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[Jackie Hall Company: Team Beachbody Contribution Level: 2]

Hey All,
Please help me with a situation...I'm going through TF2 and utilized the wordpressfreelance for website help. Before paying the company I chose I wrote a letter explaining in detail what I wanted done. Majorly, help/guidance/creativity/suggestions in designing my entire site. I wanted something that was captivating and that would draw people in since it has to do with weight loss. I was told they could do exactly what I wanted. So, I paid them but, at the end of the transaction, my card was charged twice the amount we agreed upon! I was told I was given a credit (which is taking 7-10 days) and I didn't even get an apology. It took them 3 days just to give me one theme design. I was told they could have my site done in 5 days...today is day 7 and they don't even have my heading completed!
This is my nerve center right now...http://NewTrendSpot.com So you can get an idea of what I do and what I'm looking to achieve.
After going back & forth, they sent me this yesterday. I am not happy with the stick man at all. Not only that, the whole top of the theme wasn't the one I selected!
Is it just me? What do you think?
http://www.mindinet.eu/test-site/?Selec ... rendSpot01
After waiting all this time...I was not happy with the heading. So, they sent me another one yesterday that is a bit better and I made some tweeks on it. And, I it's 2 p.m. and don't have the revised heading.
This is the headline from yesterday.... http://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=04 ... =inline&zw
It is better, but not really what I wanted.
Well, today is day 7 and I still don't have my site completed. Not only that, I have written to them and expressed that I'm concerned about 3 times and asked them if they are able to do what I want or if they are too busy maybe I should contact someone else. They haven't even answered my concerns. I don't know what I should do. I would appreciate any advice.

[Mike Dillard Company: Magnetic Sponsoring Contribution Level: 5]

Jackie, I'd demand a refund or issue a charge back immediately. The quality of work is incredibly bad and obviously lazy. I'd be pissed off as well. Get your money, and away from these people ASAP.

In the future, don't write a "letter" telling programmers about a project like a blog. Use www.JingProject.com instead to create a video and show example sites.

Mike

[Jackie Hall Company: Team Beachbody Contribution Level: 2]

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer me Mike. I will write to them. They did another TF2 students' blog and I wrote that person asking if they had any problems with them, but haven't heard back yet.

I thought it wasn't good and it wasn't what I wanted or asked for, but I've never done this before and didn't know if what I was asking was too much. Plus, the fact that I was charged twice the amount didn't sit well with me from the start. But, I gave them the benefit of the doubt and was being patient.

I'm glad to know it 'just isn't me' on the stick man

I will check out the site you suggested, Mike. I also received an e-mail about someone who will help us with our sites. Unfortunately, that's out of my price range. My limit is $250. Well, back to square one again. Now, I'll have to wait another 7-10 days for a refund (and pray I get it).

Thanks again Mike.

[Jackie Hall Company: Team Beachbody Contribution Level: 2]

Well, I just heard from the freelancer. They are telling me they went above and beyond what they were supposed to do!
They are saying that the pictures they used in my header cost money to use (which is the first I've heard of this) And they are keeping $50 for these pictures and for sending my 3 themes to choose from (their time). They told me I needed a new theme and they would provide 3 for me to choose from. So, what's the deal here? I told them exactly what I wanted and they said they could do it and didn't say anything about wanting more money and when I set up the project I disclosed what I wanted done. Which was blog entries, logo/graphic design, modifications, plugins, themes/templates. I needed help with all aspects of the site. Did I do something wrong?

They are insisting that I will not get a refund for 7-10 days. I wrote the wordpressfreelance website and told them of my situation. Do I have any recourse? Should I just suck it up as a lesson learned? It's just $50, but I don't feel what they are doing is right. I don't think I should pay them anything. They keep saying they "offered" to create a brand new theme, but I had that listed in what I wanted anyway.

I am so discouraged right now... I was so looking forward to having my site looking awsome, and running by now.

[John Counsel Contribution Level: 2]

Jackie,

Get in touch with your credit card provider and lodge a chargeback request ASAP. Don't bother with the freelance company or anyone else.

Include copies of all correspondence, including your original instructions and their replies. Also continue to seek professional opinions on the quality of their work and why it's unsatisfactory.

In future, if you need a freelancer, it's always best to do it through a reputable third party where your payment is held in escrow until the work is done to your satisfaction — THEN the freelancer gets paid, not before.

John Counsel

[Stephen Lohse Contribution Level: 2]

Hi Jackie, Stephen Lohse here...
I really sympathise with your situation (it sucks!), and I realize that you have a limit in mind on what you can spend, but I'll tell you what I am going to do (I haven't done it yet because right now it's also not in my budget...). I'm going to get a hold of DK and Jimmy at Ohana Playground. These guys are real pros, and (I can't guarentee anything of course, but If I could...) I will swear to you that this organizations work is worth the extra money, minus the headaches (or apparently lost funds...)
Just food for thought, I totally recomend them hands down.
Thanks for your time.
~Stephen~

[Adam Taha Company: Amway Contribution Level: 7]

I am so discouraged right now... I was so looking forward to having my site looking awsome, and running by now.

You'll be ok. Take it as part of the journey mate. I feel though, they are programmers not really designers, from what I'm seeing. Designing is a skill mate. Even 20 years of doing, I'm still learning and I kick ass where I'm coming from

But still, don't be discouraged, you'll reach the place you want to be. But for future and from experience...

When it comes to website design, especially with programmers..

1. Create visuals so they see exactly what you want NOT words, not emails but visuals.
2. Then they send visual proof back before the design is every started, so you see first and then decide.

I really mean visuals for everything.

That's what I do in UK and now getting contracts globally.

Still, don't lose hope mate or get discourage. You'll find a solution, and you'll have a great website. Take it as a learning curve and experience.

I'd take it on but...it's way under my budget mate. Hopefully you'll find someone who knows what they doing.

But do fight for refund. See if you can get money back etc. Give it time, maybe someone here can do it under budget etc.

To your success.

Adam

[Jackie Hall Company: Team Beachbody Contribution Level: 2]

Thanks John. If Mike Dillard tells me the quality of their work is "incredibly bad and obviously lazy", I'll definately take his word for it. What did YOU think about it? With what they wrote, they made it seem like they did way more than they were supposed to. But, after 7 days, I didn't even have a headline! Not only that, they didn't address any of my concerns. After I told them what I wanted they kept writing me back saying that once I paid, they would get to work on it. And, another person going through TF2 used them so I thought they must be ok. Maybe I should have done more homework on them...but, I did ask for examples of other sites they did.

Stephen, thanks so much. That is very nice of you. Let me ask you too, what did YOU think of what they did for me? I tell you, I couldn't believe it when I saw that stick man But, as you can tell by my site, I am not knowledgeable enough to do this myself and make it the way it needs to be. I do have a budget and that's all I'm able to spend right now.
I really appreciate the feedback I've received. Oh, and a positive note, I was refunded the additional $250 that I was charged through my paypal account. That's some good news
Once again, I am learning something new Although it's been a hard lesson to learn. Now, I need to get my site going so I can start generating traffic to it.

[Jackie Hall Company: Team Beachbody Contribution Level: 2]

Thanks Adam!

Yes, it's definately been a learning experience! I guess in this world I'm a tiny goldfish in a big ocean...with my little project and my little budget.

I'm staying confident and I know I'll find someone to help me tweek my site into somthing better

Thanks again!

[Richard Bravo Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 8]

Hi Jackie...
I'm so tired of hearing these stories of people getting ripped off by low budget "discount", so called "professional" designers. I'm telling you, when it comes to YOUR Image I have yet to see anyone come out ahead with one of these yard sale solutions.

Anyway...
Sorry to hear these idiots tried to take you for a ride.
I sent you a Private Message, check your inbox.

~RB