Complaint Review: Tom Collins At 9 And Some Change

It is a well known fact that a high percentage of freelance designers use templates just google it. He still has his website up correct? I have done well over 30 sites this year - please view all testimonials here:

http://www.9andsomechange.com/allhtml/source/index.html

also here

http://www.9andsomechange.com/allflash/source/index.html

-------------------------------Please Read--------------------------------------

I would like paypal to investigate these alegations asap. Mr. Carters Dispute has no truths what so ever and I do not want this to happen to another freelance web designer.

Mr Carter and I had an agreement to create a website for his company - www.astepupstairways.com - I outbid his second option by $60 dollars for a 7 page website. I created his site with a template I purchased from www.templatemonster.com which I do for 80% of my clients. The agreed price for the project was a flat rate of 400.00 - the project ended up being 21 PAGES - 14 MORE PAGES than I quoted Mr Carter for. He called me to make me aware of the increase in pages. I told Mr. Carter since this is going to be a great addition to my portfolio that I would do the extra work at no extra cost - he than stated I deserved a bonus of some kind once the project was complete. The site is still live and I am 100% sure he will use this site to catapult his marketing and customer service aspects of his business. I have all copies of emails along with a threatening voice male laced with curse words. Here is a list of emails received from Mr Carter:

1. YOU ARE d**n GOOD at whaqt you do. I love the photoshoping. Some of my images have shoes but leave them. It's ok if their not on the front page. I'm sure i can get a builder or someone to use your services. Keep up the good work. I'll send an outline later along with the files. Thanks again for the great work.

2. Dude! That looks killer!! I'm glad I chose you to do the redesign!!!!! I hope the products page comes out as nice. After that, I have a few very small requests but we'll get to that later so we can get it all at once. The site is looking great!

3. Tom, Thank you so much for the incredible redesign of astepupstairways.com I had no idea I'd be getting results like that. Your talent is unrivaled as is the value of your services.

Expect more work to be sent your way. THANK YOU CarterForbes

- If this works, email me back and I'll send paym

From Seller - Thomas Collins5/8/2009 17:07 PDT
part 2 of message that was cut off

4.Very Cool! I know you worked your a*s off on that. I hope your satisfied with the terms. It should be a nice addition to the portfolio too. I will gladly refer anyone and everyone that need a site to your services and won't tell them what i paid either. I'd like to use you webmaster service but will need to recoup some cash first. Thanks again. Carter

Once final payment was made by Mr. Carter I uploaded all files live to his hosting that he provided me and made the site live here www.astepupstairways.com.

Two days later I received this email:

http://www.templatemonster.com/website-templates/21790.html

WoW! Thanks Tom. YOur girl thought that was your best work yet huh? Did you telll her it wasn't even yours. All that crying you did about the coding that you didn't even do! Look like I need to start all over with a real web designer. In the mean time, I'll figure out a solution. Off to work for me now.

And a threatening voice mail laced with curse words.

I have a rebuttal package prepared for the paypal dispute officer that included all 51 emails and recorded threatening voice mail. I am prepared to take full legal action torward Mr. Carter - I request he refrain from calling my work cell phone - I do not want another freelance web designer to fall victim to someone who tries to dispute via paypal to recoup funds for a job well done.

Tom Collins


---------------------------Please Read-------------------------------------------
From Buyer - Carter Forbes5/8/2009 18:25 PDT
I made peace with it. Tom did spend alot of time working on the site whether his presentation of services was acurate or not. I will be happier moving forward than dredging around in this mess.

If I was a betting man Mr Carters business will have at least 4 or more complaints on this website with in one month - stay tuned

Again - You cannot please everyone no matter how hard you try

It is a well known fact that a high percentage of freelance designers use templates just google it. He still has his website up correct? I have done well over 30 sites this year - please view all testimonials here:

http://www.9andsomechange.com/allhtml/source/index.html

also here

http://www.9andsomechange.com/allflash/source/index.html

-------------------------------Please Read--------------------------------------

I would like paypal to investigate these alegations asap. Mr. Carters Dispute has no truths what so ever and I do not want this to happen to another freelance web designer.

Mr Carter and I had an agreement to create a website for his company - www.astepupstairways.com - I outbid his second option by $60 dollars for a 7 page website. I created his site with a template I purchased from www.templatemonster.com which I do for 80% of my clients. The agreed price for the project was a flat rate of 400.00 - the project ended up being 21 PAGES - 14 MORE PAGES than I quoted Mr Carter for. He called me to make me aware of the increase in pages. I told Mr. Carter since this is going to be a great addition to my portfolio that I would do the extra work at no extra cost - he than stated I deserved a bonus of some kind once the project was complete. The site is still live and I am 100% sure he will use this site to catapult his marketing and customer service aspects of his business. I have all copies of emails along with a threatening voice male laced with curse words. Here is a list of emails received from Mr Carter:

1. YOU ARE d**n GOOD at whaqt you do. I love the photoshoping. Some of my images have shoes but leave them. It's ok if their not on the front page. I'm sure i can get a builder or someone to use your services. Keep up the good work. I'll send an outline later along with the files. Thanks again for the great work.

2. Dude! That looks killer!! I'm glad I chose you to do the redesign!!!!! I hope the products page comes out as nice. After that, I have a few very small requests but we'll get to that later so we can get it all at once. The site is looking great!

3. Tom, Thank you so much for the incredible redesign of astepupstairways.com I had no idea I'd be getting results like that. Your talent is unrivaled as is the value of your services.

Expect more work to be sent your way. THANK YOU CarterForbes

- If this works, email me back and I'll send paym

From Seller - Thomas Collins5/8/2009 17:07 PDT
part 2 of message that was cut off

4.Very Cool! I know you worked your a*s off on that. I hope your satisfied with the terms. It should be a nice addition to the portfolio too. I will gladly refer anyone and everyone that need a site to your services and won't tell them what i paid either. I'd like to use you webmaster service but will need to recoup some cash first. Thanks again. Carter

Once final payment was made by Mr. Carter I uploaded all files live to his hosting that he provided me and made the site live here www.astepupstairways.com.

Two days later I received this email:

http://www.templatemonster.com/website-templates/21790.html

WoW! Thanks Tom. YOur girl thought that was your best work yet huh? Did you telll her it wasn't even yours. All that crying you did about the coding that you didn't even do! Look like I need to start all over with a real web designer. In the mean time, I'll figure out a solution. Off to work for me now.

And a threatening voice mail laced with curse words.

I have a rebuttal package prepared for the paypal dispute officer that included all 51 emails and recorded threatening voice mail. I am prepared to take full legal action torward Mr. Carter - I request he refrain from calling my work cell phone - I do not want another freelance web designer to fall victim to someone who tries to dispute via paypal to recoup funds for a job well done.

Tom Collins


---------------------------Please Read-------------------------------------------
From Buyer - Carter Forbes5/8/2009 18:25 PDT
I made peace with it. Tom did spend alot of time working on the site whether his presentation of services was acurate or not. I will be happier moving forward than dredging around in this mess.

If I was a betting man Mr Carters business will have at least 4 or more complaints on this website with in one month - stay tuned

Again - You cannot please everyone no matter how hard you try

It is a well known fact that a high percentage of freelance designers use templates just google it. He still has his website up correct? I have done well over 30 sites this year - please view all testimonials here:

http://www.9andsomechange.com/allhtml/source/index.html

also here

http://www.9andsomechange.com/allflash/source/index.html

-------------------------------Please Read--------------------------------------

I would like paypal to investigate these alegations asap. Mr. Carters Dispute has no truths what so ever and I do not want this to happen to another freelance web designer.

Mr Carter and I had an agreement to create a website for his company - www.astepupstairways.com - I outbid his second option by $60 dollars for a 7 page website. I created his site with a template I purchased from www.templatemonster.com which I do for 80% of my clients. The agreed price for the project was a flat rate of 400.00 - the project ended up being 21 PAGES - 14 MORE PAGES than I quoted Mr Carter for. He called me to make me aware of the increase in pages. I told Mr. Carter since this is going to be a great addition to my portfolio that I would do the extra work at no extra cost - he than stated I deserved a bonus of some kind once the project was complete. The site is still live and I am 100% sure he will use this site to catapult his marketing and customer service aspects of his business. I have all copies of emails along with a threatening voice male laced with curse words. Here is a list of emails received from Mr Carter:

1. YOU ARE d**n GOOD at whaqt you do. I love the photoshoping. Some of my images have shoes but leave them. It's ok if their not on the front page. I'm sure i can get a builder or someone to use your services. Keep up the good work. I'll send an outline later along with the files. Thanks again for the great work.

2. Dude! That looks killer!! I'm glad I chose you to do the redesign!!!!! I hope the products page comes out as nice. After that, I have a few very small requests but we'll get to that later so we can get it all at once. The site is looking great!

3. Tom, Thank you so much for the incredible redesign of astepupstairways.com I had no idea I'd be getting results like that. Your talent is unrivaled as is the value of your services.

Expect more work to be sent your way. THANK YOU CarterForbes

- If this works, email me back and I'll send paym

From Seller - Thomas Collins5/8/2009 17:07 PDT
part 2 of message that was cut off

4.Very Cool! I know you worked your a*s off on that. I hope your satisfied with the terms. It should be a nice addition to the portfolio too. I will gladly refer anyone and everyone that need a site to your services and won't tell them what i paid either. I'd like to use you webmaster service but will need to recoup some cash first. Thanks again. Carter

Once final payment was made by Mr. Carter I uploaded all files live to his hosting that he provided me and made the site live here www.astepupstairways.com.

Two days later I received this email:

http://www.templatemonster.com/website-templates/21790.html

WoW! Thanks Tom. YOur girl thought that was your best work yet huh? Did you telll her it wasn't even yours. All that crying you did about the coding that you didn't even do! Look like I need to start all over with a real web designer. In the mean time, I'll figure out a solution. Off to work for me now.

And a threatening voice mail laced with curse words.

I have a rebuttal package prepared for the paypal dispute officer that included all 51 emails and recorded threatening voice mail. I am prepared to take full legal action torward Mr. Carter - I request he refrain from calling my work cell phone - I do not want another freelance web designer to fall victim to someone who tries to dispute via paypal to recoup funds for a job well done.

Tom Collins


---------------------------Please Read-------------------------------------------
From Buyer - Carter Forbes5/8/2009 18:25 PDT
I made peace with it. Tom did spend alot of time working on the site whether his presentation of services was acurate or not. I will be happier moving forward than dredging around in this mess.

If I was a betting man Mr Carters business will have at least 4 or more complaints on this website with in one month - stay tuned

Again - You cannot please everyone no matter how hard you try

It is a well known fact that a high percentage of freelance designers use templates just google it. He still has his website up correct? I have done well over 30 sites this year - please view all testimonials here:

http://www.9andsomechange.com/allhtml/source/index.html

also here

http://www.9andsomechange.com/allflash/source/index.html

-------------------------------Please Read--------------------------------------

I would like paypal to investigate these alegations asap. Mr. Carters Dispute has no truths what so ever and I do not want this to happen to another freelance web designer.

Mr Carter and I had an agreement to create a website for his company - www.astepupstairways.com - I outbid his second option by $60 dollars for a 7 page website. I created his site with a template I purchased from www.templatemonster.com which I do for 80% of my clients. The agreed price for the project was a flat rate of 400.00 - the project ended up being 21 PAGES - 14 MORE PAGES than I quoted Mr Carter for. He called me to make me aware of the increase in pages. I told Mr. Carter since this is going to be a great addition to my portfolio that I would do the extra work at no extra cost - he than stated I deserved a bonus of some kind once the project was complete. The site is still live and I am 100% sure he will use this site to catapult his marketing and customer service aspects of his business. I have all copies of emails along with a threatening voice male laced with curse words. Here is a list of emails received from Mr Carter:

1. YOU ARE d**n GOOD at whaqt you do. I love the photoshoping. Some of my images have shoes but leave them. It's ok if their not on the front page. I'm sure i can get a builder or someone to use your services. Keep up the good work. I'll send an outline later along with the files. Thanks again for the great work.

2. Dude! That looks killer!! I'm glad I chose you to do the redesign!!!!! I hope the products page comes out as nice. After that, I have a few very small requests but we'll get to that later so we can get it all at once. The site is looking great!

3. Tom, Thank you so much for the incredible redesign of astepupstairways.com I had no idea I'd be getting results like that. Your talent is unrivaled as is the value of your services.

Expect more work to be sent your way. THANK YOU CarterForbes

- If this works, email me back and I'll send paym

From Seller - Thomas Collins5/8/2009 17:07 PDT
part 2 of message that was cut off

4.Very Cool! I know you worked your a*s off on that. I hope your satisfied with the terms. It should be a nice addition to the portfolio too. I will gladly refer anyone and everyone that need a site to your services and won't tell them what i paid either. I'd like to use you webmaster service but will need to recoup some cash first. Thanks again. Carter

Once final payment was made by Mr. Carter I uploaded all files live to his hosting that he provided me and made the site live here www.astepupstairways.com.

Two days later I received this email:

http://www.templatemonster.com/website-templates/21790.html

WoW! Thanks Tom. YOur girl thought that was your best work yet huh? Did you telll her it wasn't even yours. All that crying you did about the coding that you didn't even do! Look like I need to start all over with a real web designer. In the mean time, I'll figure out a solution. Off to work for me now.

And a threatening voice mail laced with curse words.

I have a rebuttal package prepared for the paypal dispute officer that included all 51 emails and recorded threatening voice mail. I am prepared to take full legal action torward Mr. Carter - I request he refrain from calling my work cell phone - I do not want another freelance web designer to fall victim to someone who tries to dispute via paypal to recoup funds for a job well done.

Tom Collins


---------------------------Please Read-------------------------------------------
From Buyer - Carter Forbes5/8/2009 18:25 PDT
I made peace with it. Tom did spend alot of time working on the site whether his presentation of services was acurate or not. I will be happier moving forward than dredging around in this mess.

If I was a betting man Mr Carters business will have at least 4 or more complaints on this website with in one month - stay tuned

Again - You cannot please everyone no matter how hard you try

As an outsider, I have a rather unbiased opinion.

I have taken a look at 9andsomechange.com, and the remarkable thing is, just about every single design on his site is a template that is mass-produced and sold in bulk.

Let's add some proof to his deceitful ways.

First we'll start off with some of "his" so-called designs from the Flash examples on 9andsomechange:

Now Tom, claims that he designed this site.

http://www.castromassage.com/

He has mislead the customer by claiming to design custom sites when in actuality he is buying cheap templates and claiming the work as his own. Just look at the template he purchased.
http://www.templatemonster.com/flash-templates/15135.html

Doesn't that look just like the one for castromassage? It is the exact same!

Well, one example is just not enough, so lets add more.

Here is a private law firm that he claims to be the website designer/creator.

http://abpfirm.com/

A simple google search for Template 23846 returns numerous pages of results.

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=template+23846&fp=1&cad=b

Again, the client has been mislead into purchasing a cheap template that Tom claims as his own work.

In his emails, he claims his latest work for
http://astepupstairways.com

But again, I can find this template online -
http://www.templatemonster.com/website-templates/21790.html

Now certainly there is nothing wrong with using a template on his own site, after all, if he can't even design anything original for his clients, why would be design anything for his own site?

Let's compare his site to my research.

www.9andsomechange.com

My my, doesn't that look and function just like this template? http://www.templatemonster.com/flash-templates/21357.html


There is certainly nothing wrong with using a template IF the client/customer is made aware of it, but that is far from the truth in these cases. There is no reason to spend hundreds of dollars with this man for templates that you can purchase yourself.

Buyer Beware!

After recieving an email with nothing but curse words and an upset client telling me to google my company the next day to see how he would place this non true story #1 on google I must respond. ALL GRAPHIC WORK REQUIRES HALF PAYMENT UPFRONT! He contacted me about doing a logo for his website - he send me $20.00 via paypal - I did the logo and after he had told me how bad it was he requested a full refund - I had spent 2 hours on logo - and advised him that I can refund him for the work that I had put in. This is the very first time I have had such an upset client. Please view my website here:
www.9andsomechange.com to view all of my clients along with testimonials and feel free to contact any one of them before we team up and do business.