Advice

[teekchan.livejournal.com]

A user (I'll keep them unnamed for now) is claiming I owe them a commission. They refused to post a note or paypal screencap of said transaction and ended up turning to insults.

"ok let me note you then.
also i liked your art better when you were at DA.
i hate your new art its revolting and your anatomy sucks.
I just want my money back ive been waiting forever"

"I already said it. Dumbass. Try checking your owed list. "

"Wow you really art dumber than I thought you were. "

Even after asking multiple times for a paypal screencap, he refuses. He said I accepted the commission via DeviantART, and provided a username which is not mine. He keeps insisting it is me, and refuses to provide a screenshot and keeps threatening me with AB and reporting on FA. I keep asking for screencap, yet he refuses. For reference my dA account is under the username 'eatdicks' and I do not owe any commissions on it at all. I have also only owned one paypal, which I got when I joined FA, and I can have people back this up as well due to repeat commissions who had commissioned me back then. As of now he said he is noting me, but yet I have nothing.

I'm afraid to block him and have him go to the FA mods as they aren't really the best as looking in to things, and I don't want to be branded as a scammer because they didn't look in to it.

In all honesty he just seems like the kind of guy to not stop, no matter what, and I'm really tempted to just send him money, if it's just a small amount, to get him off my back.

What should I do?

EDIT - He has yet to note me, and posted rude comments on my ID. I have opened a TT for harassment.

Comments

[amocin.livejournal.com]

I would tell him to bugger off. If he cant provide you with any details to prove you were paid, what is there to refund? An email address would do even, that way you could look up any transactions under that email. If he reports you to FA and you are banned, contact them and tell them they were wrong to ban you for something they have no proof of, and that you have tried to resolve things with the user but they were unable to give you any clue as to who they are. Its not your fault that he isnt cooperating.

If an AB is posted here, you kinda need proof, and seeing as he is unwilling to give it to you, he is not gonna give it to us.

[toscaterrier.livejournal.com]

It really, really sounds like he's just trying to scam you. Don't give him any money, and take it to the FA mods as a preemptive measure in case he does try to report you—that way you have a leg to stand on if he does so.

[exo-formicidae.livejournal.com]

Do not give him any money - unless he provides proof.

It sounds like a really rude person, possibly trying to bully you into paying something you don't owe at all, and if you buckle it will give the go ahead for him to try the same on other artists :/

I get why you don't want to block them, but if they don't post any proof, the FA would have no reason to ban you - if you are worried maybe drop a mod a note about the user? maybe they have gotten more note about the same user even.

AB I wouldn't worry too much about, as if he can't provide any proof.

[dripbat.livejournal.com]

I'd say contact a mod yourself, say they are harassing you for a refund when they have no proof that a transaction ever took place. If they keep hounding you, then report it. You're tried getting the information from them, they won't give it. I think you've done all you can for them. I'm guessing they just have the wrong person.

[lovegonnadrown.livejournal.com]

He has no reason not to provide you with proof of his claims, unless he doesn't have any, which means he is most likely trying to scam you. Block him, report him and don't let him get to you. You've already gone to the mods so they should be aware of the situation or should be able to look deeper into it if need be-don't worry too much about that. The guy clearly has no leg to stand on.

[rika-wulf.livejournal.com]

This sounds a lot like a user I dealt with about a year ago. He kept insisting I owed him art and got angry with me when I asked for his paypal info. I looked through all my notes and journals as well to try and find ANY interaction with this person, especially since his username didn't ring any bells to me, and never found a thing. Eventually he just gave up after insulting me.

[kaelstra.livejournal.com]

I agree with the others about preemptively contacting a moderator about this person; you keep asking for evidence of an owed commission, and all you get are insults in kind for it. I wouldn't pony up anything until they actually offered some sort of evidence that they were actually owed art.

[tealmoonxiv.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a scammer, don't pay him anything unless there is proof. And be wary of doctored screenshots.

[otherscape.livejournal.com]

If he doesn't want to provide any proof, that's his problem, not yours. I'd just block him.

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

-- block this person now, you've asked for proof several times and there is nothing forthcoming except insults. It's hard for mods to do anything about harassment before you've told the user to cease contact & blocked them, so do that and make a little personal log somewhere of anything they do to get at you further.
-- that "cease and desist" note is not really necessary but can come in handy, just make it brief and blunt. No promises or long explanations, just a simple "you have failed to provide evidence of any transaction between us, and I have no record or recollection of one. Do not contact me further." & block.
-- maybe consider making a full ab post in case this person is doing this to others. I don't think you need to worry about their accusations if you've done due dilligence to figure them out, as you've said above.

[mazz.livejournal.com]

Block him, he's fishing for freebies via bullying.

[dirtiran.livejournal.com]

Yea just sounds like a scammer to me.

Between his attitude, lack of proof, user name and demands. I think he is just harassing you for he fun of it (and hoping to possibly get something out of it.) As the others said, i'd just block and forget :)

[wolf-goat.livejournal.com]

Absolutely do not send him any money or art, even as a token gesture, if he doesn't have verifiable proof. Doing so will only encourage him to bully others with the same tactics.

[neive.livejournal.com]

I know others have already said it, but just wanted to also throw my hand up in that you should absolutely not give him any art or money until there is proof he has a commission from you. He isn't the first and unfortunately wouldn't be the last to try and scam artists with that tactic, especially since he's being nasty about you asking for proof when even most unhappy commissioners are fine with providing proof. How can you even know what to refund him if there's no proof of the initial commission, let alone what art you were "supposed" to do in the first place?

Basically yeah, adding it all up together its way too sketchy, tell him to either pony up the proof or he's being blocked and reported to the mods. After that just wait for them to get around to it unfortunately, I know the speed depends mostly on the individual mod its sent to and how busy they are. :/

[mottenfest.livejournal.com]

When I read the abusive remarks, and that he lacks proof, I instantly thought 'scam'.
Let him know via note that you are not interested in interacting with him further unless he has proof. Don't send them money, don't respond to their comments unless they can give you solid proof you owe them something. If they continue harassing you, I would block them. You've already opened a TT so you've got yourself covered there.

Personally, I would like to know the name of this person, so I can avoid them. Even if they did pay you, their comments are appalling and completely uncalled for.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

I've had someone impersonate me to try and get art from "trades" once, fortunately someone notified me before they could close the deal with someone. I was worried I'd get similar messages as a consequence, maybe that's what happened?

Either way he has no reason or right to treat you like this. If I were you I'd give him an ultimatum; either provide proof of said commission or leave me alone. If he keeps acting like this, you're entirely entitled to make an A_B post about him.

I for one would like to know who it is so I can block them, so I'm hoping you'll make a beware post. This guy sounds like a scammer and a bully.

[kasune.livejournal.com]

I think I may know who this person is- you're not the only person they are doing this to, if I am correct.

Late to this party

[snobahr.livejournal.com]

IF he did, indeed, pay you via PayPal, you can look through your own records. This assumes he's already supplied you with his email address. You could ask him, if he's still harassing you.