Disputing a charge

[NobodyGotTime4Dat]

I commissioned someone back in early 2019 for a digital art pic---was told that it'd prob take a while due to IRL issues that the artist was dealing with (which is understandable). However 3 months after I had paid for it the user just suddenly went and disabled comments on all their art pieces online. Tried sending several messages to ask if everything was okay but none of my messages weren't replied to (in fact...one of them was just left on read. What??...)

I had assumed the user in particular was still dealing with those issues they mentioned to me prior...however they went ahead and posted a recent art commission pic on their Twitter account while still leaving my other messages on read :l

At this point I had just decided to try and contact the user again so I could just cancel the commission but my messages were still not being replied to. Didn't want to wait any longer for this so I just went ahead and attempted to dispute it today with my bank.

So...yeah. Today was the first time I had ever had to do something like this so I figured I'd ask here out of curiosity: has anyone here ever had to dispute a charge for an art commission they purchased before, or just any sort of purchase in general?

[BogDog]

I've never disputed a charge, but then again I never purchase without using paypal. If there is any conflict or scam, usually PP will refund me and then go after the person(s) themselves.

[Mynock]

Sorry to hear, hope you didn't get hosed too badly.

In general I won't deal with someone who wants all the money for a service upfront. Asking for a security deposit or down payment is ok but it should only be a small percentage of the full amount.

[NobodyGotTime4Dat]

I've never disputed a charge, but then again I never purchase without using paypal. If there is any conflict or scam, usually PP will refund me and then go after the person(s) themselves.

Funny enough I did try to dispute it with PayPal but they closed the case immediately since it was created after the 180-day period, which...unfortunately I hadn't been aware of at the time (though that's admittedly my fault probably)

[NobodyGotTime4Dat]

Just wanted to provide an update to this since I got a response from my bank yesterday.

After their "research"...they decided that I wouldn't be getting my refund since the transaction was "processed correctly and authorized by me."

Are these kinds of decisions final?? I don't deny that either of those two are wrong but the reason I filed the claim in the first place was because I never got the damn art commission after 6 months of waiting AND her going absolutely silent online is preventing her from me being able to get a refund from her. Idk if my bank managed to actually contact the artist for them to come to this decision but I feel cheated. They have a number I can call if I have any questions but I'm not sure if I'd be able to fight it.

If it they *did* contact the artist...am I allowed to ask how they contacted her so I could contact her myself?

[Fred588]

First, I am not a lawyer. I believe if you talk to one he/she will tell you that the bank's responsibility is to prevent fraudulent transactions. Here, the transaction itself was not fraudulent. That is to say, the transaction was authorized. Whether or not you were cheated has nothing to do with the bank. If there was some misfeasance on the part of the person you paid is between you and that person. Your only recourses are 1) to negotiate with that person or 2) to involve a judge by suing that person.

May I add that involving additional people by, for example, talking about the case in any way that identifies the other person is probably not a good idea as if you are unable to document what you say could expose you to being sued. Again, I am not a lawyer. I don't even play one on television.

[NobodyGotTime4Dat]

Not worth the time, stress, and money to go down that suing route all for a fetish commission. I'll pass

I guess I could continue negotiating with the artist but its probably pointless at this point since she's still not reading any of my messages.

[Fred588]

Not worth the time, stress, and money to go down that suing route all for a fetish commission. I'll pass

I guess I could continue negotiating with the artist but its probably pointless at this point since she's still not reading any of my messages.

I think a wise decision. For what its worth similar things happen all the time in this business. I know many models, for example, who have been stood up by photographers with little or no notice. I have had models fail to show up after confirming they were coming just the day before. I have had more than one model ask for a deposit prior to arrival - they failed to get it but I understand why they asked. I know of photographers who have paid a deposit and then been stood up. Sh....., Sh..., er... Stuff happens.
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