What a TERRIBLE experience with Melissa! We hired her to do artwork on our food trailer and it went south very quickly. Here is what happened: 1. We laid out our vision and she gave us some design ideas. We filled out her questionnaire and gave her detailed photos of the trailer, along with exact surface measurements for all three 3 sides. The measurements were: Two large sides: 16x7 feet Back Small side 8x7 feet 2. We agreed on a final design and a start and end date. 3. She wanted 75% upfront non-refundable. We declined and requested 50% upfront and 50% upon completion. She agreed and changed it to reflect it on her contract, which we signed. As soon as we paid, the problems started. Date of signature and deposit were 1/30/2025 and contract stated completion of first side of trailer by 2/3/2025. 4. We arranged an indoor space for her, as the weather was supposed to be cold. We paid for the space and made it clear that the space would not be available after 2/3/2025 due to it being booked for other work by others. 5. Starting from 2/1/2025 the weather turned out great for the next 10 days (mid 70s). She decided she didn't need the indoor space, so we moved it outside, but had to pay for it non-the-less. 6. She continually made promises to turn up at 9am to start, but never made it out before between noon and 4pm. This is in the dead of winter when sunset is by 5:30-6pm and it gets very cold at 5500 feet of Colorado elevation. She also decided to make excuses and missed at least three and a half days of work, and also missed the golden opportunity we had to complete the project with the great weather. She would also take off mid work at 4 pm or so saying "Be back in 20 mins", but would oddly come back in 2.5 hours and work past sunset under a light she had. When asked what happened, she would say she went with friends for a long dinner. 7. On 2/7/2025 (4 days past the delivery date) she was not even half way into the first side of the trailer, when she decided that we never agreed for her to do the back small side of the trailer. This is despite us having proof of this in the measurements, photos, and artwork SHE provided for approval. She demanded $500 more, which we declined. We settled on $200 and only because I was getting over the whole thing and wanted the job finished and her attitude out of our way, so we can launch our business. 8. From 2/7/2025 to 2/12/2025, she missed every new deadline she set, and we have all the messages she sent as proof of this. 9. Her work started to fall off the wagon. The design had some Mediterranean sea stacks and rocks. They looked like blobs of grey with no moss or shadows like she did in the mock-up. The food images on the other end of design, were again blobs of something that could not be distinguished as any food, let alone Shawarma/Gyro wraps, falafel, or any other Mediterranean dish. She was clearly not interested any longer in doing good work and wanted to pass on quick and poor quality as acceptable. 10. We kindly asked for the above shortcomings to be fixed and be done as per the mock-ups. 11. On 2/12/2025 she left our property quietly, and then messaged to tell us she was finally done with the fist side and that she had to run to get her son from childcare. She did not even give us a chance to first come out and approve the final work. 12. When we went out to look, the food image portion of the design was still a hot mess. 13. I decided we'll address it later. I messaged her simply to ask when she would be back to start on the other sides which we had prepped for her at her request (we did sanding, cleaning and priming, just to speed things up, even though it was part of her job to do). 14. Several hours later we got a message to say she was not coming back and was dropping the project. 15. We said fine, and to please give us a full refund, as per her own contract which states: If the Freelancer cancels, the deposit will be refunded in full. 16. As of 2/13/2025 she states she did not walk away. 17. When we pointed out that dropping the project when only 40% was completed, was a breach of her own contract, she tied to accuse us of disrespecting her and that she walked away because she "did not feel safe". We are on a 40 acre property and apart from driving by once in a while to check on progress, we did not see her much at all, let alone speak with her. I have proof of her attempts at lies, because I have all the security footage of her being there. All with video and sound. read more