Okay so, I commissioned this artist on DA 14 months ago, and they have not even produced a starting sketch for me. I figure patiently waiting with my name on the list wasn't much to ask for, but 10 months pass and I have moved up a single spot on the to-do list. Meanwhile the artist is doing a lot of gift sketches and adoptables. I just feel like if you have time to make adoptables, you should have time to work on the commissions people paid for up front, yah know? Now at a full year I decided to message the artist politely asking about progress. (They had a thing about not messaging them which is why I didn't sooner) But here is the kicker: I go to their page and their entire to-do list is now empty and they have 'slots open for commissions again'. I ask them and they say that I am still on the list, and they feel more inspired now which is why they opened more slots. Well its been another 2 months and I was considering asking for a refund, but now they have an official terms of service that "applies to all previous commission" and part of it is that they won't do refunds????

So I have no idea what to do. I think waiting over a year with no progress while the artist is simultaneously taking money from more people isn't right. I could be wrong though? I just don't know what to do now? Do I ask for my money back anyway? Do I even have any power in this situation?

This has not been a good first time commissioning experience. :(