need here in the forums.  Keep reading hang in there, you are not alone.

[concerned_man]

Hey Keep Fighting... What are you doing about your claim? I am reading through everything as much as I can..

[simpson]

concerned_man,
I am no legal expert, but unless the image was obtained by a TemplateMonster.com template, you will have to Play or Pay. None of these companies care how the image ended up under your company name. All they want is a paycheck. If you plead your case that a web designer put it there, they will say fine... pay us then sue them for your damages.

In short, and as I am new here too... If it is a single, two, three or even up to maybe 6 images, almost none of these extortionist have actually followed-up on their threats to take you to court. However, as it will always be said here, there are no guarantees. You can pay them and go on your way and not look back. You can pay Matt a small fee to have a condensed session of what about a good week of reading this forum and the SCRIBD site will teach you. You can also pay Oscar to begin a Letter Campaign on your behalf. Or... you can take this bull by the horns yourself, and begin your own campaign of writing letters challenging their position. That is what a good number of members are doing, if you can handle the up to 3 year Statute of Limitations ride.

In my case, it is pure principle. I built a site for my Friend's business and he is being harassed by these scum. I read many posts and with the help and proper direction provided by the Senior Members and previous postings of others like cases, I have become my friends pseudo Attorney. Like the others, I want proof of their exclusive right to manage this photo, how long have they had this right, is the copyright filled and so on and how the hell they figured our usage (if any) equals laughable amounts of damages.

Never the less, the choice is ALL your and ONLY your to make.

Get Help With Your Extortion Letter! is a Sticky item on the main section but this is, I think, the very best place to start your education and decision process.

Also, I am no one here, just another recent victim like you. If any Senior Member contradicts what I have written, then take their advise and not mine!!!
Good Luck and welcome to the club.

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

Well said Simpson, a little education can go a long way. It looks as if this case has been escalated to the collection agency at this point. I think as a first move, I would sugest reading up on the Fair Debt Collection act ( also a sticky post) to first get NCS off his back, then go from there. It is simple to get it tossed back to Getty's desk provided you follow the instructions to refute the "claim"

[Moe Hacken]

Hey Simpson, you virtually wrote the FAQ for newbies right there! Nice work!

[Moe Hacken]

concerned_man,

None of these companies care how the image ended up under your company name. All they want is a paycheck. If you plead your case that a web designer put it there, they will say fine... pay us then sue them for your damages.

If it is a single, two, three or even up to maybe 6 images, almost none of these extortionist have actually followed-up on their threats to take you to court. However, as it will always be said here, there are no guarantees.

You can pay them and go on your way and not look back.

You can pay Matt a small fee to have a condensed session of what about a good week of reading this forum and the SCRIBD site will teach you.

You can also pay Oscar to begin a Letter Campaign on your behalf.

Or... you can take this bull by the horns yourself, and begin your own campaign of writing letters challenging their position. That is what a good number of members are doing, if you can handle the up to 3 year Statute of Limitations ride.

Never the less, the choice is ALL your and ONLY your to make.

Get Help With Your Extortion Letter! is a Sticky item on the main section. This is THE very best place to start your education and decision process.

There it is, in a nutshell. Short and sweet.

[Greg Troy (KeepFighting)]

@ concerned_man

I am fighting them on my own; I have gleaned enough information by reading the forums here to feel confident in my fight.  Here is the link to my thread so you can read my story if you are interested.

http://www.extortionletterinfo.com/forum/getty-images-letter-forum/got-my-getty-letter-thank-you-for-this-site/

I have done my research and know pretty what will happen and in what order.  I have a plan for everything I can think of including the unlikely event that this should end up in court.  Keep reading as there is pretty much everything you will need here in the forums to fight it but it will be a long three year process, if you do not feel like dealing with it I suggest looking into using Oscar’s Defense Letter Program.  From everything I read this looks like a very good program.

http://www.extortionletterinfo.com/getting-help-with-your-extortion-letter/

The only advice I can give, and that is all it is, just advice is to do your homework and don’t wait for the Getty replies to figure out what you are going to do next.  Make an outline and know ahead of time, if they reply this way I do this.  If it goes to collection I respond this way.  If it goes to court here’s my plan.  That way you will not keep getting worried as the letters continue and the threats escalate.

This might not be the best course of action and if there is a better way then we have the Hero and Senior ELI team members who read most if not all of the posts and correct our newbie errors or point out things we might have missed.  Hope this helps and don’t give in, keep fighting!

Hey Keep Fighting... What are you doing about your claim? I am reading through everything as much as I can..

[Greg Troy (KeepFighting)]

Hey concerned_man, was just curious what you decided to do and how your claim is going?