Hello everyone. I want to tell a story of my last commission. Why do I bother? Well... why not! Anyway, let's get to the point.

On August 18th I got an unexpected note from a certain user here at FA. It was unexpected because he asked me about a possibility of a commission yet I wasn't open for commissions that time. Nevertheless I agreed. The deal was to draw a picture with two characters and a background in a painterly style which I first introduced in my artwork for Shane. I set the price for 150$ which has been accepted immediately and warned him that I would be able to start drawing the picture not sooner than two months later. As I always used to do, I decided to take the payment after I've finished the drawing. In the meantime my friend was visiting me for over a week, which was one of the reasons why I had to put off drawing the picture.

After about two months I started doing my job. He insisted on watching as I was drawing so I employed that nice skype feature to stream my screen to another user. I work pretty slowly so it took two or three weeks of irregular drawing for a couple of hours each time. If I recall correctly he hasn't asked to change anything and always said that everything was great. He was only pestering me to tell him when he could watch me drawing again. In the meantime he asked for intermediate stages of the picture. I was a bit reluctant to give him anything of good quality since it was still before the payment. He kept repeating "please trust me" again and again so I decided to take a risk and send it. It wasn't finished that time anyway.

Finally I finished the picture. He was again pestering me to show it to him and to trust him. Of course he said he would pay me once he resolve a problem with his bank. It smelled a bit fishy but the picture was finished so I couldn't save any time on drawing it anymore and again decided to take a risk. "I can't get screwed more than once anyway" - I thought. Also I was aware that over two months passed since he commissioned me so he could be short of cash. Eventually I agreed and sent him the picture and asked for payment at his earliest convenience.

He fed me the same story about his bank and how he had problems with it. That he wrote to them using traditional mail and any respons hadn't arrived yet. (Who uses traditional mail to communicate with banks today? o_O). I suggested writing an email or even going to the bank personally. I was pretty much concerned but he wasn't avoiding contact with me and informed me from time to time about the "progress" so I trustfully assumed that there might really be some problem. On November he said that he hadn't had the money yet. I asked him when would he gonna have it and he asked for a deadline for payment. I am usually a nice guy so since he didn't have money that time he wouldn't have them next day, so I set the deadline for 31 Dec 2014. A full month to collect the agreed amount. In the middle of that month he came to me to inform me about... things. Just read (he pretty often repeated his messages if I hadn't replied for more than 2 minutes but I pasted them here only once. Sometimes I concatenate a few consecutive message of the same person into one).


7 Dec 2014
Him: Hiiiiiiiii (hug)
Rezzy: hello
Him: I have received a message from my bank and my bank told me that I will receive my money next week, but I do not know what day, okay?
Rezzy: fine, that's ok
Him: I go send you a message when I received my money, okay?
Rezzy: very well... don't worry about that too much... as long as you are honest with me, it's ok :)
Him: Ok ;)
(plus some more irrelevant chit-chat)

8 Dec 2014
Him: The drawing at a little problem
Rezzy: what do you mean? I don't understand
Him: the areas in the black circles should more white and the pawpads of character of my friend are a pinkish color. You can adjust this, please?
Him: You can adjust this?
Him: You is here?
Him: You can adjust this?
Him: Please ;(
Rezzy: I could, a bit at least. I will improve the whiteness but not too much.
Him: OK, you adjust this when?
Rezzy: after you pay I'll do the adjustments and draw that bust I promised [I even promised him to draw a free bust for long waiting]
Rezzy: but it won't be a problem... fortunately the fixes won't need me to redraw things... just improve colors a bit
Him: You go adjust this after the payment?
Rezzy: yes. you said next week [for the payment] so it shouldn't be that long :). don't worry I'll do it.
Him: OK, great (hug) (heart)
Him: I'm tired (yawn)
Him: Well, I'm leaving, goodbye, see you tomorrow my friend (heart) (hug) (heart) (hug)
(plus bye bye and stuff)

13 Dec 2014
Him: I go connect me Monday because Saturday and Sunday I'm very very very busy. Okay?
Rezzy: I don't mind... but start thinking about the payment... you said this week you would resolve the problem
Rezzy: so I hope you'll be ready with everything next week
Him: Oh yeah, my problem is soon resolve, okay?
Rezzy: I hope so... initially you told me you would do it in a week... currently it's like a month... I might be willing to wait some more but not another month... better fix it before the end of this year
Him: Yes, trust me
Rezzy: trust is earned, not granted... so maybe I will... I trusted you more than most people would.
Him: See you soon (Monday), okay?
Rezzy: ok, sleep well

15 Dec 2014
Him: Hiiiiiiiiiii ^_^
Rezzy: hello
(little chit-chat here)
Him: My problem is solve (happy) I go received my money this week (I hope), but I don't know what, okay?
Rezzy: not okay... last week passed... you said they were gonna send you money last week
Rezzy: and I'm sure you would say the same next week
Rezzy: that the problem is solved and you'll get money next week
Rezzy: week passes after week
Rezzy: it's been almost a month. 25 days to be precise
Him: Yes, I know ;( my bank is slow, I'm sure this week
Rezzy: like I said last time... I'm waiting not longer than to the end of this month
Him: Give me a limited date for pay you, please
Rezzy: what do you mean? you want a hard deadline?
Him: You give me to what day to pay you?
Rezzy: ok... 31 Dec 2014... it's the deadline
Him: OK, I promise you of pay you
Rezzy: ok. for your own comfort I suggest you transfer it at least a few day earlier
Him: Ok ;)
(I'm tired, good bye, blahblahblah)

23 Dec 2014
Him: Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
Him: I go pay you the 31 December, okay?
Rezzy: hello... okay... I will remind you in a few days... treat it as the final date, there won't be any more deadlines... I will take action immediately on 1 January 2015 if payment won't appear on my paypal...
Him: Ok ;)
Him: You'll do what action?
Rezzy: I don't want to threaten you for now... just pay and everything will be fine
Him: I want know, what action?
Rezzy: I want many things too... not always get them. Don't irritate me.
Him: Please, I want know
Rezzy: No... I want my payment... I've been waiting for almost two months... you don't need to know what I do... you only need to pay me for the work I've done... as simple as that.
Him: Ok. The 31 okay?
Rezzy: yes... 31 dec or sooner...
Him: The 31 okay?
Rezzy: yes of course
Him: Do not be angry, okay?
Rezzy: for now I'm only mildly irritated, not yet angry. It will depend on you though... Still, good luck finding another artists as patient as I am...
(bye bye and stuff)

29 Dec 2014
Rezzy: hello, I only wanted to remind you about the deadline on 31... Goodbye
Him: I know, bye
Him: I know, okay?
Rezzy: ok I said I would remind you once and I did.
Him: OK, bye

Now it's the most hilarious part. Our two last days of. Enjoy.

29 Dec 2014
Him: You have received the money?
Rezzy: sec I'll check
Rezzy: give me 10 minutes. I'm eating now
Rezzy: Ok
Rezzy: No it hasn't... When you actually send any money they will come, don't worry. Paypal is pretty reliable... again... my account is [xxxxxxx].
Rezzy: also paypal informs me with an e-mail for every transaction... so don't think I'm gonna believe you that you sent any money and I haven't gotten them...
Rezzy: don't worry you still have 3 hours left... plenty of time
Him: Wait
Rezzy: I do :D I'm all waiting XD.
Him: I have of problems with paypal, but I have another way to pay you, I can send you a postal money order (mandate cash)?
Rezzy: nope only paypal or bank transfer...
Him: Bank transfer?
Rezzy: you can choose any way you want if only money end up either on my paypal or my bank account. I can give you my bank account number... an international one
Him: OK, I want bank transfer. Please
Rezzy: ok... so do it... you still have 3 hours and 4 minutes... and no I won't wait another week...
(after a couple more of irrelevant messages I gave him the necessary info)
Him: I want do this today in my bank, but my bank is close today and tomorrow, I go send you the money the 2 January, okay?
Rezzy: do it through the internet
Rezzy: no, you do it till the midnight. sorry but you had the entire month. I don't believe you, even after next two days you won't pay me, you always wanted to cheat...
Rezzy: so either you pay to midnight or we'll talk differently. think up something, it's not my problem. you had two months to pay...
Him: I have received all my money yesterday. I prefer to do it in my bank, not on the internet, my bank is more secured
Rezzy: no, you prefer not to pay at all... that's why you waited till the end... don't worry I'm doing internet transfers for years and they are secure enough... just check everything twice...
Him: In a website?
Rezzy: just stop explaining and complaining. It's not my problem... use either paypal or your bank website. I'll check if money arrived somewhere tomorrow... so you should be happy that in fact you've got a few hours more than till midnight... but that's all. I waited to long and apprently you're not trustworthy at all. Like I said... think up something... ask friends, ask family, ask anyone to help you if you can't do it yourself
Him: I'm afraid. I'm afraid of internet. Internet is dangerous, I have miss a lot of money on internet
Rezzy: I don't care if you're afraid or not... I haven't begged you to commission me, you wanted... you agreed for the price. Today I won't respond to you anymore. I'm waiting for payment. I DO NOT CARE ABOUT IT! You had two fucking months... BYE!
Him: Bye? Why bye?
Him: I forgot the price. [I noticed he removed this message]
Rezzy: You're an ultimate idiot. If you forgot the price, how could you try transfering money to me on PayPal? What? you picked up an arbitrary amount of money? No, you never even tried to send anything... You're a fucking liar and I'll make sure you get what you deserve... I'll be waiting till tomorrow, till I wake up. Then I won't wait any longer.
Him: You make me what? I want know, please. [repeat a few dozen of times]
Him: My bank is close today, my bank is open the 2 January, I am really really serious, I have try of send you the money but I have received a message of my bank, my bank is close today and tomorrow, my bank open the 2 January at 9pm, I am really really serious, please wait the 2 January for the payment, okay?
Him: PS: sorry for my bad English, I'm french
[again two messages above a couple of times]

1 Jan 2015
Rezzy: I woke up and checked my account... I don't see your payment and I'm fed up waiting. Yes I received your emails I just didn't want to talk to you yesterday anymore. I could wait one more day for payment but the problem is I don't believe you're gonna pay me tomorrow... You had the entire month, you could have done it a week ago... or two... You haven't... so you see for yourself... Waiting for your payment is just a waste of time which normally I could spend on squeezing the cash out of you. It's much more reliable than waiting... which doesn't work in your case. I might even want to charge you more... for the delay... Banks do it too, and I'm not a bank... hahahaha... banks are nice. How can you prove that you will pay tomorrow?
Him: I'll send you a receipt. And the banks is not nice
Rezzy: I don't care about receipts... if money appers on my account... either bank account or paypay account (I'd prefer paypal) I will surely inform you. But how can you ensure me that you pay tomorrow? banks are nicer than I can be
Him: I don't like PayPal. You go see the money of your account tomorrow. If I have not pay you, you go make me what? I want know
Rezzy: ok I will wait till tomorrow, you better send money using a fast transfer. I won't be waiting next two days for the money to arrive. 150$ as we agreed... (the info about the price is in your notes at FA). And about yesterday... I can tell when you lie or not so better don't do it again. My friendly advice :). I work much better with honest people...
Him: Surprise ;) I promise.
Him: Answer at my question, please. If I have not pay you, you go make me what? Answer, please
Rezzy: You have time till tomorrow midnight in your timezone. If you don't have money... borrow it or do whatever you want. No my business... Till tomorrow... Have a nice day.
Him: You have answer at my question. I want know

2 Jan 2015
Him: I want cancel my commission. Please. Answer me, quickly
Rezzy: I'm afraid you're about 4 months late. when you buy bread you eat it and then go to a store and expect a refund?
Him: No. I want cancel my commission
Rezzy: exactly... the situation here is just the same... there's nothing to cancel... it's already done.
Him: Cancel. Please
Rezzy: you can beg me forever, I won't...
Him: I have not the money for the moment. The price is very big
Rezzy: where was your brain when you commissioned me? on vacation?
Him: Sorry for this. Please, cancel
Rezzy: sorry since you are unable to pay there are other ways to solve this problem my dear... you don't need to talk to me anymore. I will solve it myself. too bad for you
Him: How? you go make me what?
Rezzy: I have no reason to talk to you anymore. Just prepare for much more than 150$.
[after which he has been blocked]

Yes I know I was too gullible sometimes and like I promised many times I would keep my policy of taking payment after work until someone rips me off which is what happened. From now on you can expect a nice yet quite a cold guy who will take money in advance (like most artists do) and who won't draw free art for anyone (except for the requests already taken). Comparing to how I used to be it will be a big change. Of course trustworthy commissioners don't need to worry about anything. I will just be more careful and not trust you. That's all ^_^. And no... your trust that I won't rip you off is not the same as my trust that you pay. I need to care about my good name. If you I start cheating you it will be my end. You don't have the same problem. I will post my new commission info later today I guess...

And one more thing. I tend to believe people because I hate assuming that they are bad, untrustworthy or something. But I HATE lack of honesty. I hate it really much. It's the easiest way to piss me off. So if you want to think up some excuse, consider telling the truth. It's more likely that I praise honesty than condemn it. And one thing I hate too... Lack of logic in arguments. If you explain something to me, better make sure that your statement doesn't contradict the previous ones. I'm perhaps not a master of it but I can use it. Don't assume otherwise.

I have ideas and plans for consequences for that guy but if you have any others, do share. The more ideas the better :D.