Hey everyone, Thought i would make a post (whether or not he is a member on here) about Anthony Bullock/FantasyCreative.com to prevent anyone else using him for their design work. 12 days ago i emailed him to create and code a template for my new site, i spoke to him briefly on MSN and all seemed to be okay so i send a 50% deposit so that he would start work. When i spoke to him he told me that the project would be finished in 7 days maximum and that he would have something to show me in 2-3 days. After 4 days of not hearing from him and no replies to my emails asking how the design was going i had someone from the UK try and call him although the number he gave me was disconnected. I sent another 2 emails asking what was happening although unsurprisingly still no reply. I then proceeded to perform a paypal dispute to see if this would get a response, within 5 minutes he had signed into MSN asking me to close the dispute and he would send the files (having been scammed before i wasnt going to do this) so we agreed that he would provide me with the work within 24 hours then id close the dispute and send the other 50% although 7 days later i still have not received a refund or any work. That got me searching for him online and found a few threads on other sites saying the exact same thing as what has happened to me: http://www.wickedfire.com/shooting-shit/10618-anthony-bullock-might-dead.html http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=701689 Even if this post prevents just 1 person working with this scammer it has been worth it, i would highly recommend anyone thinking about using him to hire someone else. Here is a few more details about him: Website: http://www.fantasycreative.com/ Email: Paypal email: Twitter: http://twitter.com/fantasycreative (as you can see he has been online)
let this be a lesson to all those seeking web designers online through boards and craigslist. I use both methods to get new clients but I see so many of these poor folks getting screwed. First thing is this, Questions! Ask them and if they don't answer or seem like they're telling you want to hear only, dump them. If they seem to be pusing you into it without answering ALL of the questions, dump them! If you're going to pay me to do a service I want to make sure I do it your way and we are both on the same page. I use Basecamp, Freshbooks and so many other services I pay for personally every month so my clients and I are on the same page. If your new designer only uses email and AIM, DUMP'EM! If thier site has only 1 page? it's a no no. If they want half down and it's over $200 - tell them you want a mockup first (graphic mockup) If you can't talk with them on the phone instead of the messengers at least the first time - a no no If their "portfolio" is filled with cut and paste sites with domains that are not active or live sites with no mention of the designer, it's phishy or just pictures If they aren't willing to provide you with a REAL time estimate and web design proposal or SEO proposal then they're not a REAL web design firm. (Proposals and Quotes in PDF format should be mandatory) Also, just because you're using Paypal does NOT mean your safe. If they write you a invoice for "services" then you really have no safety net as a buyer. Paypal can't prove they didnt provide the service. I always write my invoice up as a product costing half the payment and then the other half as a service for tax reasons. Sorry you got screwed. If you need any help let me know. I'd like to make it up to you on behalf of decent designers everywhere.
Thank you for sharing this so that other people will be aware of this person. It is very important to check the itrader before awarding the project and before you send the payment. Next time look for a filipino provider for sure not a scammer best, weblazer
I find this very hard to believe - I've known Anthony for many years (I've hired him too) and he isn't the kind of guy to scam? Not that im saying you are lying, but could you please provide more proof of whats gone on? How are we to know you didnt just have a bad project go wrong and are posting this out of spite..
I don't think it's fair that you're calling him a scammer - look at his portfolio. He is a talented designer and he provides a great service. Things didn't go smoothly for you this time but I think publicly calling him out as a 'scammer' is a little bit of a knee-jerk reaction and slightly over the top. Do you genuinely believe it was his intention to set out and steal your money? I don't. Perhaps he has bit off more than he can chew and things are getting on top of him. Not your fault I know, but he isn't trying to con you. Unprofessional certainly, but the guy isn't a scammer.
I have tried asking for my money back for the past 5-6 days and i have still no received it, he is obviously online it doesnt take long to log into paypal and click refund. I gave Anthony a great deal of time to provide the refund and resolve the issues although when someone refuses to refund a payment and doesnt provide the service they where hired to do i would call that a scam would you not?
Another long thread from someone with the same problem with Anthony: http://www.talkfreelance.com/showthread.php?t=60223
So you are clearly capable of finding all these "OLD" threads about him, its quite clear. So would you like to explain why you didnt look for them before you hired him in the first place? It seems if you really think hes a scammer and these threads apparently 'prove' what you are saying ; you should have looked in the first place mate. I hope it works out for you, I really do, but you have to see it from our points of view. People really need to get into the habbit of looking at a freelancer's background before they hire them.
I can see your mates with Anthony, why should this be branded as my fault because i didnt search for hours on the background of a designer before hiring them? How can someone still be a respected designer in your eyes when you know that they take on way too many jobs complete only a handful of them and refuse to give refunds to the others who have trusted him? You must not have many morals if you can honestly try and protect him.
How is taking peoples money, not delivering the service paid for and refuses to give a refund not a scam? I have asked him numorous times for a refund although he doesnt reply to the emails nor has he refunded my money, he has been online as others have spoken to him so its obvious he has and had no intention on delivering the work or repaying my money.
I agree with Morgan . Just because a man is a talented designer does not give him the Liberty to not provide the product on the time he/she has promised. Suppose if he is not able to give on the scheduled time at least he should always be in contact with his client/customer and reassure him that he will be providing the product though it may take some more time. This gesture reaffirms to the client/customer that the provider is a genuine person. Secondly why cheat if you want to be in business. A person should be extra helpful to his client/customer as he/she has placed his/hers faith on the provider. I am sorry for Morgan as he has still not received his product nor refunded the advance he paid. This is very gross on the part of Anthony Bullock!
Oh I agree Fiona, it's not acceptable. I am not condoning it. I just don't think it was Anthony's intention to 'scam' anyone, therefore labeling him a scammer on a public forum is a bit of an overreaction in my opinion. He has failed to produce and that's his responsibility - but I don't think he is intentionally trying to run off with people's money. We shall see though. Sort it out Anthony!
If it wasnt Anthony's intention to scam why doesnt he fulfill my request and send a refund? He has obviously received my emails asking for one.
I have already worked with Morgan and i am sure he is a great person to work with. I am sure there would have been no issues from his side, but the mistake on his side was that he didn't check his profile before hiring him. I think he should have thought he is reliable because he is from UK. I can't just blame on anthony, but if there is a problem on the process then either he should have informed Morgan or atleast should have refunded him the money that he received. If he doesn't reply or issue a refund then its definitely an act of scam. I see his portfolio and i accept that he is good, but that can't be used to cover his mistake. Plus from the above posts i can see that this isn't the first time he is doing this. I accept with Matt on what he told, that he is good designer. From what i know, Matt is also a good designer, but no one complains about him, that is because of his repute. So it really doesn't matter if you are good or bad, work with ethics, be honest and loyal. I know everyone has problems and its more in the case of freelancers, but please don't compromise ethics on any way. No offense meant to anyone. Just wanna share my thought on the problem over here.
I still have not received a refund from Anthony even after he emailed to say i would receive my refund within 12 hours. That was 6 days ago. And still does not reply to my emails.
I had the exact same thing happen to me almost verbatim. http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=1775468