I need advise of something in regards to web designing. Around 2months ago I needed to have a web site deigned, I was approached by a friend of mine offering to take this project on.

2weeks after I was approached by them I gave them the specifications of he site, happy to take he project on board they gave me a quote for the job. 2weeks later I met up with them and gave them a 50% deposit, to obviously get the projected started. When giving hem the deposit I stated:
(a) I need a landing/holding page that obviously states site under construction and it was literally the first and very important factor I needed to be up within the first week or two.
(b) I gave a month deadline to have designs of a layout or concept for my website
(c) I also then gave 2months for the overall projected o be completed
(d) I gave a detailed publication stating what m company does etc etc.

Last week was the due date for the 1 month deadline, and in last week I’m chasing up the designer(friend) for just a landing page that hasn’t been designed till. So I decided to terminate his involvement on the project on the basis that:
(a) his work rate was unsatisfactory, utterly poor and unproductive.
(b) I hadn’t seen any work from him
(c) he hasn’t attempted to do what he has been paid for
I believe I gave him more then nough information and direction to what I wanted and he’s clearly failed to produced that. Upon requesting and as soon I did request for my deposit, he then claimed he wants to be paid for his efforts.

I expressed the following he hasn’t showed or mentioned any designs within the past month, cancelled progress meetings where we are meant to meet up for updates on the project, within emails we have communicated across to each other it’s clear he hadn’t started this project once again proving there has been no work designed and lastly until I terminated his involvement he then mentioned and the 1st ever mention of deigning a landing page.

I wanted to know If I’m entitled to a full refund and how do I go bout getting it?

So much of business and repeat business boils down to your approach and attitude with your clients. But it is a two way street.

let them know their special.

their special.

>.<

I agree with pretty much everything else in here though. It’s a good list.

For new contracts, (I ALWAYS have a contract in place) I take 30% deposit, 30% progress payment and then balance due on completion. As Richard says above, I don’t always take a deposit if it is a repeat client.

Also, please use a spell checker before hitting that “Post” button!!

There are circumstances where a deposit isn’t always necessary, for example when doing further work for an existing client, particularly if they were happy with your previous work and paid on time.

Hourly rates are good but generally the expectation is for a fixed price, or at least a very small range of costs. Hourly rates come into their own for additional work outside the scope of the project.

For anything more than a small project it is essential to have a contract in place. This protects both parties from various eventualities. For example, if your client provides you with an image which you incorporate into the web design, and then it turns out the client doesn’t have permission to use the image who is liable? Without a contract that could be a tricky one to resolve. It would also protect the client from situations like the one highlighted in the comments where a developer walks away from a project with the deposit.