When is a Client Entitled to a Refund

[bbbkeys]

Hi, I am a web designer in the state of New York of over 175 web sites. I recently had a client pay us $1,000 to design a web site for them and they liked our work based on what they saw from my previous clients. So, they paid us the $1,000 upfront.

Now, that we finished working on their web site and their web site is working well, they don't like how we designed their web site and now are demanding a refund of $800. They want to pay us for something for our time and told us they will give us $200.

Well, we already spent $1,000 of our time designing their site and feel that we are entitled to all of the money. To be professional, I told them I would not give them more than $500 back. I am being nice even though we earned all of the money designing their web site and have spent $1,000 worth of time designing their site. They insist that we have to give them a $800 refund.

To make matters worse, they have already hired another web designer and have paid him money to work on their web site. So, they definitely want their money back and now threatening to sue us in small claims court for the $800 since I will not give them back more than $500.

Do they have a case? Is there any way that I can prove that we spent over $1,000 of our time designing their web site. Can they win a case against us and be awarded the money that they are asking for?

I happen to think that if they are going to spend the money for another web designer, that is not really my problem. I still want to be paid for the time we put in.

And advice is appreciated.

[Mr. Knowitall]

What does your contract say?

[Fxston]

Now, that we finished working on their web site and their web site is working well, they don't like how we designed their web site and now are demanding a refund of $800.

Since your design works, does it meet the contracted specifications?