Advice on how to handle this situation.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

   I'm reluctant to do a beware on this but a commissioner has me a little stressed out lately and I am simply asking for advice on how to handle it. The commission started as a complex part for a Second Life avatar that involves a lot of scripting. After finishing that the commissioner came back wanting it to be bigger and with more features and, though I shouldn't have I agreed to try and make another version and ran into roadblocks on how to finish scripting it.

   Because of these complications the commission took longer then expected and I eventually tried to refund the commissioner telling them that I don't think I'd be able to complete it, who became very disastified afterwards. With a disgruntled commissioner on my hands who refused my refund, I offered to complete them artwork in place of the Second Life build and the commissioner said that the replacement will "have to be at least a 10 page comic." Wanting to satisfy the customer I agreed to it and am currently about halfway through the commission, working on the comic in 5 page intervals.

   But then the commissioner decided that I am to make them the orginal Second Life object anyways, so I'm expected to complete that with now a 20 page comic on top of it. (Note: the commissioner insisted on it being 20 pages after I tried compressing the story they've given into 13) The result is about double the work now for the price of one, and as a result has been taking up my time and filling a slot that other commissions could take up. The whole experience has caused me to stop commissioning for anything Second Life related and since then I've included a TOS point of not communicating except by email (the commissioner used to litterally hound me both on Second Life and on Skype).

   What do I do? I've already tried refunding this person but they won't take it, and I fear they're going to report me on here if I inisit on it. Other commissions have gone quite smoothy it's just this one that's been troublesome.

Please note that I am reluctant to give any names because I really want to avoid a beware before trying to salvage the situation.

EDIT: Looking back on the logs the comic started out 10 pages, but over email I was given a story that I could only compress into 13 pages, only for the commisisoner to insist on it being 20. That's where the 20 page comic came from.

Comments

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

As an update I've payed a refund and am ready to end the commission. If the exchange goes well I think I'm going to decline to make an AB post simply because I really just want to be done with the commission first and foremost.

[devildove.livejournal.com]

I'd like to add my voice to the number of people asking for a full beware. It seems very likely that if this person isn't called on their behaviour then they'll treat other artists they commission in the future the same way. Imagine if someone had posted a beware on this person before they commissioned you - you might have seen it and avoided all of this misery. It would be very generous to help protect future artists from this person.

[tylociraptor.livejournal.com]

So much this.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

He's already seen this journal and the mere threat of posting an AB seemed to hit home, since he's come clean and accepted the refund and thus ended the commission. I'm hoping he'll learn to consider his bad behavior because of the whole ordeal and thus don't want to punish him for accepting the refund.

[devildove.livejournal.com]

Fair enough, of course! I'm really glad you two were able to get it sorted out.

[oceandezignz.livejournal.com]

Do whatever is comfortable for you. If that means no beware, that's fine. Your peace of mind is just as good of a result.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

I kind of want to reward him for accepting the refund to be honest.

[thaily.livejournal.com]

Please don't.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Don't reward him for accepting the refund, but it's okay not to make a beware if you don't feel the need. Please don't feel pressured into doing so.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

Well, I meant it that way anyways. If it's any reassurance the commissioner seems to have been freaked out just stumbling on to this entry, which has caused him to reconsider his behavior and allowed me to try the refund a second time.

My two goals were to end the commission and make it clear that said behavior is not tolerated. I feel like making a beware will only continue the drama that has been happening since the commission started showing problems, as I'm sure he's still lurking about somewhere here.

(frozen comment)

[teekchan.livejournal.com]

Post the AB anyways. You'll be able to warn a lot of people he may commissions in the future and save them from going through what you have.

(frozen comment)

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Alright, the OP has stated several times that they don't want to post an AB. I am asking all of you to please respect that decision and stop pressuring them to do so, it is heading into harassment territory at this point. Any further comments doing so will result in moderator action.