I'm not looking for this to be a beware, but I do need advice. I apologize if I make mistakes here. First time posting.
In May I sent a friend money of $70 to help them as they were in a financial situation. They asked if I wanted a writing piece (as that is what they offered at the time for commissions) in return and my first prompt was to say no but after consideration, decided to take them up on the offer. We both agreed they would do work for the money and they placed me on an explicitly stated "commissions -- paid" list.
Fast forward a few months later, I inquire about changing the prompt as they had not started yet and they agreed to do so and marked the changes as such on their list. In August I asked about any updates as I had noticed their list had not changed since May and was given a rather (in my opinion) snarky response that commented on my business practices and gave me no answer. This was the beginning of our falling out.
I had not spoken to them for a few days after that and when checking for updates noticed I had been removed from the list (I unfortunately don't have screen of the list with me being on it because I did not think I would need to take one). They ignored the first email I sent to them about completion or a refund and when I send a second email (this month), they told me they would not refund me as I had not followed their ToS by giving them the information first before sending the money, despite them offering to do the commission and making absolutely no mention of the ToS.
I'm in a terrible bind on what I can do legally. The money was, at first a gift, but turned into a commission that was acknowledged by both parties and them not delivering on the agreed upon work is what I am bothered by.
In May I sent a friend money of $70 to help them as they were in a financial situation. They asked if I wanted a writing piece (as that is what they offered at the time for commissions) in return and my first prompt was to say no but after consideration, decided to take them up on the offer. We both agreed they would do work for the money and they placed me on an explicitly stated "commissions -- paid" list.
Fast forward a few months later, I inquire about changing the prompt as they had not started yet and they agreed to do so and marked the changes as such on their list. In August I asked about any updates as I had noticed their list had not changed since May and was given a rather (in my opinion) snarky response that commented on my business practices and gave me no answer. This was the beginning of our falling out.
I had not spoken to them for a few days after that and when checking for updates noticed I had been removed from the list (I unfortunately don't have screen of the list with me being on it because I did not think I would need to take one). They ignored the first email I sent to them about completion or a refund and when I send a second email (this month), they told me they would not refund me as I had not followed their ToS by giving them the information first before sending the money, despite them offering to do the commission and making absolutely no mention of the ToS.
I'm in a terrible bind on what I can do legally. The money was, at first a gift, but turned into a commission that was acknowledged by both parties and them not delivering on the agreed upon work is what I am bothered by.
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My advice at this point is, if you want to remain friends with this person: do nothing. Let it slide, learn from it, and move on.
If you no longer are/wish to be friends with this person: Do the same as above, keep nagging them for the work you are owed, or post a proper beware.
I would speculate that originally they were overjoyed with your donation and wanted to do something nice for you, but they probably got distracted with "real" commissions. Because you weren't a "real" commissioner and were just going to give them the money anyway they managed to justify to themself that they didn't need to do your piece.
I understand you're not wanting to make it a beware, but sometimes people just need that tap on the shoulder to realise that they can't just take advantage of people.
My biggest worry is looking like an a*s making an issue out of this but I don't rightly feel it's fair they backed out of agreeing to do work for the money.
Let it slide?? This person took money and later on agreed to provide a product. That person now refuses to give a product in return, and that is absolutely illegal.
Though I don't think it'd be exactly morally right to ask for a refund since it was originally given as a gift, their TOS doesn't trump the law, and in a commission situation they can't keep the money just because their TOS wasn't followed, and if you have proof on that discussion, it'd be something to put on the Beware if you choose to do one.
Certainly learned my lesson in this. :/
Mentioned above, I agree that your friend was probably so happy with the contribution they wanted to show their gratitude with writing, and probably never thought of your commission as a commission, but more like a thank you gift, even after accepting it as such. Their continued responses are pretty clear to show they knew they should not have taken on your piece as a commission; it should have remained as just a gift. Their responses are immature and terribly rude considering you were there to help them out of a jam.
So you have to decide, what's more important; your continued friendship with this person, or a refund/product. Because chances are you can't have it all. Yes, they took a deal to give you something in return for the gift money, yes they should have held up their end. Yes, their continued hostility toward you is a pretty clear indicator they know they're in the wrong. Yes, you had an agreement, and chances are if you pursue the money you can get it back, eventually.
If you're ever going to give friends money, it's best to not think of it as a loan, or expect compensation in return (if offered, say thanks but no thanks, and tell them to just get themselves back on track). Just give it as a gift that they need, and hopefully someday they can return the favour. I would probably break all ties for now, give them time to get their head straight. Their attitude is a defense mechanism to push guilt off of them, and you don't need to deal with that. I'm not sure I'd write a beware, tho' I can see why the precedent is there.