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The problem with auditing PPS sponsors (re PIBCash)
The problem with auditing sponsors so webmasters can gain some sort of peace of mind with their programs is the inherent conflict of interest involved. If an auditing company asks for money FROM the sponsor companies, who is their REAL boss? Who are they trying to please? This conflict of interest is similar to Insurance arbitrators. My girlfriend's father is an attorney and he tells me that arbitrators FEAR judging for the plaintiffs because if they do that too often, then Insurance companies won't hire them anymore. California arbitrators are selected by BOTH insurance companies and plaintiffs' counsels.
Same thing with sponsor auditing companies. If they take payments from sponsors, then EVEN IF there is no OVERT pressure, there would be subjective pressure to not piss off the hand that tosses you bread.
Clicktruth.com, and other companies, while they are good ideas and are well intended, definitely may want to look into either being self funded or nonprofit organizations to gain more credibility with the webmaster community.
What we should look to is an online adult version of the Better Business Bureau with no identifiable or implied loyalties to anybody. If anything, it's the consumer that should pitch in to pay for the audit through some sort of industrywide fee system.
One proposal would be that for every PPS sale, some pennies are paid to a general pool which certified auditors are paid from.
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