acanthuroid

Content supplied by client but added to the site by the designer, and the CMS website using Wordpress but not with a plugin, something like CubeCart or OScommerce. What sort of price difference between a premium and one you wrote yourself? A premium one is cheaper as it is quicker, so one you'd write yourself would work out more expensive. Also what sort of difference would you be talking in terms of this as a freelance project and that of a studio?

The hosting is their own so any issues with this they will have to contact their provider. They opted to not use my hosting. I may not have a 'contract' per say, but have got all written correspondance, so this does act in the same way, I've been assured. I also have it down that after the website is transferred and I've shown them how to edit something, then we'd not have to deal with each other again. All nastiness on their part btw, nothing from me. I did send them a conclusion email, saying this ends our business. It is all in black and white. They have proven themselves to be liars before, so I have backups of everything plus screenshots They also decided against a contract, which can protect both parties, but at the end of the day I think I have the upper hand here. They can make further demands, but at the same time I am not obligated to fulfil them, as it was not in the original brief which the client agreed to by paying me a deposit. They also had plenty of opportunity before the website was uploaded to make changes.

For this website: CMS using Wordpress and premium customised theme including plugins Approx 10 pages Integration of e-commerce web shop, plus addition of various 'dummy' products Addition of supplied content Year's hosting, domain name, email set up etc Thanks

Yeah I know this, which is why I wanted to be paid by BACS. But they kept making excuses like it was an hour away to go to their bank etc and how they have online banking for personal but not for business etc all lies basically. I did some more delving and found out that neither the seller nor buyer is protected for digital goods online, so if they raise a dispute it will be closed pretty quickly as Paypal won't get involved. The money is in my bank account now and the client's website is on their server. Typically though, although I sent an email confirming this now concludes our business, they then email me wanting some changes and asking how to do this and that/ I sent links to some tutorials but am not obliged to hold their hand while they find their way around their site, as they havent paid for support (and even if they did offer to pay, I would refuse). It's ridiculous as the site was live on my server for months so they had plenty of time to ask any questions. A contract is definitely the way to go, along with deadlines set in stone along with the relevant penalties to not keeping to deadlines. This project was supposed to take less than a month before I started my day job, and in the end dragged on for about 4 months. Please let other freelancers learn from this - rule 1) don't mix business with pleasure 2) deposit (thankfully I got one!) 3) contract

Yeah I'm definitely going to be much more cautious if I do it again. It seems they aren't aware they will have to wait until my next days off as I got a message at 11.30pm Friday night asking when the website would be up and a question mark today...

Thanks They have paid now, including the fee. Though they are aware they will have to wait until my next days off I have also got a back up plan if they decide to try anything with my money once the website is uploaded.... Don't screw with a web designer haha

Yep. The trouble with this one is I thought they were a 'friend' as had chatted to them a few times as we have a mutual hobby, and they had bought something from me before. Never mix business and 'friendship' as he just exploited it entirely. Major lessons learned here.

I never realised this person was so nasty - it started out so nice and friendly... i wish they had a got a quote from other places, maybe they'd have appreciated me a little more

Haha what do you think?! Do you guys get a sign off contract thing at all after a project ends?

I am thinking of asking them to pay the fee, so I have the full amount, then getting started on the upload. I have been reading a bit more and it seems neither buyer nor seller is covered for digital goods, so it's pretty equal but I have all proof I have done it.

True I'll give them some time to think about it. Shame as they could have started it today and I could have it by the end of the week. Ho hum.

Should I refund them the balance or wait for the agreement that they will pay via BACS?

Thats what I thought but they are threatening me with more of these invoices etc. I don't see how it's my problem but I am getting fed up with it now. Oh and they said they will do BACS if I refund the whole payment (deposit and balance) then they will send it by BACS!

Also can i enforce that I want it uploaded using my hosting (included in price) as this gives me an insurance that if they do try anything i have a safety net if i need it.

I do want to upload this website asap and forget about the whole damn thing as I hate dealing with this person, they are a bully and very nasty. But I need to make sure I am covered as all trust has gone out of this relationship now and they seem pressed for money, and I am worried once they have my design they will pull something.