Unresponsive web-designer?

by 17 replies
20
Hi all,

I recently hired a web designer to do a custom wordpress theme for me.

I paid him a deposit a little more than 2 weeks ago.

Anyway, this guy is always slow to get back to me. One week ago he said he was ready to upload my new theme and since then nothing.

He hasn't answered any of my emails.

So, my question is how long do you think would a reasonable amount of time to wait before I ask for my money back?

I figured two weeks was enough time to get the theme done, but more than that because he hasn't answered my last email in 8 days I'm concerned that I've been ripped off.

Not sure what to do. You have any experience with this?

This is the first time that this has happened to me, unfortunately.
#main internet marketing discussion forum #theme #unresponsive #webdesigner #wordpress
  • If someone doesn't get back to you within a day, get suspicious. They may not be ripping you off, but they sure as hell aren't professional.

    Ask for your money back now. If he says two more days or something like that, you might want to go ahead and try it. If not, you'll have to go through the whole ordeal of trying to find a new designer - which you might have to do anyway, of course.
    • [1] reply
    • Yes I would ask for refund NOW. Doesn't seem like a person you will want to work with long term.

      In the future, set expectations in the beginning so you all can agree on communication, length of time for project etc.

      I mean really it doesn't take much to shoot an email back to someone or to skype them really quick just to let them know all is ok.
  • Ask now. It would take 2 weeks max to do that (more like 1 day). You know, you could make a really nice site yourself. I'd go that route.
  • What timescale did you agree? You did agree a timescale didn't you?

    If he was ready to upload 8 days ago and hasn't then he was lying about having it ready (Assuming he hasn't had an accident and is lying in hospital or the morgue of course)

    Get your money back now.
  • Also - where did you get this designer? ... Through a freelance site? ... If so, follow their guidelines.

    Going through the better freelance sites at least gives you some recourse. If you didn't this time around, you should next time around.
    • [1] reply
    • Thanks everyone. I just sent an email to the designer. I just hope this lesson doesn't cost me money.
  • I think its time to ask for a refund.
    The worst part I often hear about designers, they don't reply or communicate for days. This is really unprofessional. When a client has paid you, its not just your duty to work on the project but also keep him updated with the progress from time to time. It hardly takes a few mins.
    Often designers do take up lot of jobs and cannot handle them on time or they even sub-contract it to someone else. Thats when another uncertain element crops up.
    Its always better to get an approx time frame and also understand their capacity to handle multiple projects.

    All the best!

    Stephen
  • Hmm.. I understand a day or two without responding to email, as I sometimes have this situation myself, but I always tell my clients that I may not respond quickly as I'm still student and sometime I simply need to stay longer at University. Most of the clients had no problem with that, as I try to keep them informed.

    Anyway, 8 days without response is unacceptable in my opinion, unless he told You earlier that this situation may occur.
  • Contact them, if they don't respond within a couple days (2 is fine). Then I would launch a dispute using the Payment system you use (ie paypal etc) and the FREELANCER site that you used (if applicable, freelancer.com etc).

    I say a couple days because in case they were away suddenly or a tragic even happened, they may be away from the computer for the whole day....

    Caleb
  • I think you've already waited long enough. I suggest emailing a refund request with a deadline 2-3 days into the future and indicating that you'll initiate a chargeback/dispute if your money isn't refunded.
  • You're *probably* headed down the refund path, and you should go quickly.

    However, consider a couple things:

    1- if you are only emailing them, your messages may actually be getting caught as spam.

    It's their responsibility to keep track of that and to be proactive in their service of course!

    2 - They may have had a family emergency or crisis - I was communicating with a fellow warrior a few weeks ago (not a refund issue, just wondering where something was) and no response. Turns out he was out of state with a dying relative.

    I'm glad I wasn't too big of a jerk when asking for a follow-up, right?

    If you have any way besides email to contact them, try it.

    If no response, get your money back, end of story.
    • [1] reply
    • Ask for a refund. The designer should have contacted you if he hadn't heard from you in a few days.
  • Yeah get a refund. If he hasn't responded yet, odds are he wont. The task is too simple.
  • Get somebody on Fiverr to do it for you. It may not look good or even get done.
    But your only out 5 bucks :0
    • [1] reply
    • you actually paid someone before they showed you a Pre demo of what you asked for?
      get your money back if its not to late already....
  • You must make their name public so that others can beware from them. This is not at all a characteristic of a professional individual or a company.

    You should ask for refund and hire some really responsible company.
Join the discussion

Next Topics on Trending Feed