Need Opinions on A Deal Going Bad

[CrazyTech]

Well I purchased a site over a month back in the low mid $xxx range. For me personally that's a lot of money. I paid for a working email/freehosting website with users. I still haven't received it.

The guy I purchased the site from has been helpful. He took care of things quickly and answered all of my initial questions. He then told me a friend (and I'm assuming partner) would take it from the technical end and go from there. That's been over 3 1/2 weeks ago. It took about a week for him to get started and he configured about half the site then I heard nothing for days. It took several emails from the both of us and he did a little more work but again did not finish. We've continued the emailing process and he continues to half-arse the job. Two primary features are not working (one being the signup confirmation link) and I don't even have the licences in my hand.

I've moved into my dorm at college and I'm exhausted from all that has been going on. I've come back to discover that again no work has been done and there is no explanation or contact as of yet. Needless to say I'm in a bad mood and this is compounded by this situation. When we talked a while back the guy I purchased the site from tried to put the blame on the partner but I feel that the person who I paid for the site is ultimately responsible for delivering it.

I've sent them both an email stating that unless it's fixed within 72 hours, I'll be filing complaints with Paypal and on the forum where the transaction took place. Is there anything else that you guys recommend that I can do or any other advice?

 

[faisj]

Do you have a contract?

Perhaps you could give him a call.

 

[deet]

Perhaps you could do a charge back with paypal?

Hope it works out..

 

[CrazyTech]

Update on the situation - looks as though my email worked. My biggest concern has been addressed by the helpful one. There are still some things that the other guy will have to work out but it looks like I won't have to do a chargeback. If this other guy would just get off his duff and fix the website like he should have in the first place...

 

[ThreeD]

Wait a minute, did you buy a website that was developed and had traffic - or did you buy the service and he had to make the site from scratch? If #2 is the case, he's probably just slacking because you've paid him upfront. Now he thinks that he has all the time in the world Bad biz ethics but a lot of people out there are like that.

Just keep emailing them and don't ease up until they've done/completed what you've paid for!

 

[redhippo]

hope it works out soon, denver.....charge back is the last option!

 

[CrazyTech]

Next time I will see about dividing up the payment to prevent this from happening. I hadn't even considered this the first time around. The site had some traffic but I basically only paid for the licenses that came with it. Even though it has had trouble it still continues to bring in some traffic.

 

[ThreeD]

Next time I will see about dividing up the payment to prevent this from happening. I hadn't even considered this the first time around. The site had some traffic but I basically only paid for the licenses that came with it. Even though it has had trouble it still continues to bring in some traffic.

Probably a good idea to meet them halfways. Half of the payment upon start of the project, other half after completion. That's the most fair and ethical method for both parties involved.