GISOL - Liars and thieves. VERY UNETHICAL COMPANY!

A few months ago we(bannersmall.com) created GISOL a large volume of banner ads. Nearly $500 dollars worth. After the many changes they requested, we finally came to an agreement that the banners were done and they accepted. They were very hard to work with and very rude throughout the process.

A couple weeks go by and they do a chargeback. Their excuse was that we were too late and that they didnt need the banners anymore because they have no intentions of running them since they were not arrived on time for their campaign. And remember, this was AFTER they ACCEPTED the banner designs.

Now a few months later, i run into a few webhosting directories and find that they have been running the ads that we have designed. I contacted them last week and they refuse to do anything about it. They think that just because they modfied the text on the banners that they own the design. VERY unethical company. I suggest that nobody does any kind business with these guys.

the ads are being run on:

http://www.webhostdir.com
http://www.hostpulse.com

and im sure a few other directories...

GISOL - Liars and thieves. VERY UNETHICAL COMPANY!

They think that just because they modfied the text on the banners that they own the design.


I would modified the image used in the banner with an ufo image so when some peoples read their modified text where says 'unlimited bandwidth' they would easly understand that they are really from space.

Sorry to hear about this. Very unfortunate. Anyone that conducts themselves in this way should be shunned from the business ;) Thanks for the review.

Good heads up to all. Hope venting made you feel better too. I'd be piping mad!

Can't you sue them????

Can't you sue them????Not to be critical, I'd also worry about the other way around, having called them liars and thieves in a public setting... Obviously sounds like a slam dunk as far as being taken for money, not always a good idea to throw terms like that around in this litigous society!

Im not sure where you are, but in the UK, just so long as you can prove they were your images, you could striaght to the courthouse and take out an Injunction as they owe u money as a supplier, you can also sue them for copyright theft.

Not to be critical, I'd also worry about the other way around, having called them liars and thieves in a public setting... Obviously sounds like a slam dunk as far as being taken for money, not always a good idea to throw terms like that around in this litigous society!

Wouldn't make it past the first round in court. In order to sue for libel, you need to prove damages. Monetary damages.

On the other hand, stealing services from the OP is another story.

Have you considered legal action ? That is probably your strongest asset right now. I would consider telling them that you are considering taking court action to recover the lost damages. Did you have a contract ?

since you own the images you should send DMCA takedown notices to the sites using the banners

since you own the images you should send DMCA takedown notices to the sites using the banners

I for one second that motion, the OP should take some action against this problem unless he already has done so. Also if you provide payment receipts that the other company did indeed pay and chargeback that should be proof enough the images in question are not their property any longer.

Chris@BM, best of luck in getting this discrepency resolved.

Not to be critical, I'd also worry about the other way around, having called them liars and thieves in a public setting... Obviously sounds like a slam dunk as far as being taken for money, not always a good idea to throw terms like that around in this litigous society!As long as he's telling the truth and he can prove it, he has little to be afraid of.

In order to sue for libel, you need to prove damages. Monetary damages.One may simply seek a public recognition that the statements were libelous, and receive only a symbolic $1.

Wouldn't make it past the first round in court. In order to sue for libel, you need to prove damages. Monetary damages.

No you don't. All that needs to be proved is that the statements that were made about you were untrue. Monatery damages have nothing to do with it.

That said, if the negative statements were true, you'd have no recourse whatsoever.

-B

since you own the images you should send DMCA takedown notices to the sites using the banners

I will third this one. These guys have no right ripping off your work. It just makes me sick that there are businesses/people out there who think it is easier to spend a fake dollar than to make an honest one.

Good luck to you!

Here is what I don't know, does Gisol employ multiple marketing folks?

Did they run the banners intentionally or was it that they accepted it, they put them up, then they realized that they do not want to run the campaign with the banners?

But you own the intellectual rights as far as I am concerned so go at it with DMCA!

Sorry to hear about this. Very unfortunate. Anyone that conducts themselves in this way should be shunned from the business ;) Thanks for the review.


I have to agree completely. Also, I would contact the places that they are using the banners at and fill them in. It will not change anything, but will let them know what kind of people they are splashing across thier pages. :)

Prevention is better than cure.
Its a good time to learn from your mistakes.
Its YOUR responsibility to protect your intellectual properties.

In this case, you shouldn't have given them the actual logos until you received full payment.
You should have sent them preview-logos with overlaying watermarks.
Any way, experience counts. And NOW you know how to deal with your next customer.

Good luck. :)

Prevention is better than cure.
Its a good time to learn from your mistakes.
Its YOUR responsibility to protect your intellectual properties.

In this case, you shouldn't have given them the actual logos until you received full payment.
You should have sent them preview-logos with overlaying watermarks.
Any way, experience counts. And NOW you know how to deal with your next customer.

Good luck. :)

We did receive the full payment upfront. They did a chargeback.

We did receive the full payment upfront. They did a chargeback.
Oops....so did you have any "signed" contracts that say they have received what they wanted? :stan:

We did receive the full payment upfront. They did a chargeback.

Chris did you require them ti submit a signed authorization form stating they authorized the charge(s)? If not now would be a good time to start doing so.

EDIT: ugh @ chris_jon, got the ole happy trigger finger on that submit button :)

There we no signed contracts. Though technically its the right thing to do, it is ineffecient for us since we receive many orders, big and small.

well, been about a month and they still refuse to do nothing about it, they havent even seized to run the ads.

GISOL - Liars and thieves. VERY UNETHICAL COMPANY!


The fact they state As the world's largest hosting company, Global Internet Solutions offers one of the most robust and flexible set of hosting options avalible anywhere. should tell you all you need to know about the kind of company they are.