Page 3 - The web designer from hell

I would recommend checking out a company with the Better Business Bureau before doing business with them for starters.....then I would ask around or call some of the people on the "testimonials" page to make sure they are for real.

There are also some great design firms out there that don't require any money up front, will give you a free redesign if you are unhappy with the initial design, AND are a Better Business Bureau member. Going with a local company doesn't hurt either

Nice to use the forum that you have only made 3 posts in to add a link to your site.
What are your real intentions?
Please don't use somebody's misfortune to promote yourself publically. If your true intentions are to help, you should have sent this in a private message.

Plus, his "portfolio" consists of template sites.....how lame is that!

I dunno. I met a girl from Chicago. But this is definately the wrong forum for that!
;)

You can just PM me that story

like I said tiffany TRUST NO ONE HERE

Just to clarify a few things:

Regarding the money being sent overnight: I explained to them that we needed to start ASAP to get this moving. They said that if I sent it overnight that it would make the process go faster - which made sense to me at the time >< Now it just look like a ploy to get the money sooner =(

Regarding the BBB - They sent me a link to their BBB rating which said they had no complaints, I did due dilgence to check out what I could. They have also been on the internet since 2002, you would think if they had made it a habit to screw people that there would be something! Or maybe they just do it to people they think wont do anything.

Regarding calling them all the time: I have called so many times I have their phone number memorized, but no one ever answers, I always get voicemail.

Thank you Salaj for the offer.

Mccarley: The last time I tried to reason with them and speak to them candidly "their phone lines were all busy". They have no intention of calling me back or listening to anything I have to say. Ultimately they have my money, which they are expecting me to walk away from. I guess by pushing it so far that I have no other choice than to walk away. I wish I could talk to them and reason with them.

SV800 - Thanks for the tip, I was looking for a site just like this!

rtheodorow - Do you have any recommedations?

gchaney - It would make you blush!

Thanks again for all of the responses and support.

I would scrap any thought of calling your attorney and filing any kind of suit. Drop that idea this minute. I don't mean to beat up anyone suggesting this avenue, but if you've been down that road, $900 is not worth pursuing through legal channels. You'll end up spending $2,000 to get back $900, and that's only if you win. Not to mention you'll take a couple years off your life getting jacked up about it.

And stop sending them emails - emails are really easy to delete and ignore. As Mick suggested, call them. Every day. If you don't have time, or aren't the confrontational type, enlist a friend who is. Bother them every day. Reason with them. Scream at them. Call them dirty mofo's. Tell them you intend to call them every day. Tell them you're going to sue them (but refer to above). It will soon reach the point when nobody will want to answer the phone over there, and they'll prefer to cut a check to get you off their back.

And speaking of ethics, the BBB has used some of the shadiest tactics I've ever encountered to make sales. Don't bother with them in checking references - they are a for-profit venture that adds no value to any business. Poke around here - look for the people that have been here for a long while, offer good advice, and have solid reputation/reputation power. Those are your odds-on choices for a good experience.

Robert:

They dont answer the phone now. I think it is just ringing to some answering system that no one ever checks.

><

Isnt it only defamation if I post an untruth? As long as I stick to the facts, dont I have the right to reveal who it is? I was considering posting it all over the net and posting an article on my website about it and also sending out a press release about predatory web designers. Of course I feel like being a vindictive b***h, but I also believe what comes around goes around. They will get what is coming to them, its called Karma.

block your caller id

Put up a blog like theircompanyname.blogspot.com and trash them in an article, using copies of emails and all of your evidence; then ping like crazy until everybody picks up on it. I will add a link from a few of my related industry sites for a couple of weeks to make sure it gets indexed. Then next time a prospective customer hears about them and types their company name in, your site should pop up in the listings somewhere.

I guess it's time for house visits then...

Zoo-

I would end up looking like Raz ><

Sell the debt on.
I have a guy that i sell debts on and he goes and recovers the money.
Its a bit far for my guy called `Skint Eastwood` to go but there will be some companys or people that will do it around you.

Best to find them in backs of downtown bars and less salibroius places.