Friend got cheated from a CA advisory firm. Time for some action!!

nRiTeCh

Skilled
My friends sister she got cheated by a CA person who works in a financial advisory firm.
Professionally she is a graphics designer and works in a co. and also as a freelancer with 4 yrs exp. overall.

**Its a lengthy read but please read it out to understand everything. Thanks in adv.

Upon looking at quikr aad she called him up & had a meeting. That person required a brochure to be designed and everything was agreed upon like rate. delivery time etc. It was decided that once the first cut page is ready he will be paying 50% amount and upon full completion the bal. 50%. Total amount 5k.
He claimed that he will be finalizing the design himself.
She asked him for the sample images and text required for the work and he emailed her the text but no images. Said you put the images as per corporate looks & I need the design in blue and white shade.

There wasnt any hurry or deadline given, still she designed the first page within 5 days and but he wasnt pleased enough & asked for more designs and more... She gave him almost 4+ revisions and finally he liked one of them. They used whataspp and email to exchange views and designs.

He then said he is out of town and she may continue with further designing rest of the pages.
So she further went through designing all the pages.
But he was always like you have copy pasted all the text, you have to shorten it to fit. To which she replied it is your responsibility, no designer can risk with a cos. content hence nobody on his own terms can shorten/cut any given text content. This is very true, its the clients responsibility.

Also he always focused more on the images. At one hand he wanted a professional corporate brochure to be designed and at the other end he was forcing her to put as much images as possible as if it was a birthday/valentine greeting card or a wedding invitation. She is a pro at designing and till date have designed 50+brochure designs incl. many at corporate levels. She was pretty annoyed by the clients need as the brochure wasnt looking good if more images are put in. She made him understand that but he wont listen. She honestly use to send him the designs and on every design he wanted some or other corrections. In fact she had again made 3+ revisions to the inside brochure designs. Where in the market, in normal fixed rate one only gets max 3 revisions done and for extra revisions there are additional charges.

Most importantly in some days that lad used to whatsapp chat with her at night and tried to be personal even though he has a sexy wife and two kids. What a height of shamelessness!! He used to ask out for dinner & pubbing etc., would you like to come with me for corporate parties, & if she has a bf, which hotel you prefer and all such rubbish shit.
That poor girl is a well-behaved one from a sophisticated simple family.And has never visited any pub nor do much hoteling etc.
She always use to avoid his late night chats and used to keep it ltd. to the business purpose.

Then for 4-5 days in between there was a communication gap. Nothing was heard from his sides and no money. Finally she herself initiated a communication and that lad said my partner didnt like anything so I've to convince him. By the time you design more and I'll let you know. Now this was too much as she already put her efforts for complete 4 weeks on his brochure along with her other client work and now this lad was giving this excuse.
He said you have to shorten the text even more that this & the designs arent that good & very little images.
Since then he is just hiding behind his partners back and not accepting any call no reply to any msgs sent.
He just kept giving dates that he will call etc. but till date no communication. Has been 2+weeks.

If he wasnt ever pleased with initials designs he should have been cleared about all this but in fact he liked the final front cut page and hence he asked her to go ahead with next pages.
Now he is excusing for all, that his partner didnt liked anything etc. Where in the meeting he was clear that he will be deciding on all aspects and nobody else. Sh never bothered for the adv. amount as he was out of town and he trusted him as they were in daily contact.

In fact my bro who himself is a pro graphics/cad/3d designer very much appreciated her work and said thats the best any artist can do, and if any more, the design will surely get spoiled.

She is very disturbed and pissed off. She wants justice for her hard work. She expects at least half amount if not full where she deserves everything full. I was very touchy and emotional and angry on that cheap lad while she narrated the incident while crying a lot.
How can anybody do this? Esp such CA people? So cheap, cheaters and irresponsible?
Now she wants the world know about this and esp. him and his co. So that nobody shall approach their co. and also their image should tarnish in the corporate world.

I assured them that I have one big forum where many such instances come up and may we find away out.
Her money is stuck with him. Its now not only about the money but that cheap lad need to be punished. She also fears they have printed her designs & still are making excuses & dont wanna pay her.

So guys,
To whom can we approach to sue this person or make him pay for this? Can consumer forum site help in this? She is hesitant to attend police and all.
Can this be posted on fb?

I want to report this to quikr as spam and bogus and mark this guy as a cheater. So that anybody seeing his ad wont contact him. But no such option on quikr.
Would also like to let the world know that they are cheaters.

Blindly and without proper knowledge we dont want to take any wrong foot but something needs to be done for sure so he should realize what he has done.

Their website: http://www.azaleaadvisors.com

FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Azalea-Advisors/1500412210201105

Quikr ad: http://pune.quikr.com/Required-designing-of-marketing-brouchure-W0QQAdIdZ211808253
(Ad has appeared to be re posted or updated hence showing recent date, Original ad was of April 2015)

Cheaters name: Vikas Agarwal.
upload_2015-5-23_17-34-7.png
 
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Really feel sorry for your friend's sister, I can understand what she is going through

It was a mistake on her end not to have collected the advance amount or part payment at the third revision at least.
Also working and interacting at late hours without advance payment or a proper contract. Off working hours is the time for you and your family which needs to be honored by you first. In our country it's this "Sab Chalta hai" attitude that lands us in trouble. She needs to draw a clear line between working and non working hours. Even the doctors don't receive calls in off duty hours in the West.

In this country having a hot wife or kids doesn't guarantee a good character. These pigs don't change, women need to be extremely careful ; especially chatting in late hours even for a professional matter is taken in a affirmative sense.
Similarly having a reputed CA firm or any other noble organization , doesn't guarantee that a person cannot be a cheat. These bastards can be found anywhere and everywhere.
Many of our businesses work on two principles
1. Satisfying their Banana or
2. CHU**** Banana !!
He tried both in this case.

From a legal perspective : did she have any digital or documentary mutual contract which was agreed upon? If the email communications imply such a thing then you can issue a legal notice. Beware it's going to be long and lengthy process say 10yrs.

My friend is fighting a legal battle for bounced cheques from his employer since 6yrs now !! This is after having a legal contract & bounced cheques ; which is a criminal offense.

Finally experience is something which you won't get for free. It's always more with bad decisions.

This is all part of being a freelance professional in India, I'm sure everyone would have had his share of bad experiences. I'm sure she's wiser than before & will be careful in her next assignments.

It's good that you are trying to malign the person on social forums, hope that helps your cause. But make sure you have enough evidence against the company & person before going ahead; It'll be a problem if they go legal.
 
Well, let's be practical, I don't think your friend can do much on this thing. But do take this as an experience.

And if you have time, please read http://www.digit.in/forum/internet-www/191339-freelancing-got-cheated-client.html. A guy over there also face similar kind of problems.

So now, what can be done? Being a freelancer and a startup myself and being associated with this industry I can suggest few points.
1. Forget this incidence and take this as an experience.
2. From next time, before even opening your IDE / Software open word document and make proper contracts.
3. Make Scope Document, NDA and Delivery Milestone along with price. And ofcourse make it sign by the client. (Ofcourse in India, I doubt how much a freelancer can do if the battle is with CA's or Lawfirms). But still it's another thing that make you safe.
4. Work always according to industry standards. (Like, extra charges for 3+ revisions). And never start anything without any advance. If that's not possible, ofcourse make sure of payments on smaller milestones.
 
Reading mails like this just confirms my belief that everyone should own guns. This is a game of chicken. I am quite certain the guy will fall at her feet once you convince him that you are willing to go all the way.

I don't think your friend can do much on this thing.

Don't agree. Get someone with some SEO skills and screw his online reputation. Every search on Azalea advisers should go to porn and information about what a crook and letch Vikas Agrawal is. Open a fake twitter/facebook accounts and start spamming. He may understand finance and law, let him get a taste of the internet.

Of course, since a girl is involved this should be done with some tact.

I remember a time when my houseowner refused to return the deposit on my apartment. When I started looking for options, I realized there were many, including threat calls made for a 'price'. Finally a legal notice from my lawyer made him change his mind.

EDIT: There is no certainty that she will get the money. But let Mr Vikas know that she is no doormat an will fight back.

If she still has those messages where he asked her out, more possibilities open up. You can either turn it into a sexual harassment case or call up his wife and pass on the messages.
 
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Registered post to the CA association. They take complaints seriously. Make sure all evidence is there. Also a FIR at the local station with a copy of the emails will make a clear water tight case, if the monetary aspects are there in writing.
 
Nothing can be done. And the amount is question is pretty small as well. I make it a point to charge 100% upfront before the work is fully delivered. And at least 50% before the work even starts. That is all you can do. And increase your charges to account for bad debt.
 
Take the sleazy messages to the Police Station and file a harrassment complaint.

Apne app aa jayega aukaat pe.
 
Ca's and lawyers. The worst prof. i feel These are the ca's that allowed scams like Satyam, Kingfisher, etc to go undetected for long time.
Laywers,.less said the better.:mad:
 
Same thing happened to me when i was a fresher in design. Blasted the guy in front of his whole family and told him i didn't want to work with such crooks again. Fellow was aghast and said sorry and i told him to keep his ill earned money and walked out. Felt really good. I don't know if he used my designs but after that i put a huge ass watermark on every image or a SAMPLE text on everything such that it can't be removed. Do something like this even on the items you show while going for an interview. I've seen many interviewers asking for a copy of the soft copy of my brochures. I believe they use it to show it off as their own companies with or something like that. Fcuk such companies. One thing I've realized is to not trust anyone till you get the full amount from them.

Also all these stupid clowns like to say that designing can be done by anyone with half a brain and does not take much work or effort and refuse to pay the amount of money you ask. Don't negotiate with such people. Just walk out. I'd rather humiliate such people than work with them.
 
Also all these stupid clowns like to say that designing can be done by anyone with half a brain and does not take much work or effort and refuse to pay the amount of money you ask. Don't negotiate with such people. Just walk out. I'd rather humiliate such people than work with them.

Totally agree. such stupids don't value other's skills/work. Never deal with such people.
 
Thanks for so many replies.
She isn't much worried about money though its a small amount but deserving for her hard work.
She had nothing in writing as described like a contract in word file to be signed by the opp. person etc.

Cant approach their office as well coz its natural everybody will stand for that jacka** being a co-owner of that shit cheat organization.

Yes she has just emails and whatsapp chat. But she isn't willing to approach police. To add more Pune police are simply pathetic cheap sold-out a******, the most corrupt in the state.
I already know what they got to say. Have already been to cops 4 times in the past for many issues.
"Why you want to file fir for just 5k? Do you got anything in writing? They are big people they will win on you easily. Yours and our time will be wasted. You will be mostly in trouble. Forget it. Settle it outside mutually. And many such bulls*** excuses."
And end of the day its her call. We can't force her.

But for sure what she wants is badwill for that person. Or somebody should approach him via his quikr ad, grab adv.amount and flee away without giving any work.
Their Co. or his name in the industry should get spoiled and nobody shall approach them for any services.
 
In business you keep getting lots of these experiences, its part of job.

Rs.5000 is peanuts there are people that lose orders of magnitude more. Write it off and move on.

Think instead you might get a job ten times that amount in the future. So how will you approach it given this experience.

Well, let's be practical, I don't think your friend can do much on this thing. But do take this as an experience.

And if you have time, please read http://www.digit.in/forum/internet-www/191339-freelancing-got-cheated-client.html. A guy over there also face similar kind of problems.

So now, what can be done? Being a freelancer and a startup myself and being associated with this industry I can suggest few points.
1. Forget this incidence and take this as an experience.
2. From next time, before even opening your IDE / Software open word document and make proper contracts.
3. Make Scope Document, NDA and Delivery Milestone along with price. And ofcourse make it sign by the client. (Ofcourse in India, I doubt how much a freelancer can do if the battle is with CA's or Lawfirms). But still it's another thing that make you safe.
4. Work always according to industry standards. (Like, extra charges for 3+ revisions). And never start anything without any advance. If that's not possible, ofcourse make sure of payments on smaller milestones.
There you have it in a nutshell.

posts that talk about getting back are foolish, not worth the hassle & counter productive. Self defeating in prolonging misery.
 
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Get someone with some SEO skills and screw his online reputation. Every search on Azalea advisers should go to porn and information about what a crook and letch Vikas Agrawal is. Open a fake twitter/facebook accounts and start spamming. He may understand finance and law, let him get a taste of the internet.
I have my best friend who does seo and and website work. But afaik, seo can only be done for the site whose hosting username pw we know. How can somebody do seo for any external site of whom we got no credential details etc?
Do clear the picture.
 
I have my best friend who does seo and and website work. But afaik, seo can only be done for the site whose hosting username pw we know. How can somebody do seo for any external site of whom we got no credential details etc?
Do clear the picture.

Azaleaadvisors.in, azaleaadvisors.net and azaleaadvisors.co are all available. Buy one of them, make the domain info private, copy the content of azaleaadvisors.com (all HTML so a simple wget should do the job) into the site. Now ask your SEO friend to ensure all searches for Azalea or any of its partners end up on the new site.

Modify the site enough to ensure that no one ever searches for azalea advisers again (or wishes to go near any of the partners).
 
You don't need to know the username or password. Knowing a company name is enough. Even knowing the website url isn't necessary. Whoever gave you that advice should look for a new job. Coz he ain't passable with seo.
 
Friend called that rascal on behalf of sister and insulted him as much as he can and that idiot simply kept listening to him. He didnt use any bad words though but bashed & insulted him in every possible polite way.:)
That rascal kept hanging up the phone and friend kept calling him from all his cellphone available.:p

Hurt his status & his name which is Vikas (progress) & that your name should be some jackass not vikas.:wacky:

Insulted his co. azalea which in Marathi sounds like a dirty slang.:hilarious: Called him and his co. a fraud and cheat and that he got no status in corporate world. No one will entertains people like you who are simply dumb & doesnt even know the diff. between a professional brochure and a kids greeting card and marriage invitation. Also said seems that you arent satisfied with your wife hence looking out for easy girls who can fall into his trap and used common words like (har***, kutta, kamina ch*t*ya etc.. type)

Also I had a word with my seo friend and he promised to purchase a domain and redirect the traffic to useless sites and do all seo as well for less money.
But the call is simply of the girl if she want to go with it or not. So lets see.
 
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