File complaint with Better business bureau

**volcom5799** · 07-14-2009 01:21 PM

Please help
Does anyone have any personal experience with filing a complaint against a company with the Better business bureau? A web development company has been screwing around with me and my money for the past year and i have had enough. I have contacted them and they said they would refund my money minus the amount of hours work they have put in (which they could just make up). Still i cant get ahold of anyone there to find out how much the refund would be and if it is fair. I would assume they are going to try and screw me out of every penny so i must take action. If anyone has any advice please speak up. What could the BBB do for me and would i need to get a lawyer to? ( luckily i have a family member that is a top attorney, but choose to wait to contact him till tomorrow )

**PsiPro** · 07-14-2009 01:27 PM

The BBB will take the dispute and contact the business, if they are a member they are obligated(sorta) to respond within X days according to the bylaws. They can also provide mediation but in short they are not terribly helpful IMHO.

**volcom5799** · 07-14-2009 01:36 PM

Thanks. This company is not a member of the BBB. Any other advice?

**stand856** · 07-14-2009 01:37 PM

How did you pay for their services?

**LSnyder** · 07-14-2009 01:37 PM

I agree with PsiPro. Been there, done that and it takes quite a while to respond (if you are lucky enough to get a response)

My suggestion to you would be to send a letter to the company stating exactly what you are looking to resolve. Include any copies of contracts, etc., and send it to them certified mail, return receipt. Give an xx # of days to respond from date of receipt.

Depending on the amount you are looking to have returned there are two ways to go about this (and if you have legal contracts);

1. Retain an attorney
2. Download a pro-Se pack from your local court system and file a motion for small claims court.

IMO - # 2 would be your best way to go.

Good luck.

**volcom5799** · 07-14-2009 01:44 PM

well first the company is in another state, so would filing small claims be difficult? Second my step father is an attorney and i am bringing him in if they try to screw me. I have already sent them a letter certified mail. Contract says they should refund 85% or full payment minus #hours worked on project. Which is what their going to try and pull since its been over a year on a 4month project. If my contract says the timeframe is what was proposed in article # which is the proposal and that is 5 months, is that a breach of contract then since its been over a year with no final product?

**LSnyder** · 07-14-2009 01:50 PM

Well, considering it has been over a year with no final product and considering you have been in touch with them with no end result, I do believe that your next step should be to "retain" your step father and have him send a letter as your attorney.

Is this a large company that was doing this work for you or a smaller business?

Do you have record as to how many actual work hours there were?

What state are you located and the business you are are attempting to recover monies from?

**stand856** · 07-14-2009 01:56 PM

ok one more time, how did you pay for their service or lack of?

**volcom5799** · 07-14-2009 03:17 PM

i paid by business check.
I am in florida and they are in california
I do not have any records or were any give to me dealing with how many work hours were complete. I only have 5 website templates made in basic html which i could have made myself in 5 hours ( not being very skilled in html ) The company is not large maybe 10 employees.

**volcom5799** · 07-14-2009 03:19 PM

They say they are working on looking up how much time was spent on my project and getting back to me by thursday with an estimate. I would think something like that wouldnt take that much time since it should be logged already.....

**stand856** · 07-15-2009 08:11 AM

I guess at this point it won't matter but in the future I would suggest to everyone that if you want to purchase something use your credit card, AMEX would be the best way. If the purchase was made with a credit card that way the charge can be disputed and you won't have to deal with all this BS. Hope this situation gets resolved.