Beware: Cou / Coubean

Note:: I am both Paintdog and Drawindonkey. I switched names roughly a year ago.

I originally found them on a game called Furcadia as user Cou though I've moved PCs since then thus do not have logs of that in particular. We discussed a commission involving a sketch page of my character. Discussion went well, info was sent, I paid, done and done. 

Four months pass with no word from them, despite regularly checking on Furcadia for response - I then finally checked FurAffinity and sent a message, getting this response (2). Admittedly I cannot prove it, but they never actually contacted me on Furcadia.

Four months later, I messaged them again, asking for a refund (3), which they promised they were working on gathering the funds for.

One month later (4), I messaged them again, asking status. More excuses. I was told of 'initial sketches' being done, I was never actually given these. This is the last time I got a direct response from them.

Six months later (5), they posted a public journal asking anyone they owe something to to message them. I posted reminding them of the fact that they owe me 95.00$ from a commission that never got completed.

The shouts have been deleted since then by [removed] who is their significant other, but after a long period of time had passed ( roughly a year and a half ), I noticed Cou had favorited something quite recently in their gallery, so I posted a shout on their page asking anyone who knew of the whereabouts of this artist to send me a note if they know how I can get in contact. Three people contacted me. They aren't relevant to this case but apparently have similar experiences. I won't be disclosing their names, but one of them recommended me check with [removed], who again is Cou's significant other.

So, I messaged [removed] (6) who replied very quickly but then ceased replying as soon as I mentioned Cou refusing to respond to me. (7)

Again, all shouts were deleted, but after not getting a response, I posted a shout on both Cou and their partner's pages warning about Cou and that perhaps [removed] is in league with their theft. I was then blocked on both accounts ( [Removed] apparently has access to Cou's account themself ).

Afterwards, and the reason I'm kinda-sorta including [removed] in this beware, they added a disclaimer on their profile page (8) not to contact them about Cou. Though I think I'm not the only one who had done so. The line "They are no longer doing art at this time. Respect their decision as I have." is the main reason I include this. [Removed] does not seem too bothered that Cou has actively stolen from myself and others.

From one of my aforementioned sources, I was referred to their instagram page. I made a new account to try messaging them there (9) but they've shown no signs of activity so it might just be something they don't check often, if I'm giving them benefit of the doubt.

I was then referred to their facebook (10) where I sent more messages -

They are much more active on facebook than instagram or furaffinity judging by what I could see on their public profile, and in fact reblogged someone else's post a couple days after I send those messages. (11)

Cou has wronged not just me, but others who I hope will also post bewares, as Cou is not a first time offender. They've been known to change alias in the past to hide from customers as well ( this didn't happen with me except I do notice the spelling of their name is different from the paypal address from four years ago, and their facebook name today ). Beware. Do not commission this artist. You will get excuse after excuse about why they cannot work on your product or refund you, and then you'll get nothing at all, not even a response.