beware: bambi./legalize-meth

[sadikisawa.livejournal.com]

4/6/14 UPDATE: this commission has now been paid for!!

WHO: bambi. on FurAffinity, also known as legalize-meth (previously catkisses and corrosive-catfish) on deviantART

WHERE: the commission was arranged over deviantART. communication later moved to FurAffinity.

WHAT: Bambi contacted me on deviantART looking to commission two character reference sheets. my price for reference sheets was $30 each, so at $60, this was my highest-paying commission to date. normally, I had always asked for full payment before I would start a commission. in this case, given the high price, I made the horrible and foolish decision to finish one reference sheet before full payment was due, then finish the second reference sheet after the payment had been given. after finishing the first sheet, Bambi decided she only wanted the one, and the second commission was dropped. despite numerous reminders since then, the $30 reference sheet has never been paid for.

WHEN: Bambi gave me the initial details for her desired commissions on July 24th, 2013. the first reference sheet was finished to her liking on August 29th. on Sept. 20th, she was reminded that she still needed to pay for the commission. on Oct. 14th, she sent the incorrect payment ($60 instead of $30). I should have accepted this payment and sent back the additional $30, but instead I denied the payment and sent a paypal invoice asking for the proper amount. since then, many reminders have been sent to her, some answered and some ignored, but no payment.

PROOF:

screenshot of the conversation starting Sept 20th requesting payment. last reply was received on Oct 14th, and she did not respond again

in November, discussion about the commission switched over to FA. you'll notice in these screenshots that I am being ENTIRELY too lenient about the payment and too gentle with her, for fear of irritating her. this has definitely been a learning experience, and I now know it's my right in this situation to, you know, crack the whip.

first round of screenshots, second round of screenshots

she has read, but not responded to my last note sent on March 7th.

EXPLANATION: unfortunately, this situation is largely my fault for A. failing to demand full payment upfront, and B. being a little too kind and patient and thus drawing the situation out much longer than I should have. I have since written up a full terms of service and will never again make art for someone without receiving payment first. the mistakes have been made, and that can't be changed, and now I'm not really sure where to go from here! judging from the information on her FA profile, she seems to have taken multiple commissions, commissioned other artists, and even announced her plans to purchase a $3600 fursuit in the time that I have been waiting for payment. I'm sure she has (or has had) the money, and I'm not sure why she is so unwilling to just pay the debt.

if you are an artist who does not ask for full payment up front, I would certainly watch out for her.

Comments

[demons-haven101.livejournal.com]

If there was no adult content in the art work, you could possibly report her paypal (or the paypal you got the original payment from) for failure to pay. Call and talk to a paypal rep, they should be able to tell you what you need to have for proof. And send another note to her stating you are reporting the account she sent money through. That might push her to pay you for your work. And even if the paypal is not hers, perhaps if the account got a penalty on it, it would put pressure on her from another side. If anything, it could make her rethink doing this again in the future.

[exo-formicidae.livejournal.com]

problem is... Paypal and digital goods. I don't remember their TOS completely right now, but I know they usually side with the buyer when It comes to digital commissioners. Especially if the artist have no proof of sending anything (i.e a usb stick with the file)

[demons-haven101.livejournal.com]

If the option "no shipment required" was checked, there shouldn't be an issue with that at all. However, if paypal believes there was shipment required, then that could very well be an issue. The way I see it is, the worst they can say is no. It doesn't seem as if the commissioner is willing to pay on their own, so it could very well be the only possible option. I've found that if you are real nice to paypal reps on the phone and try to explain the situation as best you can, they are much more helpful. And if the notes state that the piece is to be delivered digitally and not physically that would also help for providing proof.

[doggiy.livejournal.com]

Woah, what... I'm friends with Bambi., didn't expect to see her on here! I'm sorry about the situation and I hope it gets resolved soon. :

[magicporpoise.livejournal.com]

She is clearly taking advantage of your kindness. I know it's hard to be demanding, I hope you get it resolved. Thanks for the beware.

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

Geeze with a name like that I think that would have been my first clue that this person maaaay not be that trustworthy with money

[thaily.livejournal.com]

People can have an "3dgy" name and still be trustworthy.

[hipakipa.livejournal.com]

I've told someone about this post that is friends with that person, hopefully they can poke them and you can get your money back

[strawberrymilk kitty (from livejournal.com)]

I still feel so bad about this sob.
None the less, lessoned learned to get my butt in gear when sending payments not not keep putting it off.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

I have marked this as resolved.