McCombs Creative
Adam McCombs Didn't finish the project they were paid to do

Im posting this to warn other people about working with Adam McCombs at McCombs Creative

Adam J. McCombs
McCombs Creative

On 9-3-10 I signed a contract with Adam McCombs the owner of McCombs Creative to create a website for me. It was suppose to take 5 weeks to finish. However, it is now January 19 4-1/2 months later and the project is still not complete. The total contract price for my website was $4000.00 I paid half of the contract amount upfront $2000.00

On 12-13 I received an email from Adam asking for the final payment of $2000.00 even though the website was not finished. Here is a list of what was not yet complete at the time he asked to be paid in full:

1. There were issues with the main page post alignment. Those issues were never resolved.

2. The website is not cross browser compatible, even though that is part of the contract. Some graphics do not appear in the Google Chrome browser & Internet Explorer Browser.

3. No other page of the website was added, only the main page. Even though I was clear about what websites I was expecting mine to be equal to before we started. I gave him these two examples: www.aonc.com & www.thelaunchcoach.com before we started.

4. The categories, archives, & site map in the footer was never set up.

I sent him an email explaining that I would like to him to finish the project first before I send him the final payment as the contract state.

Then he sent me the following email:

Hey Zack, while I completely understand your concern I dont think you understand my position in this situation. This project was scheduled to be complete 2 months ago and while I think we can agree weve both attributed to delays, Ive easily over extended myself with this project. We went through 2 rounds of logos and 8 rounds of design mockups and we continue to make design changes to what was an approved design. The $4,000 was not an arbitrary number but an estimate of number of hours (80) to complete the work you requested. Ive easily spent over 80 hours on your project and while Im not asking that you pay anything over that amount, I am asking that you fulfill our original agreement.

Im all for long standing relationships too but not under the gun of withholding payment. I am more than happy to complete your last round of revisions but not until the outstanding invoice has been fulfilled. I understand that you want to get the best possible website out of this project and Im willing to continue to work with you on that front. Once I receive payment I will be happy to help you wrap up the site under the scope of our original agreement. If you do not want to wait on the mail, you can also send the remaining balance via paypal to email address

I ask that you kindly remit payment so we can complete this project in a reasonable manner.
Adam J. McCombs
McCombs Creative
The contract was not for a number of hours. It was for completing the project. And the project was not complete. He stated not under the gun of withholding payment. I didnt owe a payment until the project is complete as stated in the contract. We did go through a number of revisions but I was never told at any point there were any excessive changes. He actually held my website ransom for early payment or he would not complete the project. I guess Im naive because I paid him the final payment before the website was complete because I really just wanted to have my website done. I assumed he would keep his word and finish it.

On December 28th I sent him a list of only three items, one very obviously a part of the contract and Ill quote the contract here: Cross-browser compatible (IE-8, FF3.5, Chrome, Safari) Well my website is not cross browser compatible, so that was never even checked.

He responded on January 6th with this email:

Hey Zack, I did. Im in LA this week visiting family so Ill try and work on your changes tomorrow.

Ill be in touch soon.
Adam J. McCombs
McCombs Creative

He never completed any changes and has ignored all my emails & phone calls since then. Here are my last 3 emails that have all went unanswered:

January 13th

Hey Adam,

Can you send over the info & files when you get a chance? Also let any word on the additional work?

Thanks

Zack

January 17th

Hey Adam,

I understand if youre too busy for small work but Id really appreciate it if you could send me this info:

I need a few things in case I want to work on some advertisments, A/B testing, conversion etc.

1. The different font types used for:

A. The e in eDating in the header.

B. The rest of the fonts in the header Dating Doc

C. The font used in the 2nd banner Top-Notch Internet Dating Advice for Men etc.

D. Fonts used everywhere else.

2. The Hex & RGB color codes for the blue, light blue, red & grey used.

3. The PSD files for the site for when I want to do some A/B split tasting ata later date.

Hope you had a great holiday.

Sincerely,

Zackary

January 19th

Hey Adam,

I could really use the PSD files. Can you hook me up?

Zackary

? Ill post a link to the actual contract when I post it online.

Please see the Better Business Bureau Case # 90193*

Company: McCombs Creative
Country: USA
State: Texas
City: San Marcos
Address: 1201 Debbie CT
Phone: 5125655031
Site: mccombscreative.com

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