Account closed over a pen name mistake. Has anyone successfully appealed a ban?
Hi everyone,
I’m in a really tough spot right now and I am hoping to get some advice from anyone who might have navigated this before.
My KDP account was recently shut down. The reason given was that I used an author name that, unfortunately, already belonged to another established author. It was a genuine oversight and mistake on my part, but Amazon naturally took strict action.
I was making around €400 a month from my books. I know it might not sound like a fortune to some, but I genuinely rely on that income for my daily living expenses, so losing my account overnight has been devastating.
Has anyone here ever been banned (for a similar issue, or anything else) and actually managed to get their account reinstated? If so, I would be incredibly grateful for some guidance:
- How did you structure your appeal?
- Is there a specific way I should communicate with KDP support to prove it was an honest mistake and guarantee it will never happen again?
- Are there any specific things I should absolutely avoid saying?
I know KDP is notoriously strict with their bans and that second chances are rare, but I have to try everything I can to get it back. Any help, tips, or shared experiences would be hugely appreciated.
Thank you in advance!