What Nerves !
By iwrite
@iwrite (5034)
Singapore
June 22, 2010 3:21am CST
Most of you already have know that I am having a little trouble with my web designer. Now today he just call me that the project is in the last stage ( when I have not even have a look at the sample or and review of the site) and it would be impossible for me to get refund. That is because some of the previous clients have tried and failed and it would be a waste of time.
What does it tell you tell you. it is a habit for them to product bad work. and what is he to tell me what I can or cannot do. even if I do not get back the money, I would make life difficult for them to conduct business, it is just not right for them to do this to their clients.
5 people like this
16 responses
@celticeagle (166914)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Jun 10
Well, somewhere down the line their business is going to fall apart. New clients will be a thing of the past and they will be hurting for certain. You should call the Better Business Bureau and tell them. Go on their site online. I would definitely make it very hard for them to do business if they are able to at all!
@celticeagle (166914)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Jun 10
I would talk to a lawyer. See what your rights are. Tell them what happened.Some will talk to you for a certain amount for a 30 minutes talk. I would definitely want some legal advice.
1 person likes this
@iwrite (5034)
• Singapore
23 Jun 10
celticeagle
with that kind of attitude I guess it would be hard, I think it is really awful for me to have encounter first hand this kind of bad service. I never have thought it existed, in fact my wife was fuming a month ago, I gave them chance after chance.
1 person likes this
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
22 Jun 10
Hi, I!
With the economy as weak as it is, it seems there are an equal number of rip-off artists and miserable victims. I'd harass them like crazy, and hope they'd refund the money just to get rid of me!
Please don't do business with anybody whose background you haven't checked carefully. It's best if somebody you know and trust recommends someone for you -- they've had the experience you need to know about.
Good luck!
1 person likes this
@iwrite (5034)
• Singapore
23 Jun 10
I am not letting them go so easy,
I think I have finally reach my limit, I have been reading about over demanding clients, however I believed I had given them more then enough space and time to complete the project. which is why I was so upset. and what he said to me is the final straw.
1 person likes this
@cobrateacher (8432)
• United States
23 Jun 10
Be sure to let them know you're letting everyone you can think of know how bad their service was!
1 person likes this
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
23 Jun 10
WOW.. THey are way too late in calling u and informing u about the project.. I guess they knows that they are already late, and thus they took their own decision to go ahead to finish up your website, without letting u making any changes..
For, they know whether u like it or not, the money is already in their pocket and they wont care less.. So i do agree with u, make as much trouble for them, as possible and making your wasted money, worth every cents!! hehe 
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
24 Jun 10
It is a pain in the rear trying to find a business out there these days that are up to par. It seems like everything you want done is a hassle and you would think that in these days and times that the cash would talk and the business would be even better. The only way that I have figured out to handle these things is to refuse payment until the job is finished and you approve. I pay half and then if I'm not happy..well...I won't pay. Sometimes even that turns out to be a loss if we're not careful. It is a shame there is no one you can trust anymore for a paid service. I hate to hear that you are having such a tough time. I would report it too.
1 person likes this
@iwrite (5034)
• Singapore
24 Jun 10
That is what I feel, JenInTN .
I paid the deposit, the problem was I have not seen the draft after many weeks, that is why I am so pissed. I meant if they have given me updates on what is going on it is still a working relationship. I can still accept. but they are not communicating with me that is why I am so upset.
@hexeduser22 (7419)
• Philippines
22 Jun 10
It's always better to design your website from scratch yourself rather than paying a web designer that is just so unreliable. I would also find a way to make their business a living hell. Your web designer is so unprofessional. You can post his/her name here so others can avoid doing business with him/her
1 person likes this
@hexeduser22 (7419)
• Philippines
23 Jun 10
My website is not finish yet and I don't have a single knowledge about PHP web designing but I try to learn what I can and add it bit by bit. I just don't want to depend on people for things that I can learn myself, it may take me the longest time but I'm sure I'll be very happy when it's done.
I would love to see your website layout when it's done
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
23 Jun 10
Hi Iwrite,
What this guy needs to do is charge a deposit that is non-refundable so that he does not lose out on the time he puts in in the event that someone backs out. If he does shoddy work then it won't be long before word of mouth gets it around that he is not a good to do business with. It is unfair and unethical to charge full price for something and then not refund the money if the product is not acceptable. I would take this as a sign that he is not very good at what he does. If he were really confident he would guarantee satisfaction. He would not spend the downpayment until the product was finished and accepted. If the person wasn't satisfied or if their circumstances changed so that they no longer need the product well then that would be his loss. I he is a reputable business then he is allowed some damage controll on his insurance. If he is good then it shouldn't be a big concern for him.
1 person likes this
@iwrite (5034)
• Singapore
23 Jun 10
well sid556,
It does not matter what is the terms, because if they are not able to deliver the contract they could either refund the amount or be sued, which would be a long process, and perhaps be more damaging to their reputation. They actually wanted the full amount, the amount was not big so I almost agreed, however an after thought, I decide to give only half.
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
23 Jun 10
iwrite,
Not knowing what the both of you have agreed upon, but I am wondering what you did the moment the work was delayed where you did not even managed to view the draft work.
I am sure the delay would have been the initial breach of contract and that issues regarding compensation of either monetary or pro-bono extension should have been addressed with an additional clause protecting you from further delay.
Also, I don't get the part where you actually paid in full for a contract which is due to complete. I feel that this is just asking for trouble, it should have been payments in stages according to the work done.
Anyway, I suppose all this is rather late now and I think you will probably need to report your web designer to CASE to see if it can help you out with your compensation and what not.
All the best.
1 person likes this
@iwrite (5034)
• Singapore
23 Jun 10
What was agree on the 6 April was to come up with a theme for my site, the time THEY promise me was one week, (stated on the contract) however I told them they can have one month. During the whole month there was not update. So I message them on the update.
They told me there are some issues, so ask me to give them some time, another week pass without any news. So I press them for it and they again ask for more time and it drag on for 2 months so, so last week I wrote them an email, I hope to at least see the draft. So on last Monday, I ask to see the draft. He say he have something to complete so ask to meet at noon, then at noon the call again to say meet after five, then he disappear until Wednesday again cannot product anything. So said would call me the next day, but I could not find them and they refuse to return my sms. on the last straw I told them I want a refund and the can forget about the project.
@sunshinegirl1 (436)
• United States
24 Jun 10
I wish you well hope it gets all straightened out soon
1 person likes this
@moonchild117 (1987)
• Philippines
22 Jun 10
Does he mean that he is not open to revisions, if ever you have some? He's pretty hard to deal with. I guess what you can do for now is see if the design he made you would be okay for your taste. If you have comments, be as constructive as possible and ask him if he could do a few revisions. Hopefully he agrees, since you're paying him good money. That designer should learn to deal with different kinds of clients. While there are some artists or designers who are very protective of their works, his line of work requires him to be flexible to accommodate the needs and wants of the client. If he still has that attitude, I suggest you just pay him, charge what happened to experience, and if you have saved enough, you can hire another designer who's amendable to clients' suggestions to work with you.
1 person likes this
@iwrite (5034)
• Singapore
22 Jun 10
There is no point I guess, moonchild117
I have waited so long for them to give me a reply. It is not the design I am upset about, I have not even seen it. but it is their attitude, I cannot trust them to do the work for me again, I rather to get them to return the money. I would look for others to help me with the work.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
22 Jun 10
Oh boy! I can appreciate why you’re mad! Love the fact that he admitted other clients have tried to get out of the deal; as you say it must mean their work is pretty shoddy! You haven’t seen the site as yet so how do you know it is not to your liking, is it the way they have dealt with you? I think I may recall another discussion you have posted about this but I don’t remember the details. I am sorry you are experiencing this…Is there a department or a body you can report this situation to? We have a Consumer Affairs department here who can direct us to the appropriate Ombudsman so a formal complaint can be lodged. Good luck with is, I hope you can resolve it at no extra expense...
1 person likes this
@iwrite (5034)
• Singapore
22 Jun 10
can you believe it? oh man, when I heard it my veins almost bust. I cannot comment on their work yet, because I have not seen any of their work the promise. However their attitude is terrible. I bet if I did not make a big fuss, I would not be able to heard from them too. He promise to give me on Thursday, let see what happens. There is a body case - Consumers Association of Singapore. I hope it would do the trick.
1 person likes this
@piya84 (2581)
• India
23 Jun 10
Look there are two sides to coin.I think he is right at his place.May be there are people who take disadvantage of these futures and when site was almost ready they canceled the deal and time and energy of these developers was wasted.
There should be some solution to this issue but.DOtn they have sample sites they have developed?YOu can see and have idea what it could be like when your site is ready?
1 person likes this
@iwrite (5034)
• Singapore
23 Jun 10
Totally agree with you piya,
if the project was late for a week, fine I can accept, the designer needs to go on holiday with his family and I usually do not bother them on weekend. Again I let him delay. last week I make it very clear that I want to have a look at the project, they have been giving me the run around. From Monday till Thursday they were stalling for time. Then Friday, Saturday and Sunday they totally ignore me. I am not even sure about they work, I only know their attitude and I cannot trust them to do the work for me anymore.
Well the fact is that there are few people developing cms website in Singapore so there are very few to compare. So I am taking a chance.
@verabear (796)
• Philippines
22 Jun 10
Did you sign a contract with him? And does the contract say that you should be able to approve the draft first, etc, and was there a timeline mentioned? He's really bad at doing business and maybe he's just trying to get smart on you. Give him a hard time!
1 person likes this
@iwrite (5034)
• Singapore
22 Jun 10
verabear,
the time lime was one week, however it has been two months since the date line has lapse. Yes we did have a contract that is why he is not keeping up with his part of the bargain, now I would like to get my money, and look for others to help me with my work.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
24 Jun 10
Sorry things worked out that way. Maybe you can get someone else to fix it for you.
@advokatku (4033)
• Indonesia
22 Jun 10
forget it, friend ...seem your web will not look like as you want. Better you designing your own layouts web templates
1 person likes this
