I've got some trouble with a deal that's been broken.

I'll try to keep this nice and short.

I paid someone a few months ago for the service of a custom avatar. They had vanished right after payment. From what I was able to get from group members, they had virus troubles on their computer, so I waited.

Over the last few months I've watch their online status keep changing, so they're coming online. Today I did it and they showed as online in the group and offline on my friends list. I had been sending the occasional offline im or notecard over those months, so I'm thinking I've been muted.

Suggestions on what to do? I just want to get my money back.

File an AR under fraud.

Dracko....

I don't know what you're looking for.....but I may be able to help for no cost. I do a lot of custom work and I love it. Given your situation, I'd be happy to help you if it's with-in my capabilities. Shoot me an IM~!

I would, but it's a few months old. the SL transaction history page only goes back 30 days so I don't have solid proof of it.

Linden Lab generally refuses to get involved in resident disputes. They'll respond to basic griefing issues, deal with land encroachment and blatant cases of phishing and other scams.. but when it comes to "you made an agreement and paid person X, and he took your money and didn't provide what you asked for" the sad fact is that the Lindens aren't likely to give your issue the time of day.

The fact is, this is a "breach of contract" issue, not a "service provider" issue. The lindens simply have no business getting involved. If you want to sue him for breach of contract, THAT you can do.. of course you'll have to start with a court action against Linden Lab to get his actual RL information.

4000 L$ may seem like a lot of money to you, but please try to remember that it's really less than 20 USD. In the real world, you can't even file a small-claims court case for matters of less than 20$.

It sucks.. but you may just have to take the hit, and use this as a learning experience.

But before you do.. it might be worth a shot to ask a friend if they can IM the other guy, and ask him what the situation is. It's POSSIBLE that he doesn't even KNOW he's muted you. (if he's still on your friends list, you're still on his.)

Yeah Winter, I'm trying that kind of thing. I posted in here in hopes of other options on how to get the money back. If it get to the point of legal action, I'm definitely dropping it!

I know it's not a huge loss, but I'd rather not have it as a loss.

Generous offer, Milla!

QFT!

Yeah Dracko the other guy is probably a lost cause, but Milla's offer on the other hand is fresh.
I wouldnt wait too long or she may be too busy by then.

That is very kind of you Milla.

I messaged her, but it's not in her field. I've got one or two steps I can take that I found out about, so I'll be doing those.

Thankyou all for your help!

Lesson learned the hard way... Don't ever pay anyone upfront for anything. I'd walk... no, run away from any deal where I had to pay for it up front.

the usual deal is 50% at the start and 50% at the end, but yeah, I should have waited for proof they were actually working on it first.