Web developer dispute

[Tommyr]

Following a contract to migrate our website onto Magento

we hired a free lance web developer to do this.

The Company who i will not name yet has done 80% of the work but we have found serious browser presentation issues to the point where the problem means if you are are on IPAD or mobile device you cannot now place an order ( 17% of our traffic comes from these mobile devices)

Following the report of the issue to the web developer, they came back and said they dont have enough time to solve the issue and it will be a further amount of money ( close to £750)

We have refused to pay this because on the invoice which we paid in full the one of the conmpany jobs mentioned says "check across all browsers and devices"

Further evidence including skype which they acknowledge the problems and mention that they will sort the problem on mobile devices and browsers with problems are also on record.

We have threatned legal action and their response was to threaten "to take off the theme and all work implemented on the website if we go down the legal route.

Would you be able to advise on this matter and how you suggest handling this.

We have to get someone to fix the problem because we are loosing sales, but I feel companies like that should be names and shamed..

Just such bad business

 

[Websitehandyman]

Ok, I know what I would do with threats like that.

Get control of your site and it's data, change the password for the site and the FTP access.

Find someone to put it right and then send them the bill. In business you don't have time to be pissed about so solve the issue that costing you money first then relax while to deal with the developer who thinks he/she is god.

 

[Tommyr]

Ok, I know what I would do with threats like that.

Get control of your site and it's data, change the password for the site and the FTP access.

Find someone to put it right and then send them the bill. In business you don't have time to be pissed about so solve the issue that costing you money first then relax while to deal with the developer who thinks he/she is god.

excellent advice. i very much appreciate it.. if you can solve the issue for us id gladly receive a quote from you

Tom

p.s today I changed all passwords, and backed up both websites. We have put in over 100 hours work and i am worried sick but I dont know any other way the person can get hold of anything.

The theme that they bought was from hellow themes. I just hope there is no way they can revoke it as they own the account for the themes

 

[Websitehandyman]

Sorry I don't do this type of work. I tend to only give free advice on here.

If no one else contacts you I might be able to pass on your details to someone I use.

 

[The Resolver]

From what you have said you seem to have a strong claim that they are in breach and must put right. Its an ideal issue for mediation since the developers stand to lose much business once you commence a controlled adverse review campaign (trustpilot.com etc). So far better they resolve this with you before you do that.

Good advice from websitehandyman on getting control of the site. I gather from your last post that one problem may be with the theme. The answer may be to set up your own account with Hellow Themes and licence he theme yourself and then populate with the backed up data. You also need to control the hosting and domain. If you do not then set up your own account and rebuild with the theme and data and point the domain to the new IP address. If this too technical I feel sure you can hire someone from UKBF to help out.

I can help with the negotiation and adverse review work if you wish. You obviously have to steer clear of defamation (just set out the facts, which speak for themselves, and do not include comment on them as people or quality fo work etc) but that does not look a problem given what you have said.

 

[weightllp]

Hello -

whilst new on this forum (I joined for completely different reasons to participate) I start to get involved and can see the problems of business owners which simply don't exist for me. And I am more than happy to help or point you in the right direction. Most of the topics I looked at are ridiculously simple and even the advice of so called 'members' seems sometimes 'screwing fellow members'... or advertising something for a fee - for something which is free.

Here is what you do:

1. You are in charge of your domain. At least you should be. Log in to your main account, (domain level) where you registered and change the password.
2. Log in to your hosting account. Change ALL passwords. Main one - and in particular the FTP passwords for you site. MAKE NOTES of those.
3. Create a FULL back-up via CPANEL (Full back-up) and download to your computer.
4. Talk or contact guys like 'troxsol' (they are well cool and know their stuff) explain what the problem is.

Hope that is helping a bit - at least it's free!