I really hope that someone can give me some advice. I work from home and am self employed. It is a small business ie just me! I advertise with google through their adwords advertising scheme. I pay for advertising by credit card which is linked to my google account automatically. In December my credit card was stolen. I cancelled my credit card and was issued with a new one. I also had DC2 in December and so I was not really working and I completely forgot to update my google account with my new credit card details. I therefore had an outstanding balance of around £30. In January I updated my account with my new card details and my ads started running again and charging my card successfully.
Two days ago I received an email from google stating that I still had an outstanding balance of £30 and that if I didn't pay their 3rd party collections agency would become involved. The email stated that I had to re-enter my payment details, transfer the money by BACS or send a cheque to Ireland. I contacted google to say that I had already re-entered my payment details and was confused about why there was still an outstanding balance. They then sent me a credit card authorization form to fill in which states that it has to be filled in and faxed to them.
I don't have a fax machine. I don't know anyone with a fax machine. I don't know where I could find a fax machine to use. I cannot afford to buy a fax machine. I offered to fill in the form, scan it and email it to google. They said they wouldn't accept this. I then went back to the original email and paid them by BACS as it stated that I could. The money left my bank account. They have now said they will not accept this to clear my account even though they originally said they would and have credited the amount that I paid towards future advertising.
I have 2 small children under 2 years old. I don't want to trail the shops looking for somewhere that has a fax machine I can borrow and I don't even know whether that is a service offered in shops. What will happen if a 3rd party collections agency become involved? Will anything happen if I pay them straight away? I just don't understand how google can go back on what they have said regarding accepting BACS. I have paid them what I owe them, I just don't get it. Really upset. Sorry for long post. I'd appreciate any advice. :(