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CatintheHat1
08-01-2006, 12:02 AM
Please...such a horrible, horrible weekend with a client....just some unconditional love...please....**sniff**....I designed 15 covers for him, he changed his image and title more than 10 times, he wrote me 90+ eMails and called me non-stop, sometimes as late as midnight...all between April 20 and May 11. Finally, he skips out on the balance of the invoice, but doesn't realize he only has 72 dpi proofs. I did 40 hours work for $250.
It must have taken him a while to realize he only had proofs. On Saturday, he wrote PayPal and told them I fraudulently took money from his account, without his knowledge. He said I've never done any design work for him. They froze my funds.
Please, just a little hug. I'm so worn out I cannot even rant about this.
Cat
urstwile
08-01-2006, 12:12 AM
Awww, Cat! (((((HUGS))))).
Maybe this will help a little: Rathergood (http://www.rathergood.com/moon_song/). Make sure to have the sound turned on. :)
Ovaltine
08-01-2006, 12:13 AM
"hugs Catinthehat1"
I understand the need for love this week. Mine's not going well either. I switched to marketing (it was the only way to get my healthcare back) and I've been fairly miserable since. I'm supposed to be doing Graphic Design and marketing, started work on the 1st project I've really been stoked about doing (a booklet) and my boss decided I'm not in the graphics department anymore, and I needed to be doing more marketing.
Now, the other two designers (one is a designer, the other is strictly production) get to do the book, and they don't even want to.
It's sad really. Makes me want to cry.
balou
08-01-2006, 12:15 AM
That sucks Cat! Hopefully those 90+ emails will be proof enough. Yikes!
C'mere honey... http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/ad/arms.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)
Ah the joys of freelance. Please tell me you have a contract. If so nail the bastid to the wall.
CatintheHat1
08-01-2006, 12:23 AM
"hugs Catinthehat1"
I understand the need for love this week. Mine's not going well either. I switched to marketing (it was the only way to get my healthcare back) and I've been fairly miserable since. I'm supposed to be doing Graphic Design and marketing, started work on the 1st project I've really been stoked about doing (a booklet) and my boss decided I'm not in the graphics department anymore, and I needed to be doing more marketing.
Now, the other two designers (one is a designer, the other is strictly production) get to do the book, and they don't even want to.
It's sad really. Makes me want to cry.
You know what, this will work to your benefit down the road. As a freelancer I have gotten TONS of work because I'm both a designer and have a background in marketing. People look for that.
CatintheHat1
08-01-2006, 12:30 AM
Ah the joys of freelance. Please tell me you have a contract. If so nail the bastid to the wall.
I have it, but it's useless. I'm not spending $1000 to get $400. I'm just so POed over his lies and attempt to steal money. Plus, there's not way I'd ever send him the printer's files, now. What I DID do:
1. Contacted his current designer and his "associate" (a pastor) with copies of all of his eMails to me.
2. Sent my case via fax to PayPal. Am seeking to have him banned
3. Contacted the State police and they sent my case to the FBI, I have to go to their site and make a formal complaint.
4. Getting my own lawyer to cease and desist all his associates etc., warning them to never use one of my images or any image that even RESEMBLES one of my images. A good trick, since I think I pretty much covered every possible combination. My lawyer is on vacation, but will have this all done by Sept.
5. I discovered he is claiming to be the founder of a charity. I called the charity, they never heard of him, but they were very interested in my documentation concerning his claims. The moron posted the bogus claim on Amazon!
I did more, but that's all I can recall right now. I'm soooo stressed out.
Ovaltine
08-01-2006, 12:30 AM
That's what I keep telling myself, but I really hate it. All the paperwork, and the really bad PVX program for keeping track of everything, it's like running DOS all over again, only it makes even less sense. I think I need to find some freelance GD jobs, so I can keep my sanity.
^^ooohh, that's good :)
CatintheHat1
08-01-2006, 12:31 AM
That's what I keep telling myself, but I really hate it. All the paperwork, and the really bad PVX program for keeping track of everything, it's like running DOS all over again, only it makes even less sense. I think I need to find some freelance GD jobs, so I can keep my sanity.
You're sane? Well, that's your problem. It's a well-known fact only crazy people are graphic designers. ;)
Ovaltine
08-01-2006, 12:35 AM
I can only be sane when I have 15 layout deadlines to deal with. Otherwise, I'm lost.
CatintheHat1
08-01-2006, 12:41 AM
Here, have some wine and cheesecake!! We deserve it!
urstwile
08-01-2006, 12:43 AM
>>>taps foot impatiently waiting for Cat to check out the Rathergood link.
:)
CatintheHat1
08-01-2006, 12:46 AM
>>>taps foot impatiently waiting for Cat to check out the Rathergood link.
:)
hahaha, where did you find that? Now I'll never get that "we like the mooon" tune out of my head.
That was great, though.
Cat
urstwile
08-01-2006, 12:48 AM
It always makes me smile, I'm glad you liked it. Lord only knows where I got it from, you know how that goes. :)
Red Kittie Kat
08-01-2006, 12:55 AM
Cat I am so sorry you are going through all this. I don't know you well ...... but we can all certainly feel for you under the circumstances.... I just hope his little game here gets him more attention than he ever dreamed possible ..... the FBI doesn't take fraud lightly ;)
I know it doesn't help monetarily right now ... but in the long run he will be the loser on this deal.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/RedKittieKat/smilies/graphic1.gif
danedawg99
08-01-2006, 01:27 AM
geez, Cat. {[(HUG)]}
what an *******!
Cat, read your email. <hug>
morea
08-01-2006, 12:35 PM
(((HUGS))) hang in there, Cat.
rikbarwick
08-01-2006, 12:38 PM
w@nker!
Jason Fraker
08-01-2006, 02:01 PM
You can always subscribe to about a dozen magazines wih his name and address. Just check the "bill me later" box on the subscription form.
Jeizzavelle
08-01-2006, 02:09 PM
Please...such a horrible, horrible weekend with a client....just some unconditional love...please....**sniff**....I designed 15 covers for him, he changed his image and title more than 10 times, he wrote me 90+ eMails and called me non-stop, sometimes as late as midnight...all between April 20 and May 11. Finally, he skips out on the balance of the invoice, but doesn't realize he only has 72 dpi proofs. I did 40 hours work for $250.
It must have taken him a while to realize he only had proofs. On Saturday, he wrote PayPal and told them I fraudulently took money from his account, without his knowledge. He said I've never done any design work for him. They froze my funds.
Please, just a little hug. I'm so worn out I cannot even rant about this.
Cat
(((((HUG)))) Don't worry. It sounds like you got him back pretty well. Just think. You could be making less than $250 a week, every week. At least you can do what you love (even if you get screwed once in a while) and make money at it. It could be worse.You could always be flipping burgers or a Jerry Springer guest.
wienerdog
08-01-2006, 02:22 PM
Please...such a horrible, horrible weekend with a client....just some unconditional love...please....**sniff**....I designed 15 covers for him, he changed his image and title more than 10 times, he wrote me 90+ eMails and called me non-stop, sometimes as late as midnight...all between April 20 and May 11. Finally, he skips out on the balance of the invoice, but doesn't realize he only has 72 dpi proofs. I did 40 hours work for $250.
It must have taken him a while to realize he only had proofs. On Saturday, he wrote PayPal and told them I fraudulently took money from his account, without his knowledge. He said I've never done any design work for him. They froze my funds.
Please, just a little hug. I'm so worn out I cannot even rant about this.
Cat
Wow, this is what scares me about getting freelance work again unless I know the person personally or a family member or friend can vouch for them.
Which, of course, leaves me working an 8-6 job.
Cat, how did you find this client? Was it someone you already knew, found them on Criagslist, etc.?
At least you know your stuff and are as protected as can be, from how it sounds. So this person's totally misrepresenting themself? Sometimes you can't even forsee this happening until it's too late.
I can't believe PayPal froze your account. Are they at least responsive to your attempts at clearing this mess up?
CatintheHat1
08-01-2006, 03:18 PM
I'm on Google, most of my clients come from there - I don't usually advertise or bid and I've never used an agency. Over the years I've built up regulars and those who refer me of course, but with authors, most people usually one write one book...soo Google it is. I've done about 700 book covers since 2000, have had 5 or 6 serious nutters, but no one has ever accused me of something like this...I mean, that's so serious and so untrue. If someone was making much trouble, I would just refund their money, but at this point, with this man, forget it. Usually, they're just annoying or demanding or rude, which I can deal with.
Now that I think of it, a few of the other major problems never paid me at all...LOL. I used to work on spec and this one woman had me up all night and then went nuts. Eventually, it turned out she had stolen most of her content from a popular business book, and three days after it was released, they had to pull her book...LOL. She wrote me long, long eMails for days...
I got rid of most of them by raising my prices and not working on spec and I usually have good instincts. I really did have a bad feeling about this guy, but I ignored it. I broke two rules: ignored my gut and did work for free to be nice. HUGE mistakes. People don't see those things as kindness, they see them as weakness.
I am going to raise my prices significantly next month. That should get rid of this riffraff. It worked before and really cut way down on the number of people who expected 80 hours of work for $7 an hour and still complained.
I'm just so mentally exhausted from this though. I feel like I could sleep for a week. I usually thrive on nutty clients, I love to come in here and post "complaints" LOL. But, truth be known, they really make my week, give me energy and I welcome them. Sure, they drive me nuts, but this guy...well, he is just evil on some level. I really do believe he's a full-fledged con artist. I can't even confirm that he is using his real name. I did order his book, but it says 6 weeks, which means it's possibly not even with a printer, yet.
CatintheHat1
08-01-2006, 03:20 PM
You guys are so great. I just love this forum!
G-Man79
08-01-2006, 08:29 PM
*Hug* Hang in there!
You can always subscribe to about a dozen magazines wih his name and address. Just check the "bill me later" box on the subscription form.
You gotta be careful with this one, Jason... He just may find one that he actually likes. :rolleyes:
Did you email back to PayPal in response, Cat? If you show them proofs of the work you did, hopefully with his name or alias and book title plastered all over it, there should be no argument that you deserve the pay.
jimking
08-01-2006, 09:07 PM
Smart--72dpi. My guess is the proofs were pdfs? This guy had every intention of ripping you off. Now he's got a printer lined up who he's going rip off too, or so he thinks. Someone needs to straighten this guy out.
CatintheHat1
08-01-2006, 09:42 PM
Smart--72dpi. My guess is the proofs were pdfs? This guy had every intention of ripping you off. Now he's got a printer lined up who he's going rip off too, or so he thinks. Someone needs to straighten this guy out.
No, they were jpgs and they weren't even measured...I always do covers at 6 x 9 then resize, because people need them for ads, etc. before the book goes to print and 6 x 9 is easy to reduce as opposed to some odd number with bleed added. He really had no idea what he was doing though, so the more I think of it, the more that was probably it..or maybe not! I found another designer - a friend of his, that did 20 proofs for him. The other designer said that he was being sent all my designs...the other designer charged $300, but jerk didn't use any of those designs, either (we're now up to 35). The $300 guy got cash, but is still doing a rather complicated website for the jerk to "earn" the $300 (I guess 20 proofs wasn't earning). I have no idea who ended up doing the designs he's using (he has two posted on various sites), one is a crappy copy of one of my designs, the one on Amazon is just frightful...it's the epitome of "self-published"
Anyway, my lawyer is on vacation, and I'm embrassed 'cause I CCed him on the eMails that were being fired back and forth, and I sound like a nut...I just got so riled up at being accused of stealing, I mean he could have said I was a crappy designer and I never would have thought much of it, but to call me dishonest. ARGH. Anyway, my lawyer is nice and calm, and will hopefully fix it all and make him go away.
CatintheHat1
08-01-2006, 09:45 PM
You gotta be careful with this one, Jason... He just may find one that he actually likes. :rolleyes:
Did you email back to PayPal in response, Cat? If you show them proofs of the work you did, hopefully with his name or alias and book title plastered all over it, there should be no argument that you deserve the pay.
I faxed them everything. Actually, that wasn't the question with PayPal. He told PayPal I accessed his account and took money. PayPal doesn't deal with non-tangibles for refunds, it says so right on their site. I had to prove I sent him an invoice and he hit "send money" and the other one, he just sent from an eMail invoice. Both payments were initiated by him either completely or by responding to the invoice and following payment instructions. They had to check IPs, etc., I guess.
I did send them the proofs, just for good measure, though.
I faxed them everything. Actually, that wasn't the question with PayPal. He told PayPal I accessed his account and took money. PayPal doesn't deal with non-tangibles for refunds, it says so right on their site. I had to prove I sent him an invoice and he hit "send money" and the other one, he just sent from an eMail invoice. Both payments were initiated by him either completely or by responding to the invoice and following payment instructions. They had to check IPs, etc., I guess.
I did send them the proofs, just for good measure, though.
Oh my... So he's accusing you of FRAUD! In other words, you would have had to have hacked into his account and steal his password. I never knew you were such a Tech-Savvy Internet Pirate, Cat. I have gained an all new respect for you. :p
CatintheHat1
08-02-2006, 02:23 PM
Yes. I'm quite the dark horse. Be afraid, be very afraid. Ages ago someone accused my of trying to hack a room on a forum, too and they banned me..LOL. You guys just have no idea who you're dealing with, here. Us middle-aged housewives in fuzzy slippers are the ones to watch out for, I'm telling you. ;)
My husband is always amazed I manage to get into so much trouble before I even get dressed in the morning.
wienerdog
08-07-2006, 01:43 PM
I'm on Google, most of my clients come from there - I don't usually advertise or bid and I've never used an agency. Over the years I've built up regulars and those who refer me of course, but with authors, most people usually one write one book...soo Google it is. I've done about 700 book covers since 2000, have had 5 or 6 serious nutters, but no one has ever accused me of something like this...I mean, that's so serious and so untrue. If someone was making much trouble, I would just refund their money, but at this point, with this man, forget it. Usually, they're just annoying or demanding or rude, which I can deal with.
When you say you're "on Google," what do you mean by that? Your site comes up in a search for book cover design?
I was considering looking for freelance work on Craigslist, but find most of them don't want to pay for a designer's work legitimately. I try to get in touch with ads for work there, but their budgets are often too low to be worth giving up my nights & weekends for them.