Complaint Review: Custom Graphics And Web / BD Productions / Ben Donley

Ben Donley worked as a subcontractor for my Web Design business for 2 years with little issue. I even retouched his wedding photos free of charge as a thank you for being so great to work with).

He was paid $600 (full price) to create a content management system for my client on Feb 8, 2008 via PayPal. The day before the project deadline, Ben informed me that he was unable to do any work on this project (had quite a few sob stories about customers not paying him so he was unable to pay his subcontractors in China). So I was forced to hire another company to take over the job and allowed Ben to keep the $600 as a credit for future work (felt bad because he sounded like he was having financial hardships).

We had been doing business together for 2 years, so I did not doubt his integrity at the time. I then sent him another content management system job for a big client which would have used the $600 credit. However, after several weeks of him supposedly working on the project and the day before its due date I had yet to receive any files and Ben quit returning my emails and phone calls. The last email I received from him was on 4/21/08.

I have tried to collect through PayPal, but the payment passed their 45 day deadline for disputing (since I had believed his sob stories and let him hold the money as a credit).

I have since had to hire another company to finish both unfinished jobs which cost me more than twice the price and were all delivered to my clients more than a month late because of Bens absence.

Ben Donley is not to be trusted. Had he truly needed the money I would have given it to him. However his lies and underhanded ways not only left me in debt on my projects but also gave my business a bad name as I was contracted to complete both jobs at a date approved by Ben and ended up delivering both more than 1 month late.

Sabrina
North Pole, Alaska
U.S.A.