ComplaintsforB Squared Advertising Inc

• Initial Complaint

  11/17/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  On 10/15/23, *********** ("SS") contracted B-Squared ("B2Ads) to build a website for $7,700.00 plus $1,000.00/month fees to have bi-weekly meetings. The first meeting was on 10/13/23, when SS paid the 50% deposit plus $500 service fees, totaling $4,350.00.We scheduled a second meeting on 10/30/23 to go over the work progress related to our site map. At that time, she requested an additional $1,000.00 service fee, which was paid. By our surprise, the person responsible for the site map, ***********************, was not present because of his wedding anniversary. ***** and ****** presented us with a preliminary site map with unrelated keywords and descriptions. Unfortunately, that meeting was not productive and made us uncomfortable with their ability to deliver what was contracted for. On Nov 1st, ***** sent a preliminary site map, missing some of the corrections pointed out in the last meeting, I then replied with questions regarding the keywords and requested the next meeting. On Nov 2nd, ***** replied about the meeting only. That same day I did some research and decided to implement my ideas and concerns to the proposed site map, and once more, asked specific questions about some inconsistencies and unrelated keywords presented in their preliminary site map. I also had questions about color match in a separate email sent on Nov 1st.Since I had not received a reply from my emails for almost a week, I decided to cancel the services on Nov 6th. In that email, I asked ***** about the deposits and finances. Surprisingly, she replied to that email in 4 minutes, stating that her bookkeeper would return to work the following week, and she would find out about any money owed to HER firm. I thought she meant "our" firm, since they had barely done any work. Since I didn't hear back from her, on Nov 16th I sent her an email about the funds, in which she replied "There are no additional monies owed to B2 at this time". That was a waste of time, and she is trying to keep the funds.

  Business response

  12/07/2023

  There are several misstatements in this complaint. Yes, it's true, we contracted with *********** for a website design for $7,700 and ongoing monthly consultation fee of $1,000. The first month's fee was prorated to reflect our mid-month involvement and the second month's fee was billed in full. Client was also billed a deposit on the website of $3,850. The process began, as it always does, with keyword research in order to begin writing page titles and page descriptions, all of which are necessary for Search Engine Optimization. We developed a site map (attached) and performed a comprehensive assessment of his current website (also attached). We had several meetings with the client in an effort to move the ball forward but in week 3, he sent a termination letter (as per our contract, termination must be received 30-days prior to effective date of termination). At that time, I turned over the existing work product which consisted of our site map and our keyword research.

  As you can see from the email string attached, at no time did he ever ask for a refund. He asked for an accounting of what money HE owed to B-Squared, which I provided. In accordance with the terms of our contract, he was required to provide a written 30-day notice of termination, so therefore no monies were owed to him. As to the website, while we did not perform half of the work on the site (which would justify the 50% deposit), he pulled the plug on the project before we even had a chance to really get started. 

  Had he asked for a refund on any of the unused monies from the website deposit, I might have agreed to that but clearly, this is not his intent. It appears as though his intent is to malign my company through a bogus complaint to the BBB while demanding a full refund, which he clearly is not ***********. I am happy to provide any additional documentation regarding this claim at any time.

   

   

  Customer response

  12/08/2023

   
  Complaint: 20886407
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  I did ask for the refund, however I want to be respectful of their time spent in the two meetings we had, as you can see in the email quoted here "I know we had our two meetings, which I am not opposed to compensating for your time, so please let me know how we can handle the deposit and finances. I am positive we can find a fair resolution, my goal is always to keep a good relationship, that is what matters most." ****** answer was "I will circle around with my bookkeeper when she returns next week about any money owed to our firm.". So, she was the one stating about *********** owing monies to her business, which would be an absurd. I have no interest to malign her business, and I will keep my position regarding compensating B Squared for the two meetings we had, which costed $1,000.00 service fee. Unfortunately, the site map created by B Square was not adequate to our business and can not be utilized. My idea of business is to focus on providing an excellent service and profiting from it, and not to profit from a completely unsatisfied customer. I hope B ********************** can make this right and return the deposits made minus $1,000.00 for the two meetings.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

  Business response

  12/21/2023

  I have attached job costs for the work we provided to *********** on both his website and a logo evolution. We never charged him for the logo evolution and of the $3,850 we received as a deposit on the website, we spent $1,212.50 on it before *********** pulled the plug (their choice, not ours, nor were we ever given a chance to correct whatever he felt we were doing wrong). He claims he asked for his money back but if you read the email string I provided earlier, I took his email as a query as to whether additional monies were owed to B2, not the other way around. He also claims the work produced could not be used. Again, this is false, he CHOSE not to use what we provided. We've been building websites for clients for the better part of 15 years and never once, was our work deemed unacceptable. In the meantime, this man is maligning us on social media (under an alias) as he has done to any number of other businesses in the area. 

  Under the terms of our contract, he is not *********** ANY refund on his service fees ($1,500). However, in the interest of being fair, I am willing to refund $2,637.50 to him for the unused portion of the deposit received on the website. I will do this in exchange for a full release from him and assurance that he will let this matter drop once and for all.

  In my 23 years as a business owner, I have never ever been forced to deal with someone as unreasonable, and revenge-oriented as this man. It's a shame really.

   

   

  Customer response

  12/26/2023

   
  Complaint: 20886407
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  Although I respect their companys past achievements, I hired them to provide certain services to our business, and that was of value to **. After three weeks of very little results and feedback, I decided to cancel the agreement, it was just taking too long to get an answer to my questions, which those delays only benefited B Squared. I still have several unanswered questions and inconsistencies about the proposed sitemap, and that is why I will not use it.
  After her comments about me maligning her business on social media, which I found very immature, impulsive and irresponsible, I did a little investigation. I guess ***** is referring to someone named "****** Kelevra" that left a 1-star review on ****** for her business. Though she may not agree that was an awful coincidence, that person states to speak Spanish as his/her native language on his/her ****** review. I don't shop at Macys, and my first language is Portuguese, not Spanish. I also don't go to Trader Joes or Planet Fitness, and I had never heard about ***** Lansdowne street. Those are the businesses reviewed by that "alias"... I am not a man to hide behind "aliases". I have no shame in exposing my opinion in public under my name, since I always try to be slow to judge, and be respectful to others. I dont believe, nor agree to malign a business, and especially a human being.
  It surprises me that she indignantly describes me as a revenge driven man, but in response to someone else's bad review, she makes a false accusation and publishes a libel against my person at BBB, in a completely out of context fashion. That to me sounds more like a malign revenge driven behavior... But I'm not here to judge, we all make mistakes, what matters is what we do after it, so I still hope she will rectify her wrongdoings.
  In an effort to end this unnecessary situation, I extend my offer for her to retain $1,500.00, which will cover what she declared as delivered services ($1,120.00) plus $380.00 for the two meetings I felt to be totally unproductive. So, B Squared would be refunding *********** the website deposit of $3,850.00. I understand it is less that she wished to earn, but it is more than I wished to lose from that experience.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *******************

  Business response

  12/28/2023

  The consumer and I have reached a resolution to this matter. I will be sending him a mutually agreeable refund shortly aafter the first of the year when my bookkeeper returns from the holiday.

   

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩