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Paid a third party firm and he sucked so bad..

by Unisons
11 replies
Basically we're not going to be staying in the web designing industry so we decided to find another firm to take over our current clients. We have one client work is semi done and probably need some touching up. So we sourced out and looked for a firm specializing in the CMS platform we're working on. I found one, contacted him, met up with him and talked about $500 for taking over and doing cosmetic changes.

Few days later, he told me it'll be a total of $1700 to take over the site, handle it, 6 months of training and cosmetic changes for the client. Long story short, we accepted the proposal.

To put it briefly, after he accepted the payment, we realized the claimed expert was shit. He tried to deny as much responsibility as possible stating some portions he didn't know how to do and didn't want to risk bringing the site down, unfamiliar with the theme, and showed 0 effort in trying. (He didn't even want to use a staging platform). Me and the client were so disappointed with him, the client who has 0 background in coding/html is able to figure out changes which the 'expert' said he doesn't know or it's impossible.

We met up again to try to get some money back, but he claimed going by hourly charges he has done more than the amount we gave him and no refund's going to be made. Client's investor threatened with a legal action and the 'expert' had the cheek to say that he has done more than required to and asked who should he invoice the additional amount to.

Made a police report yesterday and apparently they can't do anything. I'm just hoping the half the amount can be returned and given back to the client so they could use this amount, hire an odesker and solve all their problems and future ones.

Suing him/the firm seems like the right way to go but seriously the legal fees I highly doubt are worth it. Hoping to hear some fresh input from you guys here about what you think.


PS: Whole thing from the payment he received till now was around 1 month, a lot of fast forwarding in the story.
#bad #firm #paid #party #sucked
  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Sorry that happened. Small claims court, in Colorado anyway, is for cases where the claim is $7500 or less. You can find out from your local courthouse and you and/or the client can handle without attorneys. Although, in most or all States, the respondent can bring in an attorney if they wish. You have that option as well. Likely he does not have the funds to hire an attorney anyway. Also likely that you can get a judgment against him and have a very, very hard time collecting.

    Sadly, time is money, so I would do right with the client and then move on.

    Dan
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    • Profile picture of the author Unisons
      Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

      Sorry that happened. Small claims court, in Colorado anyway, is for cases where the claim is $7500 or less. You can find out from your local courthouse and you and/or the client can handle without attorneys. Although, in most or all States, the respondent can bring in an attorney if they wish. You have that option as well. Likely he does not have the funds to hire an attorney anyway. Also likely that you can get a judgment against him and have a very, very hard time collecting.

      Sadly, time is money, so I would do right with the client and then move on.

      Dan
      I've always thought of just moving on. But thinking of the fact the client will continue aliasing with me for help, and also knowing the disgusting behavior of that 'expert' just makes me feel that I can't just forget the matter.
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      • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
        Originally Posted by Unisons View Post

        I've always thought of just moving on. But thinking of the fact the client will continue aliasing with me for help, and also knowing the disgusting behavior of that 'expert' just makes me feel that I can't just forget the matter.
        Understood. You're still on the hook because you hired or helped hire the "expert"
        and you still have to complete the obligation to the client.

        Dan
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  • Profile picture of the author kebertt
    How did he take payment? If it was taken via CC, or a payment processor such as Paypal I would issue a chargeback.

    Sorry to hear that you've had to go through that. It's designers like that who give the industry a bad name.
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  • Profile picture of the author Unisons
    It was paid directly via bank transfer, there's no way of getting the money or dispute back I believe.
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    • Profile picture of the author gearmex
      Originally Posted by Unisons View Post

      It was paid directly via bank transfer, there's no way of getting the money or dispute back I believe.
      Go ask your bank, i see one time here in Hong Kong a client told his bank in USA to reverse his payment. It might be able to be done if you say it was an error but not sure though as its been a month already if still possible, but it don't cost any to ask. Worth to try.
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      • Profile picture of the author Robert Domino
        This is the exact problem I've been harping on here several times.

        Please, for the love of god, drop the amateur shit and become professionals.

        How many times have you read on WF to "take action" and basically learn on the fly? Every single day.

        Newsflash: You do NOT wake up one morning and suddenly have technical knowledge about programming, graphic design, SEO and marketing.

        "Just outsource it!!!!!11".

        Talk about a recipe for failure.. outsourcing a project for which you understand nothing.

        I was searching for someone who could build websites a few weeks ago.. the portfolios were made of Godaddy builder websites.. and this person was calling herself a webmaster.

        If I were in the original poster's situation, I would be angered as hell and that scammer would have a pretty bad day.
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      • Profile picture of the author Unisons
        Originally Posted by gearmex View Post

        Go ask your bank, i see one time here in Hong Kong a client told his bank in USA to reverse his payment. It might be able to be done if you say it was an error but not sure though as its been a month already if still possible, but it don't cost any to ask. Worth to try.
        I don't want to lie, and in the end get myself into more trouble in future if we're still going to move on with this.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andrew H
    It's only 1700. Move on.

    If he signed a contract and he 'did' the work, there is really little hope of getting the money back.

    I know you got screwed over, but I sort of laughed when you said you called the police. You should know there's nothing they can do, even if he didn't fulfill a contract (it's a civil matter).

    This is precisely why I am having so much trouble deciding to outsource, I here so many stories like this. I guess it's extremely important to review past work.
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    • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
      Originally Posted by Andrew H View Post

      It's only 1700. Move on.

      If he signed a contract and he 'did' the work, there is really little hope of getting the money back.

      I know you got screwed over, but I sort of laughed when you said you called the police. You should know there's nothing they can do, even if he didn't fulfill a contract (it's a civil matter).

      This is precisely why I am having so much trouble deciding to outsource, I here so many stories like this. I guess it's extremely important to review past work.
      It does take time to find good outsourcers and you do have to plan for events like this.
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  • Profile picture of the author DaniMc
    It is important to make payments based on milestones, especially when it is more than a few hundred dollars. I've had workers quit or disappear, just like any business owner. It's part of the process.

    The important thing is to pay for work as it is done in stages, rather than all upfront. Don't be too pissed off Unisons, just move on. Many of us have been through it. Don't blame the other guy, blame yourself, take the lesson, and get on with business.

    By the time you go to court for $1,700 you will have invested much more than that in stress, emotions, thoughts, preparation, and effort. Your opportunity cost will be much higher than $1,700.
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    Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
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