“ACX Audible Destroyed My Life’s Work for No Reason and No Appeal”: An Indie Audiobook Author’s Tragic Story
What happens when a power-hungry giant tech company unfairly targets a hardworking and passionate author? The answer is a nightmare that can turn his entire world upside down. Today we share the story of CCL, an indie audiobook author who saw his passion and livelihood destroyed by ACX Audible, a subsidiary of Amazon.
CCL is a passionate indie audiobook author who dedicated his life to self-publishing his audiobooks. For him, it was not just a job, but also his passion and only source of income. He spent countless hours writing, recording, and editing his work, and then publishing it on ACX Audible. His efforts paid off, as his six audiobooks sold several dozen copies every day. CCL was overjoyed about this, as it was his job, his passion, and his only source of income.
But all of his hard work came crashing down when ACX Audible suddenly sent him a ban email on March 22, 2023. The reason? CCL had allegedly engaged in “suspicious purchase activity” on his account. However, CCL had done nothing wrong. At most, he had given his audiobooks away to friends and family as gifts.
In spite of this, his account was closed without any chance to appeal. Also, against all law, copies that had been sold in February and March of 2023 were unpaid. CCL felt lost, helpless, and devastated. He had poured his heart and soul into his work, only to have it all taken away in an instant.
“Can You Take Us Through What Happened on that Fateful Day?”
CCL: “It was the worst day of my life. I received an email from ACX Audible stating that my account had been banned due to “suspicious purchase activity.” I was shocked, devastated, and confused, as I knew I had done nothing wrong. I had only given my books away as a gift to close friends and family to promote my work.”
“What did You do Next?”
CCL: “Immediately contacted ACX Audible, but they simply replied that their decision was final and unappealable. I had worked tirelessly day and night, and seeing all my hard work vanish instantly was heartbreaking. I then also discovered that I had lost all royalties generated from my audiobooks in February and March.”
“Do You Believe that ACX Audible has Treated You Unfairly?”
CCL: “Absolutely. The lack of communication, transparency, and support was appalling. My account was closed without appeal, and I was left powerless. The fact that royalties from previous months were also unpaid indicates a severe lack of respect for authors and their work.”
“Have You Heard of any Similar Cases?”
CCL: “Yes, unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Similar cases have been reported in other divisions of Amazon, including Amazon KDP and Amazon Sellers. The constant abuse of power and the lack of accountability are unacceptable.”
“What do You Hope for the Future of Authors who Self-publish on ACX Audible?”
CCL: “I hope that this case and other similar cases serve as a wake-up call for the authorities to crack down on such misbehavior by giant tech firms like ACX Audible. I hope that authors will be treated fairly, with respect, and with their work valued. No author should ever have to go through what I did.”
Sadly, CCL’s situation is not unique. Other ACX authors, Amazon sellers, and Amazon KDP authors have also faced unfair treatment. The abuse of power by companies like Amazon is unacceptable and must be addressed. We need strong policies that protect the rights of authors and other small businesses against such unreasonable actions. It is to be hoped that in the future, policymakers will step in and hold these companies to account for their misbehavior. For aspiring authors, the only solution is to remain vigilant, stay informed, and demand fair treatment. We must not allow tech giants to destroy the passion, dedication, and talent of authors who dedicate themselves to their craft.
In Conclusion
The tragic story of CCL and his experience with ACX Audible is a warning to all of us. We need to advocate for policies that prevent the abuses of power, and we must support struggling self-publishers who depend upon our purchases and loyalty. The future of self-publishing depends on us standing together and pushing for fairness and respect for indie authors. So, let us be the collective voice for change, and let’s hold tech giants accountable for their actions. Together, we can make a difference!
