First, let's start off with his info:
Brandon Kagey (Eric Frye according to Paypal)
7950 South Military Trail
Lake Worth, FL 33463
Phone: 561-452-1547
Email:
[email protected]
skype (bkmny1385)
E-Mail:
[email protected]
Web:
ScriptWorkz
Summary:
I hired Brandon to do a website project for me. I placed an ad here on GFY and he responded (Feb 23). We went over the project in email first and then finalized things by phone when he called me (Feb 24). We had a good conversation and I felt good proceeding with him as my programmer for the project. He asked for 30%-50% to be transferred to him as downpayment for the website by Paypal. I said I had no problems giving him 50% for the downpayment prior to him starting it. I promptly transferred the $XXX deposit into his paypal account (
[email protected]) on (Feb 24).
He said if he could stretch my project to 2 weeks for delivery, we could keep the costs lower. I agreed and the project completion date was set for (Sunday, Mar 10). He promised he would give me updates and access to his server to view the progress as the project came along (I never received any updates or access). He said he could even finish the project in a week possibly. I told him that would be great if he finished it early as I had more projects for him to do, but if he needed the full 2 weeks as agreed upon, that would be fine with me.
Here is the timeline of events since then:
Feb 24 Project Confirmed by phone, paid 50% deposit by Paypal. Completion date: March 10 (or earlier)
March 2 - I contacted Brandon to see how the progress of the website was going. He replied the same day that
"The project is progressing, been working on all hte base code, wireframes, etc.. So far no problems though and still on track, hoping to maybe have it wrapped up a day or two early even, like i said before the sooner the better as far as i'm concerned. Once the wireframes are done i'll get you access to the dev area so you can follow along as everythings finalized / polished / etc.."
March 6 - I contacted him to see how it was progressing as I didn't hear back from him. NO REPLY.
March 7 - I contacted him to see how it was progressing as I didn't hear back from him. NO REPLY.
March 8 - I contacted him to see how it was progressing as I was now getting worried as the March 10 deadline was approaching and I haven't heard from him in almost a week.
March 9 - I received an email from him. He said he was dealing with some family issues and that he got one of his guys to work on my project while he was dealing with things.
"In order to finish up your project i had one of my guys jump on it while i was unavailable and am gonna get with him for a full update in the am. As far as i know it should be mostly done / ready for review but worst case i might need a couple more days to take care of anything he did that needs tweaked or any loose ends...
Will get you updated, wrapped up (if need be) and everything over to you for review ASAP. you can expect a more thorough update to follow sometime tomorrow, should be earlier in the day but with the amount of catch up i'm gonna have to play it might be afternoon, gonna do my best to get it to it asap so we can both be on the same page and get this thing finished up"
March 10 -
Deadline day, no email from him or even an update. I was very understanding because he said he had family issues so I decided to give him a few days past the deadline as things sometimes legitimately come up.
March 14 - 5 days since his last email, I emailed him to see how the progress was coming along and if the project website was completed. He replies
"I'm here and trying to get it wrapped up today, if not i intend on working tomorrow to finish it, want it wrapped up this weekend as well so i'm here doing what i can. will keep you posted/let you know when it's ready and we'll get together and go through it."
March 16 - Emailed him to see if the project is finished. He replies with
"It pretty much is, there's something i didn't really like how it turned out so i was reworking it, got a bit deeper then i should of but trying to have the code i'm reworking done and tested tonight so should be sending you the info to review here in a bit, if not i'll let you know what's up / when to expect it."
March 18 - Project is well past overdue. I emailed him again to see if the project is completed. NO REPLY
March 19 - I emailed him again to see if the project is completed. NO REPLY
March 20 - I emailed him again to see if the project is completed. NO REPLY
March 21 (early afternoon) - I called him on his phone number and no reply. Also texted him on the same number no reply.
March 21 (mid afternoon) - I emailed him again to see if the project is completed. No reply.
I'm one of the easiest person to work with. I give my programmers space with the understanding that when the project deadline date is approaching, I usually just touch base to make sure everything is coming along as it should be and that we will be on tract for deadline day. At the same time I am very understanding if something like family issues come up. I have worked with a few regular programmers on my mainstream projects but none do adult stuff so that's why I had to hire someone I was not familiar with on this project since it was adult related. I think I have been really patient with him and I get the feeling I am being jerked around. Even with the numerous delays and lack of communication, I have been very nice in all my email correspondence even though I am very disappointed with things.
It's been almost a month and I haven't yet received a single review update or access to his server to view the progress as he promised when he first took the project. I was busy with my business on my end so I didn't make it a big issue when I didn't get the updates. I guess I have been fortunate in the past with my past programmers so I didn't give it much thought. Sadly this time around, it bite me in the ass as you can see above.