Wondered if any of you guys here could point me in the right direction after not encountering anything like this before.
Client X asked me to produce a website for him a few months back, a shopping cart site to be precise. I originally took a £150 deposit of Client X which I said would also cover the hosting charges as well as any work I do.
So I go away, and after waiting a hell of a long time for any proper content still of which is awfully minimal, I come up with a draft design. Now if the client had liked this design, all it would need was the cart system code slapping in, a few other minor things and away we go. I thought he'd like it as it was a damn nice design, better than his local competitors and many others for that matter. Pretty much straight away he got back to me saying it looked too much like one of the local competitors sites (which was absolutely rubbish).Obviously I didn't say that, instead I emailed him asking him what changes he'd like to be made and if he had any other ideas.
A month and a bit later (a few days ago) I finally had a very short reply containing just a link and something along the lines of "I want something like that website just swap the logo". I've taken a week off from doing any work this week, therefore haven't got round to replying and (I think) because i've obviously not got back to him swiftly enough I received another email.
Not very friendly at all, but asks for the hosting details including the username and password. I expect he's got another poor designer on the case as he wasn't happy enough with me. As it happens I haven't bought the hosting for his site yet, firstly because the site wasn't at the stage to need it (was still designing), secondly not to waste a months hosting with no site and thirdly so I wasn't wasting the deposit money had Client X decided not to pay me overall.
Unfortunately no contracts were drawn up as I usually have very good relationships with my clients and tend to do everything verbally. This will be a learning curve.
So one thing left, what to do now?
1. Purchase the hosting leaving me out of pocket and give him the details
2. Tell him he can't have anything as the £150 is a non refundable deposit to cover my hours or any loss incase of non payment etc
3. Refund his £150 and get rid of him
Or any other ideas...
Muchly appreciated, as you can tell by the time of morning I'm posting this I'm wracking my brains, on my week off as well!
Just one other thing that may be a factor, Client X is built like a brick poohouse!