I contracted Michael Truitt from Fingerprint Studios to design a custom social networking website for me on October 31. The contract was for approx. $8,000 and the term was for 1 month. The money was to be paid in incriments... Half up front, 1 quarter when designs and demo were setup and 1 quarter when the site was finished.
After the initial month was complete, Michael said that they were experiencing production delays because they didn't take into account the size of our project. He said they were custom writing new scripts for features that would be unique to my website and that I was going to end up getting a more complex website than what I paid for.
Through January Michael provided me with a mach up of the site and 1 html page that was uploaded to our domain as an outline for our home page. He then asked for a payment, which I made. The 1 page outline was then taken down.
"Production Delays" went on through February. On March 1, Michael uploaded a very complex social networking website that seemed to meet all our expectations. He then asked for half the final amount, which I paid because I was happy with what he seemingly developed for me.
About 2 weeks later, I found a link that was left on my website that directed me to a company called Rsitez. Rsitez is a company that leases social networking software on a monthly or yearly basis for around $700 a year. The software was exactly what was uploaded to my site by Michael Truitt.
I contacted Michael to ask what I had found. Michael then claimed that Fingerprint Studios was partners with Rsitez. He also said that they helped them develope the software and that they have full rights to sell the finished product.
I contacted rsitez and received an e-mail statement saying that Fingerprint was not partners with them, did not help them create any of their technology or software and that they were immediately cancelling their contract with Fingerprint for the leased software. I now have no website and I am out $7,000.
At this point It has been almost 5 months since our contract deadline, and Michael refuses to return my money. I am out $7,000 and I have nothing to show for it. Michael Truitt provided me with leased copyrighted software that he claimed was his own work to sucker me into paying him when he never actually designed anything.
I am from New Jersey and the contract is governed by Florida law which makes it difficult for me to pursue legal action. I have no doubt that Michael Truitt knew this from the beggining and took advantage of the situation. DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH FINGERPRINT STUDIOS, FINGERPRINT WEBWORKS or MICHAEL TRUITT!
I have documented proof of everything I claim.
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