Need help with webcompany

[fastprint.co.uk]

We have 2 projects currently with a web company we need advice on

Number one) We paid (£30,000) and it was a very complex build as it was more software based , but once delivered it had a lot of bugs and the fix's have not been going to plan and it has taken them 6 months to tell us what they have built needs reworking by bringing a 3rd party in and they will get back to us? - it looks like they where out of there depths with this and it has backfired

I was thinking of taking this to a solicitor if nothing is done soon, I have suggest them a 50% refund until sorted what do you think?

Number Two) they extended this project by 6 weeks due to me dragging my feet for 2 weeks on the above invoices (as i could see issues) which they where saying if not paid they would not continue till i paid which it did and 3 months later they are now telling me they cannot fix it until they bring in a 3rd party.

They have now delivered the second project a few days ago and it was full of bugs and issues which where obvious when just using it as normal, now they are taking there time to fix it but expect us to pay the invoice.

The issue I have is that they never deliver items on time but expect us to pay in full, is there anything we can do in future to make sure we are not always losing out on late delivery such as a reduced fee's etc (it just feels like they can delay things but never lose out).

I must be in the wrong business as I have had credit card claim backs, legal action and county court claims due to late delivery of printed items when machines have gone down but I feel like we have had a are trousers pulled down with all this.

 

[Alan]

What do the contracts say about time & quality?

 

[fastprint.co.uk]

I do not think the project overview covers this and have never seen a contract or signed anything, They just have this which is a simple get out of jail free card as they can say things where not as simple as they had planned etc

"The following table sets out the project checklist and tasks scheduled to launch. Note that this checklist is fluid and could change as new tasks and requirements become apparent"

but surly somewhere we should be covered under fit for purpose?

 

[fisicx]

Are they going to fix the bugs?

As you suggest, it looks like they couldn't deliver and now don't know what to do.

The problem you have is unless they finish the project you don't have a working product. Which means you may end up having to pay them now and then take them to court afterwards.

But without a contract this is going to be difficult. What where they doing that was going to cost £30K?

 

[fastprint.co.uk]

Do you think even though they have admitted the first project does not work till sorted by a 3rd party it should still not be in our rights to get a refund or at least a partial one?

The thing is though if we bring legal action about this project they may rush to complete it due to fear of the unknown as I would personally push to complete it rather than be dragged though court (it is over 10K so would go though court).

 

[fisicx]

Yes you could expect a refund but I suspect they don’t have the money. Which means legal action.

Is the product usable? Does it do what it is supposed or do the bugs mean it just doesn’t work? Could it be fixed by somebody else?

 

[KAC]

That was a lot of money to pay without a contract

 

[The Resolver]

Even without a formal written contract or terms and conditions, they have a duty to apply a reasonable standard of care and expertise to he project including both as to both the quality of the work and the time taken.

This sort of dispute is ideal for an online mediation with a blind bidding tool (where parties enter bids that are not disclosed until they become close enough or overlap.)

Happy to offer such and to speak to the developers to encourage their participation. Better all round than both of you putting up the barricades behind lawyers.