I find that technical people, developers/hackers etc. can often be incredibly annoying when they do this. Many also have a tendency to call other developers idiots or constantly talk about their skills. It's really not a great way to make people think highly of you, either professionally or socially.
Thanks for all the advice guys. I'm not from California or even the US, so I wasn't sure about my legal options here. But I've done a little reading and the advice here has helped a lot. It's amazing how solitary you can feel doing this sort of thing! Thanks to all.
I paid him more than 2000 dollars of the fee already unfortunately. I've learnt a lot from this, specifically that even really good coders (or any professional) can be very good at what they do but still be completely unreasonable and willing to screw you.
I appreciate that coding software is an iterative process.
But this software was planned out very clearly, there were some minor changes, but nothing big.
Im not sure why 10 percent doesn't seem like a good deal for him, he quoted me 2500 dollars, which is all he should get. Out of desperation and a desire to get the project moving and actually get some results, I offered him 10 percent when it was several months late.
I'm very tempted to get the lawyers involved, but that will be expensive, take a long time and might not be worth it.
Sounds like you have a similar problem, at least Im not the only one.
I waived any late fees ( I didn't even mention them) and offered him bonuses if he finished within a certain date (he didnt but hes still demanding them).
Its amazing how angry he gets when I ask in the politest way possible that he show me some progress, even when he's 6 months late!
I appreciate that I can't write code, he has a skill I don't have. But I hired him to do it, he agreed a price, but hes now almost a year late and despite me offering him bonuses, 10% of the profits, hes still holding me to ransom and wanting more.
If I hire someone to build a house they don't get insulted when I offer them 10% of future rental yields. How can it be insulting to offer a percentage which wasn't even in the initial agreement?
2500 dollars is a lot for me, in my current situation. Surely it's not morally questionable as I paid for a service, to be completed at an agreed date at an agreed price. If he refuses to stick to the deal then I don't see how its amoral for me to pay him the 2500 dollars and keep my software, even if he wants to try and squeeze more money out of me.
Please feel free to let me know why it would be wrong for me to do that, as I'm not trying to be unethical.
Well there was a written agreement, but the funds were released in 4 separate milestones.
However, once I'd released 40 percent of the money and it was slightly late, I'd already wasted 2 months and said goodbye to 40 percent of the funds, so I felt like I had to stick with it. A foolish move in retrospect!
Why is it a scam? This guy is selling an ebook, with a money back guarantee.
Just because you think the book is crappy doesn't mean its a scam. Who cares if Nancy Roberts or whoever doesn't exist, he's just realised that parrot owners from middle America aren't likely to buy a book from a guy called Manupek Chandajee.