[loquax]

Somehow Google has decided that the affiliates URL is the actual site and the merchant's is a duplicate or something like that

But that does happen - I've seen our links pop up in Google - don't ask me how or why, but they do. Doesn't last long though.

Perhaps the merchant could use the opportunity to forge a stronger relationship with the "naughty" affiliate so that when things go back to normal they can work together and/or perhaps come to some arrangement that's mutually beneficial.

Oh and still sack the SEO company

Jason