I'm a Korean... Need advice and help!

[sing702]

Hi,

I have bad trouble and problem while I make my new website. I engaged with 'TOP3' web design company last August in Singapore.

In short, I engaged in August 2012 and confirmed the web design in September 2012. It's in May 2013 now. But I still haven't got my website yet. It's almost 9 months.
My developer left the company behind my undone project without noticing me and the company doesn't bother to inform me what's going on. It's kind of culture shock!

Actually, it seemed ok until I confirmed the web design. But the problem started after that. I had meeting with web developer, Jep. After the design, I received the demo website to test was in January. It took 4 months to get admin ID & PW and demo to test.
Yes, He got married and had honeymoon. So I had to wait until he came back. But 4 months?? Does it really take the website for 4 months? Even this is not completed website. It's demo!

We had big event in Feb this year so I quickly replied and gave him feedback after test the demo. Many pages were non-sense. For example, the website is only suitable for landscape photo. If we want to add portrait photo, it stretch so the portrait photo looks very weird.

Of course, we emailed and asked him when it finished, when we can test the demo website etc. If he really did not reply so long. About 2~3 weeks sometimes. He replied after that it took another few weeks to finish.
I asked the company. Then, the company said his wife got pregnant but some health problem. He's not in the office. I had waited but I waited again.

Finally, he sent me updated demo. I checked... he only changed few things and the rest are still same. I think email is not good enough to explain so I had an appointment to meet with him to explain. I met him and explained every details which I mentioned email before and asked to change or update.

I hadn't got any update and any message about few weeks so I emailed him what's going on! When it will be finished! He updated few weeks later. He changed another few things and the rest are still same.. No explain about the rest and what's going on.

I called TOP3 company and asked what happend. He disappeared for few weeks and never reply anything. The colleague told me his wife miscarriage. Well.. I left my message 'Please contact me or updated my website'.

Few weeks passed, no updates.. I called company again.
The company said he left the company. I was so surprised!!
So I called the manager who I contracted. He said 'he was irritated by me to keep changing'. I was so upset and wanted to meet the manager. I showed my requests. It was really minor requests. "Photo, Text font, font size, color change control.. Even some text has no space at all. It squeeze together. It's not readable. Admin side and how it appeared differently." Isn't it neccessary to change? Keep changing?? I asked him but he didn't change the rest so I had to ask him to change same things again and again.

I think it's not only problem of developer. The worst is the service of TOP3 itself and manager, boss, they are all same.

I realize 2 big things. They did not write deadline of website and that album page on the contract. I explained album page before contract, when I met the manager how it works and what’s the purpose for. If I don’t need this page, why I explaiend this page to the manager. If I want to skip, why I explained?
Is it common in Singapore? No manner. They hide so many things which they have to inform clients and they only insist what they want. So many things are hidden now.


I have no idea. It's kind of culture shock! No one apologize me about delay and miscommunication and no informing clients.
Do I really have to keep working with this company? There is no way to refund?
Please Please advice me. I am a foreigner so I don't know what to do.

 

[hw.tan]

Not sure if you are genuine and there are always two side to a story.

Firstly, not all Singapore company are like what you have encountered. Most are quite professional in their work and will actually chase you for inputs.

Short answer to your problem, without knowing how much work remains or how much you have paid.

Case 1: you haven't paid the company in full.
Stop all payment, take your design and move on. Find a better company, local or in Korea.

Case 2: you have paid in full.
Depending on amount, most likely you will have to take it as lesson learnt. IMHO, for small value, there is really nothing much you can do. Legal actions will most likely cost more than it's worth.

 

[davidktw]

Hi,

I have bad trouble and problem while I make my new website. I engaged with 'TOP3' web design company last August in Singapore.

In short, I engaged in August 2012 and confirmed the web design in September 2012. It's in May 2013 now. But I still haven't got my website yet. It's almost 9 months.
My developer left the company behind my undone project without noticing me and the company doesn't bother to inform me what's going on. It's kind of culture shock!

Like what the above poster has said, it's one sided story, so I shall comment with reservation towards the validity of your claims.

Actually, it seemed ok until I confirmed the web design. But the problem started after that. I had meeting with web developer, Jep. After the design, I received the demo website to test was in January. It took 4 months to get admin ID & PW and demo to test.
Yes, He got married and had honeymoon. So I had to wait until he came back. But 4 months?? Does it really take the website for 4 months? Even this is not completed website. It's demo!

It's partly your fault for not following up on the project. Before you get into any work, you should have consulted more than one company for quotation. That's your job as the client to know if you are getting a good deal and to know what you are getting into.

As a client, you should have set up milestones for your project. The engaged company must comply to that. Each milestone must have deliverables for you and the schedule should be fixed before the start of the project. It seems you have not done so and hence there is no way for you to determine if your project is on schedule.

Next is whom you have engaged is a company, not an individual. What happen to the individual shouldn't be of your concern. He is going to get married or honeymoon for another 10 years isn't your problem. It's the company' s and they should have assigned you another developer to take over. It seems you are not aware of such engagement in projects all over the world.

We had big event in Feb this year so I quickly replied and gave him feedback after test the demo. Many pages were non-sense. For example, the website is only suitable for landscape photo. If we want to add portrait photo, it stretch so the portrait photo looks very weird.

Of course, we emailed and asked him when it finished, when we can test the demo website etc. If he really did not reply so long. About 2~3 weeks sometimes. He replied after that it took another few weeks to finish.
I asked the company. Then, the company said his wife got pregnant but some health problem. He's not in the office. I had waited but I waited again.

Finally, he sent me updated demo. I checked... he only changed few things and the rest are still same. I think email is not good enough to explain so I had an appointment to meet with him to explain. I met him and explained every details which I mentioned email before and asked to change or update.

I hadn't got any update and any message about few weeks so I emailed him what's going on! When it will be finished! He updated few weeks later. He changed another few things and the rest are still same.. No explain about the rest and what's going on.

I called TOP3 company and asked what happend. He disappeared for few weeks and never reply anything. The colleague told me his wife miscarriage. Well.. I left my message 'Please contact me or updated my website'.

Again stress my point again, even if the developer pass away, it's not your problem. It's the company's, you should have asked for someone to take over. As a customer, you have your project deadline. If the company can't deliver, you should terminate the process, and asked for refund immediately, if not, LD them(only if stated before hand in the contract).

Few weeks passed, no updates.. I called company again.
The company said he left the company. I was so surprised!!
So I called the manager who I contracted. He said 'he was irritated by me to keep changing'. I was so upset and wanted to meet the manager. I showed my requests. It was really minor requests. "Photo, Text font, font size, color change control.. Even some text has no space at all. It squeeze together. It's not readable. Admin side and how it appeared differently." Isn't it neccessary to change? Keep changing?? I asked him but he didn't change the rest so I had to ask him to change same things again and again.

All customers have the right to demand. So you are free to demand all you want. It's the company's decision to take up this customer or not.

I think it's not only problem of developer. The worst is the service of TOP3 itself and manager, boss, they are all same.

I realize 2 big things. They did not write deadline of website and that album page on the contract. I explained album page before contract, when I met the manager how it works and what’s the purpose for. If I don’t need this page, why I explaiend this page to the manager. If I want to skip, why I explained?
Is it common in Singapore? No manner. They hide so many things which they have to inform clients and they only insist what they want. So many things are hidden now.

Contract are what they served when agreements break down. SOW written in black and white of the deliverables and also the milestones. Meeting minutes in written form serve as agreement established in the project execution. If you do not have all these written information, your claims are futile.

If you have not insist on all these formalities, it's your fault on the hind side. No, I do not believe it is a common practice in Singapore. However, that defeat the whole purpose of the discussion. You only have one single experience with one company, that sampling side is not sufficient for you to put across a sweeping statement towards the business operating moral and ethnics in Singapore.

There are businessmen hide and will choose to hide, it's also the same in Korea, so please be objective about the accusation made. If you didn't ask for it, why should you be given ? If you have not demand contractual agreements in written form, then you have no way to debate.

I have no idea. It's kind of culture shock! No one apologize me about delay and miscommunication and no informing clients.
Do I really have to keep working with this company? There is no way to refund?
Please Please advice me. I am a foreigner so I don't know what to do.

You have the choice to bring this up to Singapore CASE or even fight a law suit against the company, however, without solid evidence of your claims, it might just prove to be futile. It's the same everywhere on earth.

I will do recommend that you still make an attempt to send them a lawyer letter but don't hope for too much. Learn how to do business and how to work with vendors. Apparently you have shown lack of experience working with vendors. Take this as a learning experience and move on.

 

[simon45op]

Hi,

I have bad trouble and problem while I make my new website. I engaged with 'TOP3' web design company last August in Singapore.

In short, I engaged in August 2012 and confirmed the web design in September 2012. It's in May 2013 now. But I still haven't got my website yet. It's almost 9 months.
My developer left the company behind my undone project without noticing me and the company doesn't bother to inform me what's going on. It's kind of culture shock!

Actually, it seemed ok until I confirmed the web design. But the problem started after that. I had meeting with web developer, Jep. After the design, I received the demo website to test was in January. It took 4 months to get admin ID & PW and demo to test.
Yes, He got married and had honeymoon. So I had to wait until he came back. But 4 months?? Does it really take the website for 4 months? Even this is not completed website. It's demo!

We had big event in Feb this year so I quickly replied and gave him feedback after test the demo. Many pages were non-sense. For example, the website is only suitable for landscape photo. If we want to add portrait photo, it stretch so the portrait photo looks very weird.

Of course, we emailed and asked him when it finished, when we can test the demo website etc. If he really did not reply so long. About 2~3 weeks sometimes. He replied after that it took another few weeks to finish.
I asked the company. Then, the company said his wife got pregnant but some health problem. He's not in the office. I had waited but I waited again.

Finally, he sent me updated demo. I checked... he only changed few things and the rest are still same. I think email is not good enough to explain so I had an appointment to meet with him to explain. I met him and explained every details which I mentioned email before and asked to change or update.

I hadn't got any update and any message about few weeks so I emailed him what's going on! When it will be finished! He updated few weeks later. He changed another few things and the rest are still same.. No explain about the rest and what's going on.

I called TOP3 company and asked what happend. He disappeared for few weeks and never reply anything. The colleague told me his wife miscarriage. Well.. I left my message 'Please contact me or updated my website'.

Few weeks passed, no updates.. I called company again.
The company said he left the company. I was so surprised!!
So I called the manager who I contracted. He said 'he was irritated by me to keep changing'. I was so upset and wanted to meet the manager. I showed my requests. It was really minor requests. "Photo, Text font, font size, color change control.. Even some text has no space at all. It squeeze together. It's not readable. Admin side and how it appeared differently." Isn't it neccessary to change? Keep changing?? I asked him but he didn't change the rest so I had to ask him to change same things again and again.

I think it's not only problem of developer. The worst is the service of TOP3 itself and manager, boss, they are all same.

I realize 2 big things. They did not write deadline of website and that album page on the contract. I explained album page before contract, when I met the manager how it works and what’s the purpose for. If I don’t need this page, why I explaiend this page to the manager. If I want to skip, why I explained?
Is it common in Singapore? No manner. They hide so many things which they have to inform clients and they only insist what they want. So many things are hidden now.


I have no idea. It's kind of culture shock! No one apologize me about delay and miscommunication and no informing clients.
Do I really have to keep working with this company? There is no way to refund?
Please Please advice me. I am a foreigner so I don't know what to do.

Do u meet up with the manager and developer during designing phase? It seem to me that during the meeting part alot of doubts
are not resolved between you-> manager , manager-> developer.
It's best to meet up with both manager and developer together as most of the manager are not heavily technical trained. When the manager go back they may relay the wrong idea to the developer.

Like what davidktw have said, u should have set milestone and it should be written in the requirement and design document. You should take the initiative to email the developer/manager if
certain deadline are not met.What happen to the manager in charge
or developer in charge is not your problem at all.

Changes to cores function like adding new module/pages beyond the initial design phase are usually not allowed and chargeable on per request(depend on whether they want to do it for free for you). But changes to user interface design,like font, color, alignment of text should be allowed.

For refund u can negiotate with the company.If you are not satisfied , u can approach the official channel -> Singapore CASE.

 

[sing702]

Of course, I compared with other companies to check quotation with same condition.
Of course, anyone can get marry and anyone can have personal issue i.e. healthy etc. But this personal reasons shouldn't be affected client's project. If you can not do it, you have to inform clients or other colleague or manager. Especially clients.

I have to duty to check. Ok. Then they have to duty to inform.

You said "All customers have the right to demand. So you are free to demand all you want. It's the company's decision to take up this customer or not." Yes. it's right. I can ask if possible to change. If not possible, at least they have to explain to me why. due to system, due to not on the contract, due to technical reason, due to whatever. Instead of nothing to tell and keep delaying without telling me.

Even I had no idea if he's doing or not. If not possible, ok. skip it. But if I still need it, i had to decide to pay more or forget about it or not. human being can communicate and think.

I think it's not common 4 months for waiting demo website. After demo website, i only give 2 feedback to change. First he changed but not everything after 1 month, Second he left company while I was waiting for his reply after another 1 month.

Actually, I was so surprised he left. I met the manager and asked him "my project is not done yet but he left without noticing me." the manager answered me "Jep is still doing my project. He will finish my project. He's still under TOP3." After that, I explained my requests left out and asked him how long it will take. The manager said he needed to check with Jep and let me know. He also need some ID & PW from web server which we use for current website. So I gave him at that night immediately. I met him on 2 April. The manager hadn't sent any single message for 2 weeks. I sent him a message what happend on 15 April. He replied "We still can't download the files off godaddy." For 2 weeks waiting, he replied he can not download files.Where is 'let me know'? He never let me know.
If he had problem to download, why he didn't tell me. I can find what happend and asked previous designer can help etc. Instead of keep quite for 2 weeks. And the manager said 'Jep is still doing my project'.
BUT few days later, I asked what's going on. The manager said Jep is not doing anymore. He changed another staff and he will do new system again from the beginning.

I only have few minor requests to update. Why do they change person in charge all of sudden? Why do I have to wait another new one again after waiting 9 months? They even never explained what's the new system.

I'm really doubt that Jep actually left long ago when I met the manager. But they didn't want to reveal that my project left undone for long. If he is still doing my project, why do they need to make new thing? They can ask him to update or copy codes from him to save time and efforts.

What I surprised about this company is first of all, staff's personal issue and reason can disrupt work. Secondly, they don't bother to inform. Lastly, they delayed and left undone in the end but they never feel sorry and shame. No one said any single word 'sorry'.

Still now. I don't have any information when it will be done and what it will be and how long it will take....

 

[davidktw]

Of course, I compared with other companies to check quotation with same condition.
Of course, anyone can get marry and anyone can have personal issue i.e. healthy etc. But this personal reasons shouldn't be affected client's project. If you can not do it, you have to inform clients or other colleague or manager. Especially clients.

I have to duty to check. Ok. Then they have to duty to inform.

You said "All customers have the right to demand. So you are free to demand all you want. It's the company's decision to take up this customer or not." Yes. it's right. I can ask if possible to change. If not possible, at least they have to explain to me why. due to system, due to not on the contract, due to technical reason, due to whatever. Instead of nothing to tell and keep delaying without telling me.

Even I had no idea if he's doing or not. If not possible, ok. skip it. But if I still need it, i had to decide to pay more or forget about it or not. human being can communicate and think.

I think it's not common 4 months for waiting demo website. After demo website, i only give 2 feedback to change. First he changed but not everything after 1 month, Second he left company while I was waiting for his reply after another 1 month.

Actually, I was so surprised he left. I met the manager and asked him "my project is not done yet but he left without noticing me." the manager answered me "Jep is still doing my project. He will finish my project. He's still under TOP3." After that, I explained my requests left out and asked him how long it will take. The manager said he needed to check with Jep and let me know. He also need some ID & PW from web server which we use for current website. So I gave him at that night immediately. I met him on 2 April. The manager hadn't sent any single message for 2 weeks. I sent him a message what happend on 15 April. He replied "We still can't download the files off godaddy." For 2 weeks waiting, he replied he can not download files.Where is 'let me know'? He never let me know.
If he had problem to download, why he didn't tell me. I can find what happend and asked previous designer can help etc. Instead of keep quite for 2 weeks. And the manager said 'Jep is still doing my project'.
BUT few days later, I asked what's going on. The manager said Jep is not doing anymore. He changed another staff and he will do new system again from the beginning.

I only have few minor requests to update. Why do they change person in charge all of sudden? Why do I have to wait another new one again after waiting 9 months? They even never explained what's the new system.

I'm really doubt that Jep actually left long ago when I met the manager. But they didn't want to reveal that my project left undone for long. If he is still doing my project, why do they need to make new thing? They can ask him to update or copy codes from him to save time and efforts.

What I surprised about this company is first of all, staff's personal issue and reason can disrupt work. Secondly, they don't bother to inform. Lastly, they delayed and left undone in the end but they never feel sorry and shame. No one said any single word 'sorry'.

Still now. I don't have any information when it will be done and what it will be and how long it will take....

Noted on your predicament. If you can live with waiting for something to happen, then you can continue to wait. However if you can't, then I recommend you cut your loses, ask them to refund all your investment, on the premises that they failed to deliver under the stipulated time. That is if you have a stipulated time frame in black and white.

Either way, it seems like you have gotten into a rotten situation. Time is wasted where the company failed to deliver, but you have failed to manage the project properly too. I will say it's not only the company at fault.

Like I have mentioned earlier, you ought to have your project schedule and milestone. If they didn't deliver at each milestone, you don't pay. As simple as that. If you didn't have this mechanism in place, then blame it on your management skill set.

While I say so, I am not defending the company whom failed to deliver for whatever reason they have. They drop the ball means they drop the ball. It is business here.

I believe there is no point arguing who is right or wrong, unless you want a lawsuit. If not, as a business man, I suppose you should think about how to move on, how to get yourself out of this predicament. What is your decision, still trust the company, or get another vendor. As for your investment, if the company is willing to refund, take it and move on, if not, it's your prerogative to exercise your legal option.

 

[sing702]

Do u meet up with the manager and developer during designing phase? It seem to me that during the meeting part alot of doubts
are not resolved between you-> manager , manager-> developer.
It's best to meet up with both manager and developer together as most of the manager are not heavily technical trained. When the manager go back they may relay the wrong idea to the developer.

Like what davidktw have said, u should have set milestone and it should be written in the requirement and design document. You should take the initiative to email the developer/manager if
certain deadline are not met.What happen to the manager in charge
or developer in charge is not your problem at all.

Changes to cores function like adding new module/pages beyond the initial design phase are usually not allowed and chargeable on per request(depend on whether they want to do it for free for you). But changes to user interface design,like font, color, alignment of text should be allowed.

For refund u can negiotate with the company.If you are not satisfied , u can approach the official channel -> Singapore CASE.

What I wrote in admin channel is different from what it shows on the website. They don't have small letter & capital letter, font, size, color. The worst thing is the text squeezed each other.

As you can see, there are some text with space between lines on admin demo website. But the website show all squeezed. So it's not readable.


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<Admin side>


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<Website>


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As you can see, I use small letter and capital letter and space between lines but text are squeezed. In the case of title, color are fixed and all capital letter. If you see second photo inside, there is no boundary to end. So depends on photo size, it shows all different. You can only see some part of photo only. But text are arranged in certain boundary. So whole looks very messy and amateur.

But other pages like 'about'. I can manage the text space between lines. But I can not choose font type, size and color of text. Even email has this kind of simple and basic functions to control. I don't have. But I want. These are my requests mainly.

The other requests about album is what admin has to control and what it must show and guest can key in are opposite. Actually, it's a bit difficult to explain. But anyway, it works opposite so I want to change.

Do my requests above really take like 1~2 months?
I really doubt why he applied here but not there? Like photo portrait size adjustment works on main page and not other pages. Text space also it works some page but not other pages.

I really can't understand...

 

[simon45op]

Thanks for your advice.
But I contracted under company name. So it can not be solved by CASE. I also asked some of my local friends and they adviced me same like you...

I really want to ask you my requests are that big deal.

Photos on the website are only suitable for landscape. If I upload portrait, it stretch. There are two pages to show photos on main page and photo page. But funny thing is main page is ok. but photo page is problem.

This is main home page photo slide show. As you can see portrait photo shows original size.


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This is photo page. As you can see portrait photos are all stretched. Looks weird.

Your request(text alignment,photo) are within reasonable means and it can done under a few mins. Actually the navigation bar
is also misaligned to the right when u upload a portrait photo

As for the

"The other requests about album is what admin has to control and what it must show and guest can key in are opposite. Actually, it's a bit difficult to explain. But anyway, it works opposite so I want to change. "

If the outcome of the feature is different from what both agreed(you and the company) in the design phase, the company has to change it.

If CASE do not accept, i guess u can only seek legal
action or private settlement with company. good luck
in resolving your issue.

 

[sing702]

Do u meet up with the manager and developer during designing phase? It seem to me that during the meeting part alot of doubts
are not resolved between you-> manager , manager-> developer.
It's best to meet up with both manager and developer together as most of the manager are not heavily technical trained. When the manager go back they may relay the wrong idea to the developer.

Like what davidktw have said, u should have set milestone and it should be written in the requirement and design document. You should take the initiative to email the developer/manager if
certain deadline are not met.What happen to the manager in charge
or developer in charge is not your problem at all.

Changes to cores function like adding new module/pages beyond the initial design phase are usually not allowed and chargeable on per request(depend on whether they want to do it for free for you). But changes to user interface design,like font, color, alignment of text should be allowed.

For refund u can negiotate with the company.If you are not satisfied , u can approach the official channel -> Singapore CASE.

Please take a look my website.
As you can see some portrait photos look originally on home. But even if same photo, I upload at gallery photos. The portrait photos are stretched.

<ADMIN : HOME MAIN>


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<WEBSITE : HOME MAIN>


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This is photo page. As you can see portrait photos are all stretched. Looks weird.
<ADMIN : PHOTO MAIN>


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<WEBSITE : PHOTO MAIN>


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<ADMIN : PHOTO INSIDE>


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<WEBSITE : PHOTO INSIDE>


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[aptget]

end of the day, project not finished. get compensation or at least half of your payments and move to another company.

 

[sing702]

end of the day, project not finished. get compensation or at least half of your payments and move to another company.

TOP3 manager said :Your website is functional. There will be NO compensation or refund."
I already paid 80% which they required to start the project.

Yes, my website is done. But photos are stretched. Text can not be controlled much. Admin side and how website show are different. But they said my website is functional.


When I went to TOP3 to meet the manager, he told Jep is still doing my project and he will let me know. After waiting for 2 weeks, no reply. So I sent email to ask. The manager replied me "he can not download some files." What I give the file which can not download so that's why they didn't do anything is not wrong.

If he had problem to download, why did he not contact me to ask? For 2 weeks, he was so quiet and no time to reply any single message. After I asked, he just replied like that.
One more, where is 'let me know'. He said let me know but he never let me know anything even if he couldn't download or how long it will take the rest. If I ask, he only answered me some request is not on your contract. That's all they answered.
So I asked be specific. Except these, why the rest my requests are not updated yet? When it will be done? NO answer about this part.

Few days later, I asked again how long. he said he started new system. All of sudden. He decided without noticing me. I asked again how long. The developer is checking... Few days passed, how long. No reply... I asked Jep is doing? He said "No. another developer."
He changed new system, new developer without informing me. He just decided everything and didn't bother to tell why or what.

They said "my website work functional." why all of sudden they started new again. I asked thousand time "how long~". they said keep checking. how come their developer doesn't really know how long it will take at all? at least roughly, 2 weeks or 1 month etc. Instead of no answer. Before I contracted with them, they gave me quotation and rough schedule within 2~3 days after the meeting. Now, they even made 8~90% website but they don't know when they finish. Is it really make sense? Even they make new system, since they made once. they know everything what I want, they will definitely know how long roughly. I am not asking them to accurate deadline. How long roughly. Don't they think it's not good enough to wait for 9 months to wait one website to me?


I am very surprised and disappointed about TOP3 is their attitude.
There is someone in charge of my project, but no one is responsible my project delay. If my requests was not possible or additional charge, they had to inform me. Instead of just delay and no reply due to personal reasons.

The manager behavior is worse and boss are same.
After I noticed the developer left, I met the manager he also did not bother to reply me properly. He picked my questions and he only replied what he wants to answer, not what i want to know. He always replied me 1 line or 2 lines. I was so disappointed so I called TOP3 and asked the boss to talk about it. Boss said "I don't think I need to apologise to you. I need to check my staff and get back to you tomorrow." It was already on 15 April. He has never contacted me yet. His tomorrow is not 16 April..

So this TOP3 company think it's not good enough to say "sorry" even if the developer left undone the project and he didn't inform me and he delayed with his personal reasons? Maybe I might request something not under contract. Then they can tell and explain me. Then I can decide whether I give up or I take another way or pay additional if necessary. Why delay without telling me? 90% done. Now they told me some requests are not under contract? Why don't they tell me when I asked?

After demo website, I only give 2 time feedback to request. Even last request is not reaching my developer. He just disappeared. What the hell?

I can understand in English. I am human being. I can communicate. But I am not fortuneteller. I can not read their mind. I am not IT person. I don't know everything what I ask is technically possible or not. I feel like really they cheated me and joke about my project. They know I am foreigner and they know I can do nothing much compare to local Singaporean. It's really ugly and horrible feeling.

 

[sing702]

Your request(text alignment,photo) are within reasonable means and it can done under a few mins. Actually the navigation bar
is also misaligned to the right when u upload a portrait photo

As for the

"The other requests about album is what admin has to control and what it must show and guest can key in are opposite. Actually, it's a bit difficult to explain. But anyway, it works opposite so I want to change. "

If the outcome of the feature is different from what both agreed(you and the company) in the design phase, the company has to change it.

If CASE do not accept, i guess u can only seek legal
action or private settlement with company. good luck
in resolving your issue.

Few days... I think so.

Even I am not IT person though, i can see my last requests are not that big deal. But amazing thing is I still haven't got any update yet since 2 April I met the manager, about 2 months since I sent my request to the developer in March.

They know I am a foreigner. They just do not bother and they are not sincere to explain the situation anymore to share what's going on. This is really sick of TOP3.
I'm really tired...

 

[sing702]

Noted on your predicament. If you can live with waiting for something to happen, then you can continue to wait. However if you can't, then I recommend you cut your loses, ask them to refund all your investment, on the premises that they failed to deliver under the stipulated time. That is if you have a stipulated time frame in black and white.

Either way, it seems like you have gotten into a rotten situation. Time is wasted where the company failed to deliver, but you have failed to manage the project properly too. I will say it's not only the company at fault.

Like I have mentioned earlier, you ought to have your project schedule and milestone. If they didn't deliver at each milestone, you don't pay. As simple as that. If you didn't have this mechanism in place, then blame it on your management skill set.

While I say so, I am not defending the company whom failed to deliver for whatever reason they have. They drop the ball means they drop the ball. It is business here.

I believe there is no point arguing who is right or wrong, unless you want a lawsuit. If not, as a business man, I suppose you should think about how to move on, how to get yourself out of this predicament. What is your decision, still trust the company, or get another vendor. As for your investment, if the company is willing to refund, take it and move on, if not, it's your prerogative to exercise your legal option.

I already paid 80%. but They said "There will be NO compensation or refund."

Now, it's not just problem my project is delayed. Their attitude really really make me sick and tired.. I sent long email to ask, they just replied 1 line or 2 lines. Don't bother to explain the situation why it's not possible.

They replied me quite promptly before I contracted and right after I contracted. Now... no more. When I asked some questions, they were sincere to answer me on the spot or by email. Now... no more.

Yes, they need time to work and update and change. That's why I waited few weeks again and again. So in the end, my website is not with me for 9 months.

Sigh...

 

[sing702]

Like what the above poster has said, it's one sided story, so I shall comment with reservation towards the validity of your claims.



It's partly your fault for not following up on the project. Before you get into any work, you should have consulted more than one company for quotation. That's your job as the client to know if you are getting a good deal and to know what you are getting into.

As a client, you should have set up milestones for your project. The engaged company must comply to that. Each milestone must have deliverables for you and the schedule should be fixed before the start of the project. It seems you have not done so and hence there is no way for you to determine if your project is on schedule.

Next is whom you have engaged is a company, not an individual. What happen to the individual shouldn't be of your concern. He is going to get married or honeymoon for another 10 years isn't your problem. It's the company' s and they should have assigned you another developer to take over. It seems you are not aware of such engagement in projects all over the world.



Again stress my point again, even if the developer pass away, it's not your problem. It's the company's, you should have asked for someone to take over. As a customer, you have your project deadline. If the company can't deliver, you should terminate the process, and asked for refund immediately, if not, LD them(only if stated before hand in the contract).



All customers have the right to demand. So you are free to demand all you want. It's the company's decision to take up this customer or not.



Contract are what they served when agreements break down. SOW written in black and white of the deliverables and also the milestones. Meeting minutes in written form serve as agreement established in the project execution. If you do not have all these written information, your claims are futile.

If you have not insist on all these formalities, it's your fault on the hind side. No, I do not believe it is a common practice in Singapore. However, that defeat the whole purpose of the discussion. You only have one single experience with one company, that sampling side is not sufficient for you to put across a sweeping statement towards the business operating moral and ethnics in Singapore.

There are businessmen hide and will choose to hide, it's also the same in Korea, so please be objective about the accusation made. If you didn't ask for it, why should you be given ? If you have not demand contractual agreements in written form, then you have no way to debate.




You have the choice to bring this up to Singapore CASE or even fight a law suit against the company, however, without solid evidence of your claims, it might just prove to be futile. It's the same everywhere on earth.

I will do recommend that you still make an attempt to send them a lawyer letter but don't hope for too much. Learn how to do business and how to work with vendors. Apparently you have shown lack of experience working with vendors. Take this as a learning experience and move on.

If they say 'sorry' at least once, I might not be that angry. How come they never think they did not wrong anything and nothing? When I asked about delay and develper's fault, the manager overlapped my colleague speech and he just answered what he's doing only. He never answered me what I asked. He really avoided my questions, not want to tell any single thing about their part of mistake or fault.

Ok. If my request is not possible or needed to charge additional, why did they not tell me at that time?

Even developer said he will let me know if there is additional charge for album page. After that he didn't ask me additional and he did album page. After he left, the manager changed the person in charge and he said now it's not under contract. Now.

I feel very shame and shocked if my staff left undone my client's work. But they never felt anything. Only repeating no refund. some request was not initial contract. No 'sorry' at all.

 

[davidktw]

Dear Korean Friend,

this public forum heard your predicament. We can appreciate your frustration, but no amount of ranting or frustration is going to help you with your problem. As far as the issue is concern, you only have limited options.

1) Stick with the company and prepared for some substandard deliverables given the way you have described the company, there is no reason to believe something good will come out of it.
2) Approach proper legal advice and seek redress to your grieves using appropriate legal options. Then move on to approach another company to get your work done.

Either way, move on, keep on ranting here will not get you any conclusion. As much as the public forum can help is hear you and give you advice, but take note, no advice here are good enough from a legal perspective, so seek professionals to answer your doubt.

It's time to move on...

 

[sing702]

Not sure if you are genuine and there are always two side to a story.

Firstly, not all Singapore company are like what you have encountered. Most are quite professional in their work and will actually chase you for inputs.

Short answer to your problem, without knowing how much work remains or how much you have paid.

Case 1: you haven't paid the company in full.
Stop all payment, take your design and move on. Find a better company, local or in Korea.

Case 2: you have paid in full.
Depending on amount, most likely you will have to take it as lesson learnt. IMHO, for small value, there is really nothing much you can do. Legal actions will most likely cost more than it's worth.

Hi. I know not all Singapore company will be like that. The reason why it's common in Singapore is due to their attitude. I was irritated by his delay with personal reasons but no choice. I just waited and just asked the the progress of the website.

First of all, I just shocked he left without finishing my website.
I just thought he delayed again and he had been lazy again as usual before. But I never never expected he left without finishing or noticing me. If he can't continue the work due to some reason whether it's personal or technical reason, he should inform or TOP3 company have to inform clients to explain the situation or ask excuse. But no one did.

Second, after he left, I wanted to meet TOP3 manager which i contracted to check my website. He folded his arms and never said anything what he missed and what they can not do. He was only interested in pointing out me which they can not do. When I wanted to know the progress of my website and how long it will take, he said "Jep is still doing. He will finish it. He will check and let me know" But this guys also had not replied me for 2 weeks. I can see this company is not sincere anymore and not interested my project anymore.
Their attitude before I contracted and now are so much different. Responses are very slow after contract. They don't think nothing wrong. When I wanted to ask how come he delayed so much and he left without telling me before he finished, the manager didn't reply me anything. He only said what he wanted to say. He never replied me what I want to know.

After his attitude, I was so shocked again. They never wanted to talk about their fault but they only talked about what I missed on the contract.

Third, when I was really shocked by these people. I wanted to talk boss. The boss was exactly same. He think he doesn't need to apology to me. I will check the staff and let me know tomorrow. It was on 15 April, since then I never heard any call from TOP3.

When I realised that it's not only 1 person is irresponsible at TOP3, whole company was same. Yes, boss is not the developer who left undone project and made mistakes. So he doesn't feel any shame on what his staff did wrong.

I ordered a pizza, chief got my order with some toppings and my pizza is not coming for whole day. I checked few times, cheif said 'I went to toilet, my friend came to see me', all kinds of excused and he delayed mine. he gave me the pizza without some toppings and I asked her to add toppings. i waited until whole day, I realised she left. I called manager to complain, but manager said some toppings what i ordered is not available after I waited for whole day. shock! I called the boss to tell your staff are not professional. I waited 24 hours for a pizza but first, the pizza was not what I ordered and missed some toppings. After 24h waiting, the kitchen are closed and all of sudden toppings are not available. The boss said "he doesn't think he need to apology me because he is not the one who made mistakes".
I don't asked to change different pizza, I asked toppings which missed.

The reason why I wrote that it's common this kind of horrible company in Singapore, is their attitude. They don't feel any shame. If they think it's nothing wrong. Is it common this kind of happening in Singapore? I know it's not common. But I just grumble on about my shocking experience. I have nowhere to tell.

I feel like they have high handed attitude because I am a foreigner here in Singapore. I think they will not do it to local people. It's really disappointed..

I know you guys might not be very happy to listen I complain about Singapore. Sorry to say that. But since I am just foreign lady, I feel very unfair and lonely with this kind of situation. It's really hard to solve my problem since they don't bother me.

 

[sing702]

Dear Korean Friend,

this public forum heard your predicament. We can appreciate your frustration, but no amount of ranting or frustration is going to help you with your problem. As far as the issue is concern, you only have limited options.

1) Stick with the company and prepared for some substandard deliverables given the way you have described the company, there is no reason to believe something good will come out of it.
2) Approach proper legal advice and seek redress to your grieves using appropriate legal options. Then move on to approach another company to get your work done.

Either way, move on, keep on ranting here will not get you any conclusion. As much as the public forum can help is hear you and give you advice, but take note, no advice here are good enough from a legal perspective, so seek professionals to answer your doubt.

It's time to move on...

Thanks for your advice.

But I heard the lawyer here is very expensive. My website is 5k. But I might have to pay another few thousand for this case, I think. It's not really easy decision to me. It will be really really my last choice depending on them.

Sigh...

I never expected the website takes about 9 months but I still haven't got until now...

 

[davidktw]

Thanks for your advice.

But I heard the lawyer here is very expensive. My website is 5k. But I might have to pay another few thousand for this case, I think. It's not really easy decision to me. It will be really really my last choice depending on them.

Sigh...

I never expected the website takes about 9 months but I still haven't got until now...

Lawsuits are never cheap, especially commercial ones. I must say, 9 months you can have more than a website, you can build roughly 3 enterprise solutions

 

[sing702]

Can I ask what is joomla?

When I contracted with TOP3, they said I have to have customized platform. But now, they are making another one but they said it's joomla. What's different between customized website and joomla? Is it better choice? They never explained me what's difference. Totally ignore my questions. No choice to ask around to get advice.

I remember they said my requests about my website is suitable for customized and it's expensive so I paid 3K. But now they are using joomla. They said somethings is not working. Is it because they changed customized to joomla? I don't know it's worth for my money spent. I don't know what's going on now.

Please advice me.

P.S. They still haven't fixed photo display. I don't know why it takes so long time to fix and why they can not make properly.

 

[davidktw]

Can I ask what is joomla?

When I contracted with TOP3, they said I have to have customized platform. But now, they are making another one but they said it's joomla. What's different between customized website and joomla? Is it better choice? They never explained me what's difference. Totally ignore my questions. No choice to ask around to get advice.

I remember they said my requests about my website is suitable for customized and it's expensive so I paid 3K. But now they are using joomla. They said somethings is not working. Is it because they changed customized to joomla? I don't know it's worth for my money spent. I don't know what's going on now.

Please advice me.

P.S. They still haven't fixed photo display. I don't know why it takes so long time to fix and why they can not make properly.

Joomla is a popular Content Management System. It can be customised too. The value of such system is the ready framework for enhancement having both the front-end to show the public contents, and the back-end for administrators to easily administrate the contents.

Hence administrators do not really need to know web development to make contents changes or even at times structural changes to certain extent.

As for what TOP3 reply you, I start to have some reservations on how communications are done. I highly recommend no more email and all face to face communications to prevent misunderstandings.