I found Web Design Loft on Craigslist advertising a 6 month website maintenance for $499, flat rate. I couldnt find any reports on them online and though none of the references they listed, called me back, I naively decided to give them a try.
I sent Kelly (the owner) my website URL with a complete list of work required and she accepted all of it saying "it's no problem. We'll get it done". I paid up front with PayPal and asked for a timeline on completion of items. After the first week, I asked again and was given a week. A week later, I was again told it would be another week as she was working on it. I asked for a phone conference and was given 7:30pm as the only time available as that's the only time Kellys overseas programmer was available. When I called, no one answered and there was no mailbox to leave a message. I emailed her again and after yet another week, she came back and said the website is "unstable" and the requested changes cannot be made.
Exasperated, I asked why she accepted the agreement in the first place and agreed to all the work before I paid. She offered to create a whole new website from scratch with no extra fees! By now, I was sure that's just another tactic to drag the weeks. I asked her to refund my money if she wasnt able to make the changes. She flatly refused. I filed a claim with PayPal sending them all the info where my work was accepted and the emails where i was told time and again that she is working on it and will complete it and the ones where she refused to do it. PayPal being PayPal only cares about their commissions and the claim resolution guy told me he understands and acknowledges that i was cheated but its PayPal's policy that they dont insure services so they wont refund my money.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Don't EVER use PayPal to pay for any service and WATCH OUT for WEB DESIGN LOFT if you ever see their ad, DONT GET SCAMMED. Spread the word.
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