9.
Re: Trying to find a way to get my money back from a web designing company? Oct 19, 2007 2:57 AM
I had the same problem with a project site that one of my teams was setting up (perhaps the same company). I authorized on-line payment using a credit card (AMEX) through a PayPal portal. Four months later, I was advised that the team hadn't received squat. Like you, I tried to resolve it with the design company myself without success. We then started pursuing all the options suggested above (all of which are good recommendations). The path that ultimately got our money back was having AMEX open an investigation as DomainDiva outlines.
AMEX immediately credited the money back, then contacted the company requiring them to prove the legitimacy of the charge. Here's the unbelievable part: This firm actually sent AMEX 17 pages of generic web page screen shots, each with a stamped approval box that contained initials (not made by anyone in my company) and a date that was ten days after the original credit card charge was processed. They claimed that the work was delivered as agreed and that we signed off. AMEX sent me this "evidence," and advised that they were putting the charge back on our corporate account. Well, not so fast -- the person who did the screen shots left the date in the bottom corner -- a date that was 46 days after I filed the complaint with AMEX. I pointed that fact out, and had Network Solutions (where the domain was registered and hosted) send a letter to AMEX confirming that nothing was ever FTP'd to the domain -- the "under construction" page had resided there from day one. AMEX closed the case, I kept my money, and the whole mess was packed up and sent to the State Attorney General (who got a chance to say, "Don't mess with Texas").
I hope you get equal satisfaction!