Spam Back Link Removal Problem.

[Palmbourne]

I have just paid a lot of money to have spam back links removed from directories owned by the same person, the links were on pages that were set up for me without me knowing, at the end of each url is my domain name, the links have been removed on the page leaving a directory page with no other links on however the url is still there with my domain name at the end of the url and in each search box is my domain name, I have asked for the pages to be removed altogether as I did say before I paid the money I did not want my domain name on any of his directories, he has come back and said leaving my domain name in the urls is not a problem as far as Google is concerned, can anyone please advise, I can ask for a refund from PayPal, there are over 768 links on different sections of a number of directories.

Thank you inadvance.

[Palmbourne]

Chris

Thank you for all of your help.

[Chris.Menke]

I'd say the domain name does show up in the url and the search box. They're not links, however.

[Palmbourne]

What about thedomainnaWhat a bout the domain name in the search box, do you still think I should claim my payment back from PayPal, the agreement was that I did not want my domain name on any of his directories.

[Chris.Menke]

That's certainly a real page, alright, but it won't do any additional harm your site as it stands right now.

[Chris.Menke]

I don't think that's the right url.

[Chris.Menke]

I  think you're saying that the webmaster did remove the hyperlink but left evidence of the link by way of the anchor text that was used for the link.  It also sounds like the webmaster had said the page that the link was on would be removed but is now refusing to remove it.

I would say that if you have it in writing that they would remove the page, you certainly have reason to dispute the payment with paypal, as Tom says.  If not, at least the worst of the problem is over.  I'd at least document the transaction and the conversation and let the webmaster know that those details will be included in your reconsideration report to Google if he/she won't also remove the page. Then you may just forward it all to Google anyway.

So, if the links aren't there any longer they're not going to count against you.  But let me tell you, the rest of your link profiles doesn't look that great.  Be sure you're working on dealing with those other links, as well.

[Palmbourne]

Thank you for a good reply, we have used the disavow tool six months ago but it has had no effect at all, our main keyword is the backbone of our business we have got to do something or else we will not have a business.

[TomRayner]

Hi John

I'm not going to get into whether removing these links was worthwhile (in short: I can't see them having either a positive nor negative effect.  The effect would be nil) but let me be clear about the main matter at hand: get your money back ASAP.

There's no reason at all for you to have to pay for links to be removed when something like the disavow tool exists - in fact I'm fairly convinced it was one of the reasons why it was developed in the first place.  You've essentially been extorted.  There is no sense in this - otherwise, I could easily find your website, build thousands of bad links on a crap network I could set up and then threaten you with them until you paid me to remove them.  I'm not going to do that of course, that would be despicably evil!

If you're concerned about those links then disavow those links - don't give into demands like this.

Now, as for getting your money back - I think you could successfully dispute this with PayPal.  You have paid for a digital service and the seller has failed to deliver (and refuses to).  The work implied the links would be removed, yet the links still exist in some form.  The seller is effectively in breach of contract, so you should get your money back.  For better of worse, PayPal does favour the buyer in the majority of cases - this case it is definitely for the better.

I hope you get the money back in full.