http://www.XcellenceIT.com/
Currently Trading as... http://www.cratima.com/
POSTED: 12 April 2007
Graham Hamer
I want to warn you about a Romanian Company called XcellenceIT (Currently Trading as Cratima.com), who
claim to be able to write simple web site programs and applications. In fact,
according to their own publicity, they claim to be able to undertake a lot more
than that...
Web Development: Web Design, Complete Web Site, Web Programming, Flash Animation, Web-based Intranet Applications.
Software Application: Client/Server Applications, Database Design & Development, System Administration, Technical Support, Three-Tier Applications.
Graphic Design: Logos, Business Cards, Brochures, Letterhead, Corporate Identity Package, Illustration, Banner Ads, Print Ads, 3D Graphics, 3D Modeling.
Multimedia: Stand-alone Multimedia Presentations, CD ROM’s Presentations, Software Demos, Educational Tutorials (Lessons, Seminars), Direct e-Mail Advertising, Corporate Presentations, Sales Presentations.
Pretty impressive, eh?
Sadly, it's all complete BULL, because XcellenceIT are nothing more than a money-grabbing scam. In fact, they've just changed their name to CRATIMA.COM (probably to avoid the queue of people who have paid and then received nothing in return).
I guess I should have been on guard when I saw that their address was listed on Elance.com just as "Bucharest, Romania" (not too specific, is it!)
The sad facts...
On 16 March 2006, I agreed terms with XcellenceIT for two projects
(straightforward website applications) - one at $250 and the other at $1,000.
Hi Graham,
Thank you again for the opportunity you have given us and we assure you we will provide you with the highest quality service.
We have studied the other project and we accept your proposal. We agree on a $250 fee for this project and $1000 for the bigger project. Also, the smaller project will be delivered in a week ( from the date we have notification that money have been sent ). For the other project, as I have already mentioned the timeframe is two moths. We have some options to propose you: Western Union, Money Gram or wire transfer. We will give you the info account that you need. What do you think?
I am looking forward to your response and decision.
Regards,
Florin Visoiu
Notice the agreed completion dates... ONE WEEK for project #1 and
TWO MONTHS for project #2
As agreed, I immediately sent $750 (full payment for the first project and 50% payment for the second). And then I waited - and waited - and.... blah blah blah!
Let's cut a long (boring) story short and say that Project #1 was eventually "completed" on 30 May 2006 (almost THREE MONTHS after commencement). I use the word "completed" loosely since the final email from XcellenceIT simply said...
Hi Graham,
The XFactor application works fine on our servers. We have no idea why there might be problems on your part.
Best Regards,
Olivian Breda
In other words, "screw you, chum. Just because you and your subscribers can't make the application work, don't bother asking us to find out why!"
So that was $250 down the pan!
Project #2 was my worst nightmare ... constant emails between us simply to correct lousy spelling, lousy formatting, inability to understand simple instructions, specifications not read, corrections not made, testing not done, incomplete work,
feedback ignored, time wasting etc. etc. It all dragged on until, on 7 December 2006 (NINE MONTHS after commencement
- time to have a baby!!). After I had become nasty and threatened to tell the world about their lousy service, they agreed to cancel the contract.
So, on 7 December, Andrea Teofanescu sent me an "Agreement" to sign, that said they would give me what they had done to date, and I would forfeit what I had already paid them!!! (You wouldn't be believed if you wrote this stuff into a TV SitCom!!).
Naturally, I declined her generous offer and continued to ask for a full refund.
Eventually, on 29 January 2007, XcellenceIT issued a Western Union payment of $480 (The sum
I paid them was $500 but, for reasons unknown, they only
refunded $480. At this stage, who's arguing with these incompetent idiots?)
Sadly, where I live (on a small island) there is no Western Union office, so I had to ask them to
reissue the partial refund to my wife in France. Guess what...
Hi Graham,
Unfortunately we cannot help you at this time. The person who was in
charge of your Western Union transaction relocated and decided to leave
the company. This person is the only one who can cancel the
transaction, as Western Union only handles transactions with
individuals, not companies. We are unable to find the person and order
the cancellation. Hopefully you will be able to sort it out successfully.
Thank you,
Andrei Aelenei
XcellenceIT Client Service Team
Once again - screw you buddy - we've got you money and we don't give a shit about you!
I followed up (March 1, 2007) with...
Hi Andrei
I don't follow the logic of that.
My dealings were with your company not with an individual.
The transaction will cancel automatically 45 days after it
was issued, so you will be in a position to reinstate it at that time
Thanks
Graham
And, three more emails since that... none of which have elicited a response from anyone at XcellenceIT. So I'm now $750 down and the thieves at XcellenceIT are partying at my expense!
All I can say is, don't believe ANY of the BS that these people claim about their service. B.S. like...
"We believe in the power of deadline and for that reason we strive to respect it in everything we do" and B.S. like
"Moreover, we are committed to deliver these solutions on time, according to the deadline, by keeping all the promises made to our clients".
Their claims are lies. Their service is non-existent. Their honesty levels are ZERO.
If you want to get rid of some money, give it to charity -
DO NOT EMPLOY XCELLENCEIT.COM OR THEIR NEW COMPANY,
CRATIMA.COM
When asked to comment on this article, XcellenceIT failed to reply ... Curious, that!
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