Hi guys, Recently I posted on a website for a website project. I got talking to a programmer and they assured me they could do my project and that they would be able to complete the project in 20 days (3rd of June). He sent me an invoice and I sent him 50% of the payment. He had told me he had started the website. Every time I have asked him for an update, I have got excuse after excuse. He has shown me the admin panel of the website which doesn't even link up to my website at the minute. I have MSN conversations with him promising me that he will send me back my money if the website is not completed by Thursday. I also have in an email that he promises he will send me back my money if the website is not completed by the deadline. Is this enough to get my money back? I'm getting really worried as I sent him quite a bit of money. What else can I do now?
How did you send him the money and when did this deal take place? If it happened via Paypal or if you paid via another service via a credit card, read up a bit on charge backs and try to file for a cb with either Paypal or your credit card company.
sounds like you hired somebody offshore. if you have used paypal you could try to get the money back, if the developer still have money in the account. otherwise you are in bad luck. you know thats why many prefer hiring local people.
Probably should have had a written contract if the fees exceed $500. My personal experience and preference is to make multiple progress payments, even if I have a contract and the coder has excellent references. Multiple check points and agreed upon progress completion dates as well as remedy for non delivery are essential. I always pay with a credit card if I can and use escrow.com Chargebacks are pretty easy to accomplish when you use a credit card. I hate doing it because of lost time. But at least I will have some assurance that if I don't get my product when promised, the most I lose is time. Elance.com and getafreelancer.com are two of my favorites for outsourcing because of bulit-in feed back features and reputation monitors.