Complaint Review: Red Label Home

First let me just say that I have never had to go to these extremes regarding a persons reputation. But this is definitely well-deserved and very much worth my time and effort! Being a web developer and online marketing coordinator myself, I know how important an online reputation is to a person... or even more, a business. My job is to make companies and/or individuals looks fantastic across all media platforms; not to be writing reports on RipOff Report. This is just a sad and disappointing situation - one that I feel is absolutely necessary to warn my fellow designers and developers of. 

I am a high-level freelance graphic designer and website developer. I have been operating my own successful independent business for 3.5 years now. This is the first time I have encountered such an unprofessional, conniving, and unappreciative client. I went above and beyond what was asked of me from Levent Yaylali regarding his website re-design project for redlabelhome.com. We had worked together for a couple of months earlier this year (2016) on rebuilding his website precense and overall user experience. All throughout the production period, Levent kept informing me how happy he was with the job I was doing and how happy he was that he found me as his developer/designer. He had no problem with the project quote and even paid the down payment that was required to start this project.

Once the project was 99% completed and just about ready for launch, he then decided to give me the run around for several months for many different reasons; being too busy with other things, family related issues, etc. During this time (6 months) I continued to get billed from Ecwid (a program we agreed to use for his online shop) $35 every month. This was discussed and agreed upon that during the production period (which was only supposed to be 1 month at most) we would keep it under my account. Once the website was launched everything would be transferred into his name/account info. Over the course of these 7 months, I have paid a total of $245 to Ecwid for HIS company store. 

Finally, after about 5 months of being pushed to the side; I contacted him AGAIN (I reached out every 2-4 weeks during these 5 months) reiterating the importance of finishing up the website. Each time I contacted him, he agreed to wanting to get the website up and launched and would provide me a date to go over it and then not follow through when the date finally came. After this last reach out to him, all I got in response was "Lets cancel the project. Thank you, Levent" - A project that was 99% completed and had an outstanding balance of $500 + $245 for Ecwid billing = Total of $745!

I responded back saying No problem we can cancel the project but we need to settle up the outstanding balance. And I gave him the breakdown (which, of course he already knew about). The "professional" response I received back from Levent Yaylali was "No Ma'am" as he quickly blocked my phone number without providing me a professional explanation.

I have heard horror stories about working with people remotely and the possibility of getting 'ripped-off' but throughout the 3.5 years I've been doing this, not once has this happened to me. Because my clients continued to be trust-worthy and professional, I saw no need to go any extra miles regarding establishing trust (other than requiring down payments). I am very upset and highly disappointed that a person such as myself, sweet & always going above and beyond for not only my clients but every person in my life, would be treated with such disrespect. It's just plain sickening!

Please, fellow Designers and Developers, BEWARE of working with LEVENT YAYLALI or anyone else from the Red Label Home team! I can only imagine how he treats his customers if this is how he treats people who work hard for him!