Hired for script, didn't meet the deadline, refund sent. Trying to sue!

Please keep in mind I'm 15 when reading this.. I'm not sure how to deal with this, I could really use some advice here!

A few weeks ago I was approached and requested to make a script resembling the x10Media.com MP3 script with a one-week deadline (not knowing I wouldn't meet the deadline, of course) - The amount for this transaction was $120, but he said he would pay $96 the first day and then the rest when he got it the next day (I never got it)

Awaiting the rest of the payment is what delayed the progress on the script. A refund has been provided to him for what he sent me, but he is making threats against me such as "I'm coming to your house to teach you a lesson!" and "You'll see me in a few days, trust me - then you'll never scam someone again!" -- There's two things wrong with that. One, I NEVER scammed him nor would I ever think of scamming a client in any circumstance. Two, he knows very well that I'm only 15 and his threats are vague and questionable; I'm not sure if this should be a concern that I should alert the police about.. this guy could be legally insane!

He says he's trying to sue for lost time and damages to his company of 13 days (when I was trying to give him a refund for the majority of that time) - I told him to pick A or B last night and he told me he wanted BOTH or he's going to see me in court. He's from EU and I'm in the US if that matters. He scared me into saying both last night, but everyone is telling me "screw that!", he's most likely trying to get free work out of me and I'm not going to have it.

My question, am I liable for any of this? He has his refund, he has no case and yet he continues to make threats. Thanks so much for your advice in advance.

- Aaron

 

He has no case, you are under age, so you are underage to enter into any type of legal contract.
tell your mom, if she wants alert the police of him making threats then do so...after that he will
run like a crying baby when the police show up at his door....no legit company would make threats
on coming to your house, he is just a mere cyber bully...bully him back by calling the police, and
show proof of him making threats. He could be charged for making terroristic threats on a minor.

if he continues to send you emails/threats, tell him, you are saving all of the emails/threats to
turn over to the police to prosecute him. He will no doubt stop right there and then, and if he
does not, then he is an idiot...

 

Tell him to go fork himself. Minors do not have the legal capacity to contract in the US and knowingly entering entering into a contract with a minor is evidence that can be used aganist the adult. I really don't recall what laws he broke but there are some.

He is going to sue you where? On what grounds? Just a loudmouth blowhard who has never been to court and watched way to much cable TV.





If you refunded his money, ignore him.

 

The guy is blowing smoke. No one is going to pay thousands and thousands of dollars to file a lawsuit against someone who is 15 years old - especially when there is little chance of recovery even if he won. He didn't keep his end of the agreement so he doesn't have a case - not even considering that you are under 18.

You've refunded his money - don't continue to engage him and just ignore him. If they lived in the same state, or even the US, then you might alert the police, but unless he makes more express threats, I wouldn't do anything.

 

You're underage, the lawsuit threat is bogus. He obviously want's your services for free. If he was actually concerned about a certain deadline and wanted some sort of "warranty", he would have went with a professional company, or at least someone who's over 18.

 

Thanks everyone - I'll just ignore him and if he's really stupid enough to show up and waste his money then so be it. He really has nothing to hold against me at all, and his company doesn't even exist yet nor is it registered as a legal company so there's no way that I could cause loss to something that doesn't exist. There's so many aspects that would make his case a flop. Yes, I'm 15 and try not to act like that's a force field to keep out legal trouble but this time.. heh. He has his refund, the agreement was through MSN which is the lamest way to log a written agreement, and I've done nothing wrong. His refund's granted and he's out of my mind for good. If I hear from his imaginary lawyer he'll hear from my uncle, one of the most respected lawyers in Florida.

Thanks again!
- Aaron

 

I would tell him to piss off. From what you describe the only one who has done anything wrong is him. He has committed crimes by threatening you. Don't communicate with him anymore.

 

Agreed. The guy is full of sh*&, and the way he's been treating you (and trying to scam *you*), I suggest you do not send the refund. And save those message logs.

Aww too late.

 

I called PayPal and they offered to give it to me in my favor but I told them to give him the refund because I don't want any crap from this guy anymore lol I should send him the link this thread =/

 

Hey, MusicLemon.

Weither you know it or not, I'm 15 years old aswell.
I have been through similar matters, of course after they've acknowledged my age.

They were claiming to take me to court, and all I did was play along with what he was wanting. He wanted a Runescape site (I was a noob back in the day), and he was going to pay $500 for it which was good for me then (as I was 11 years old then). He said "Your too under age, so by law I can't pay you more than $50 per year by PayPal." - I didn't know much about PayPal then, so I then asked parents and friends and they said he was a lier (Parents phoned PayPal to confirm this).

Once I found out he was lying, I developed a site (had a lot of spare time then) but didn't give him the cash. He then threatened me saying that we made a legal agreement (without proof) and that he will take me to court for $40,000 and I was laughing because he didn't even know my name (and I had absolutely nothing assigned on the internet, no e-mail, no address on no WHOIS or nothing). I asked him to pay $50 the script, and I would give the script to him after. He paid the $50 fee and I sent him a ZIP file with a picture of a nerd crying.

PayPal didn't do shit. I provided them proof of the script, with his conversation. I won $50, and he won nothing because he tried to outscam me.
Bottom line: Use their weaknesses against them. It always works.

 

Thanks for the responses, he says he still wants to see me in court, I guess that's on him.

 

Don't be so scared man he's in a different country to you! And he obviously has barely any clue about *anything*, going on what you've described- still, thanks for the post, what a freakin wierdo the dude must be. He's probably a pedophile or something.. Nasty.

 

Tell him to do so. Also, it would be funnier to see him at your door. He should spend his money, get into the US, and commit a law infringment, and since you know his name, you call the authorities so he isn't allowed to leave the country until he faces justice. Too much for a script, let it go.
But since you're a teenager, i've got to say this: i hope you've learned the lesson and try to be more responsible.

 

It appears as if he's trying too hard to get the work for free. Ignore him, he can't do anything but threaten with rubbish that's worthless.

 

Internet tough guys are fun to watch.. Ignore him and move on.. Or out him and make his life entertaining as a bunch of people pile on top of him for being a d... uh, you know what I mean..

 

does he dispute getting the refund?

 

may be this is a lesson for ur time management skills.. ur very near to legal age.. so take this to ur heart.. and forget the teacher.. ( the fellow from the EU ). he is crying wolf coz.. may be he was dreaming too much these 13 days abt his new business and the script. sometimes.. when the first attempt fails.. the person cud really bark pity him aso.. hehehe

 

In court across continents over $120?

 

If you never signed a contract, there's not much he can do about it. Even if you did sign a contract, you're 15 and in U.S. law a 15 year old does not have the right to sign a contract in exchange for work. If you refunded the money and no contracts were involved, I would have nothing to worry about. I would suggest consulting with a local public lawyer and/or contacting your local authorities and informing him of the threats.

If he does take you to court, show proof he threatened you.

 

Actually Wz Network, in most states email/verbal agreements are binding contracts. However, since the OP is under the age of 18, he can not legally enter into a contract. If he has his parents register a LLC and place him as a member that can enter into contracts for the company, then he can enter into contracts. I would not recommend doing that yet, as you appear not to be ready to really manage it yet.

Take this as a lesson learned though. Everything in life will teach you something. Don't sweat this guy. It would cost more for the guy to file suit than what he lost. And since he didn't finish paying like it was agreed he would do, I wouldn't have done anything either. A good payment plan for projects like this is 50% non refundable up front, and portions of it over the course of the project. And the final payment upon completion.