Urgent Advice Needed (RESOLVED)

[fromeyo.livejournal.com]

This is my first time posting to Artist Beware's, so I hope I am following the correct proccedures for this. At the moment, I am only looking for advice, but I will post a beware if needed.

I originally commissioned an artist for an image of my character roughly a week ago, to be done in stream that night. The artist had posted slots for the commission, and they filled rather quickly. I paid right away. However, mine was not done in stream due to the artist being out of several time zones, I believe, causing most commissioners to be out of the stream while she was doing it. She then decided to stream the next night, which she didn't.

A few days fast forward and I awoke to a journal by them saying they were going on a 2 month hiatus, because their heart wasn't in it to draw anymore. Normally, I would understand, but they 1.) Deactivated their PayPal and 2.) Disabled their notes, while also stating that they may draw their own characters in time and that they simply needed the money faster than they could complete commissions.

I am rather upset and miffed about this, it really seems like they are trying to run off with everyone's money, especially since they deactivated their PayPal after more than likely pulling all of the money out of it. I am on the verge of writing an email under right now demanding a refund, but should I wait and be patient with them? I was not warned of their artist's block when paying for the piece.

Edit: Artist swiftly delivered a refund after contact through email was made, and handled themselves professionally throughout it. Beware will not be posted.

Comments

[spartanwerewolf.livejournal.com]

That's a very large nope- I'd not only email the artist, I'd contact paypal as well, to see if there's anything they can do for you. If you paid, you have a right to that service in a timely fashion. Who's to say that, after the hiatus, they won't "forget" they owed you art?

The streaming, okay, I get that/can let that slide, but if the artist is going on hiatus, they either need to finished owed work first, or refund everyone they owe.

[fromeyo.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the advice, should I ask for a refund? I do not want to go in any further with the artist-They have lost a large amount of respect from me.

Two month hiatus is one thing-Disabling the one way I can get a refund if needed is another.

[spartanwerewolf.livejournal.com]

100% yes!

[jebboy.livejournal.com]

100% write an email about a refund. If they refuse then contact paypal.
This is not okay and if she is just changing paypal accounts and telling people the new one that would be one thing. Doing it without telling anyone is another thing though.

[fromeyo.livejournal.com]

Email has been sent. This leaves a bad taste in my mouth....I hate being this stern but it honestly feels like they're going to try to jump ship.

[aerospiritual.livejournal.com]

Yeah, no, you don't just take commissions and then up and leave for an extended period of time to focus on something unrelated on top of making contact difficult; it's a job, it's a contract, the artist is obligated to get the work done or issue refunds.

I hope your e-mail goes over well and you get your refund.

[hunty belmnt (from livejournal.com)]

OH HELL NO. The artist is more then likely screwing people out of money so go straight to paypal.

Editing because can't type properly - also post a beware on this artist so no one else gets strung along.

[cat-flower.livejournal.com]

"Normally, I would understand, but they 1.) Deactivated their PayPal"

That's a big ol' red flag right there.

"2.) Disabled their notes, while also stating that they may draw their own characters in time and that they simply needed the money faster than they could complete commissions."

Yeah, no. That's not how that works. You don't get to keep and use the money you haven't earned. I understand being under a lot of stress and what-have-you, but it doesn't make it okay to take payment and then immediately say you're going on hiatus.