web designers who take pay then walk away...solutions?

[defcom2]

any help would be appreciated as to what can be done when a known web solution hosting/designing company takes money for web site design, and never delivers anything.....we spent $1000 out of a $2000 price to have a website designed.....after 11 months all we had was two mockups for one of the inside pages....we had sent our own design to the designer as to how all other pages should look.....

after an incredible 11 months, we had nothing and it was difficult to get replies from the company.....eventually the vp of the company sent us an email giving us a date to show us what they had designed, stating they didn't wish to refund our money, but would prefer to give us the site.......

we showed up on the date, the vp/designer did not show up......we have asked for a refund since he did not meet his own deadline, but have received no replies....this after 11 months of waiting.......

aside from small claims court actions, which we will pursue, and contacting the city attorney of the city they are located in, and filing a better business bureau complaint, and an ftc complaint.......is there anything with teeth in it that fraud victims can do about this? by the way, this was not some scam....this was a known international hosting and design company that simply did not want to get our project done, and did not want to give us our money back, so simply took our money and refuses to deal with us.....basically stealing......

any suggestions aside from the ones we are pursuing above, or any enlightening info regarding the processes mentioned above, would be greatly appreciated.......

[businessdata]

Looks as though you are pursuing all legal avenues as far as possible.

This kind of thing has happened to us on occasion, albeit in the United Kingdom. If the firm is really that well known, I would write them a letter telling them what you are doing in this respect. Also tell them that you will be writing to leading web industry publications, inferring that the resulting negative PR will be very bad for their reputation and business. Write the letter in a way that suggests you would be willing to stop all actions if they succumbed to your requests.

[defcom2]

hi, thanks for your info....unfortunately this company has numerous consumer complaints for made up charges for non-rendered internet service and the like.....they don't seem to care about bad publicity...they do what they want.....that's why i was hoping someone might know of an oversight agency that might be able to do something......will be trying all the obvious ones as mentioned, but any innovative help will be appreciated on how to affect a medium large corp that takes your money for no rendered services, and walks away.....
note, have given them a deadline to return the funds or their name will be mentioned by us in internet forums and such....that is why i have not put their name up for discussion as of yet......thanks again

[businessdata]

Not sure about an 'oversight' agency, but I know some very persuasive kneecappers..

[greeneagle]

We contract everything we do. We attempt to leave no "gray" area. Both parties sign, in a binding contract. If one or the other party defaults, legal remidies are easily expedited. This approach protects everyone involved.

It's that simple, and clients are comfortable engaging in that relationship!

Ken