Advice?

So okay… I have a queary to pose…

I commissioned someone for a costume over a year ago. Paid with Paypal after a rather good relationship and a prior history with the person I commissioned. I paid in full and up front (as per the norm) and even shipped out a box of my own materials for a few special things I wanted. Great, was supposed to have my costume in about 3 months. Done deal.

So the first deadline was came and went because she had swine flu when that was first starting up, no biggie. I understand when you are sick like that you shouldn’t be working on that kind of stuff anyway and you should be taking care of yourself. So we set another deadline for about 2 months later on. (around Halloween)

That came and went, no contact. Wondering what was going on after sending multiple emails and getting no responses I posted a live journal message asking for info on her. She promptly responds with aplogies and says she’s still been sick and her bills were backing up, she lost her job, the dog ate her homework… whatever.

Okay, well at least she contacted me. So we set up ANOTHER deadline for around Christmas. It’s been so long it will feel like a present right? Well, again. After that, no contact again and in the mean time her account is closed and all her “on que” info is wiped out and is blank. No info on what’s going on, nothing.

Make another live journal post cause she’s not answering emails AGAIN. Big shocker… Once again, as soon as I make the post she promptly responds that she had no internet and she’s sorry. She’s totally going to make this up to me and my costume is almost done, she will send me pictures soon. Again… about 2 months pass…. no email…. no pictures…. silence.

So I start FLOODING her email EVERY DAY with emails asking what is going on. I have been VERY patient to this point and all I am asking for is SOME communication. Finally after about 2 weeks of this I get a “blanket email” being sent to like 7 different people apologizing about the wait and that she is starting a new job and she will gradually be making payments to those she owes money to since she hasn’t been able to work on any costumes. WTF!?

Okay fine, I’m perfectly happy getting my money back at this point. Yea well… that was like 3 months ago. AGAIN! I email her and post on the live journal community… I post on artist beware as well to find a slew of people in the same situation. She emailed me like 3 weeks ago and said my costume was in progress again and I emailed her back that I’ve had it with physically spending HOURS trying to chase her around and to send me the product “finished or not, I don’t even care at this point! OR start sending me payments for the $400 bucks she owes me.” So since then, no a peep again.

I’m sick and tired of this crap and I’m not just going to forget about $400 bucks. Any advice out there guys?

I have all the emails and the Paypal stuff but since it’s been so long I can’t claim a refund through Paypal itself. Is court my only option?

OMG! A laywer letter is a great idea! I didn’t even think of that! My boss at the resturant, his sister is a laywer. I wonder if she could draw something up for me for a little discount 😳

Well, I wasn’t as good as I am now a year ago when I commissioned her. Her stuff is still better then this is, but I think I did a pretty good job on her. She’s definately one of my better heads.

Thanks for the legal info too guys, I want to try and draft up one of those lawyer letters up to give her a scare. I talked to Paypal and they sent her a message and put a strike or something on her account, but there’s nothing else they can do for me other then that because of the amount of time that has passed.