Fraud Warning!

[Kehlan]

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There is an auction on ebay for a portrait of yourself as a Klingon by an artist called Jon Bass.

This artist is a fraud. I bought one from him last August and as of today I have not received either the portrait or a refund.


Kehlan


[Edit -- Removed eBay auction link]

[Askade]

The link isn't working.

[Kesvirit]

One of many reasons linking to eBay auctions is forbidden according to the Forum Rules and Regs. I have deleted the link; it is enough to know that an artist called Jon Bass works out of eBay cheating Klinfolk out of their hard-earned {DarSekmey}*.

Kehlan, have you gone through eBay’s Security and Resolution Center and buyer protection programs, as well as left negative feedback for the alleged seller?

-=- Kesvirit

*money

[Kehlan]

Kesvirit, at the time he claimed he needed around 6 weks to do the work and then later emaled to ask for more time.  I stupidly left it too late as you ahve to register a  dispute with paypal within 45 days.

Believe it or not, he emailed me around christmas to say it had arriveed back at his address as undeliverable and that he would try again.  Then I got another apology that he was on holiday and would do it when he got back and finally on 5th March I got one last email:

Charlotte,

I appologize for the delay in getting back to you. I'm
away from my office/studio at the moment (vacationing,
actually). I'll be back to bussines as usual next
week, and the portrait issue should be cleared up
then.

Again, I appologize for the delay. Please continue to
be persistant, though. It keeps the solution to this
forefront in my mind -- which I do appreciate.

So... until next week,

Kind Regards,
-Jon

Since then , nothing.
His excuses were very plausible and I really would hate tosee someone else cheated out of waht are actually quite significant amounts of money as I was.

[Kesvirit]

I'm not sure what else to suggest, except that you take him at his word -- not that his word is good for much -- and be persistant. Politely but firmly nag him on a regular basis and don't be deterred by numerous plausable excuses/sob stories/whatever. Insist that he either owes you the commission you paid for or a refund. I know you shouldn't have to keep at him, but at his own account it will keep the matter fresh in his mind so that he cannot claim to forget about it.

-=- Kesvirit

[Klythe]

     It doesn't sound like he's trying to defraud you.  If he was he wouldn't need to re-establish contact with you at all.   It sounds to me like he has over committed, but is trying to make good on his word.   Keep pestering him regularly so he doesn't forget his debt..