Influencers and Production House Unpaid by Creative Agency GetCraft: A Story of Unfulfilled Payments and Legal Action

Local blogger Bong Qiuqiu, also known as Ang Chiew Ting, found herself in a predicament after working with creative agency GetCraft on a project for a beverage brand. Little did she know that the Indonesia-based company had not been paying some influencers for their work, with debts dating back to 2021.

Despite delivering her content in October 2022, Ang Chiew Ting has yet to receive payment for her efforts, amounting to a four-figure sum. The situation came to light when another influencer, Chrysan Lee, shared her frustrations on social media after being ghosted by the agency and left unpaid.

GetCraft, which positions itself as a premium creative directory connecting companies with content creators, has faced backlash from influencers in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines for failing to process payments and provide explanations for the delays. The company’s British CEO, Patrick Searle, attributed the payment issues to a third-party investor experiencing financial difficulties, leading to a pause in operations in several countries.

Affected parties, including production houses owed substantial sums, are considering legal action against GetCraft. However, the process may prove challenging, as recovering funds from the company’s assets in Singapore could be uncertain. Influencers like Ang Chiew Ting have since adopted a cautious approach, requesting upfront payments before undertaking any projects to protect themselves from similar situations in the future.