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https://artists-beware.livejournal.com/873487.html WHO: Tortle/ Jay/ Gatorbite WHERE: http://tortle.tumblr.com/ https://www.furaffinity.net/user/gatorbite/ https://www.weasyl.com/~tortle WHAT: Multiple commissions, including an art doll and a customized adoptable WHEN: Art doll was purchased in May of 2013. PROOF: Proof of payment for the art doll and adopt: https://41.media.tumblr.com/5d2465c81301f52d9dee05dc058c5587/tumblr_nvjm8fRnfo1u6i3n1o7_r1_1280.png https://41.media.tumblr.com/e903d972329aa3a623cf7929c0b31176/tumblr_nvjm8fRnfo1u6i3n1o9_r1_1280.png There were other commissions that were not completed, but I don't remember exactly what they were or how much they cost. EXPLAIN: In May 2013, I commissioned Tortle for an art doll. Over the next 2 years I commissioned him for many more things, as well as buying adoptables he put up for sale. While I recieved most of these, the doll and a handful of other commissioned pieces were not completed. In late 2014, Tortle became inactive on Tumblr and FA for several months, all the way up to May of this year. During this time, he would not respond to messages sent by myself or my partner. I have learned since that he did not respond to multiple other commissioners, either. In May of this year, I checked his Tumblr after waiting for a couple months– only to discover that he had been active again for weeks– dispite the fact that he STILL hadn’t replied to the multiple messages my partner and I had sent him. I sent Tortle a message asking for him to get in contact with me reguarding my commissions, which did not get any reply. However, my partner sent Tortle these two asks on Tumblr: https://40.media.tumblr.com/22b485b4e20c76afd639f130133d8013/tumblr_nvjm8fRnfo1u6i3n1o3_1280.png https://41.media.tumblr.com/617c1f179e4b603be035eabdee3b1a5e/tumblr_nvjm8fRnfo1u6i3n1o2_1280.png Tortle's response: https://40.media.tumblr.com/902f1208dc49364191ab6c9618a13937/tumblr_nvjm8fRnfo1u6i3n1o1_1280.png This was the last and only message we’ve recieved from him since. He never got back to us to work anything out. We sent him multiple other messages, as well as messaging his partner in an effort to get into any kind of contact with him, all of which recieved no response. About a month ago, I was browsing the front page of FA when I saw an adoptable posted to a new account: gatorbite, which makes no reference to and does not link to his Tortle accounts. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt and hoped that he was making money to pay people back, and that he would get to people eventually. After a month or so of him posting adopts and commissions almost constantly, however, it became clear that this was not the case. Frustrated with Tortle’s unresponsiveness, I decided to note him asking what he planned to do about what he owed me and when – only to find out that he had blocked me on his gatorbite account, despite the fact that I had not watched him, favourited his art or interacted at all with him on that account previously. https://36.media.tumblr.com/e7a1f7e01b4d1df90dd7c11dd2d47db0/tumblr_nvjm8fRnfo1u6i3n1o5_r1_1280.png https://40.media.tumblr.com/0ca6959ffcba7392358b4bd9f567e883/tumblr_nvjm8fRnfo1u6i3n1o4_r1_1280.png This gives me the impression that Tortle created his Gatorbite account to avoid the people he previously owed art and money. At this point, there doesn't seem to be anything I can do except post a beware. Tortle is not trustworthy and I strongly advise against commissioning him. Edit: Fixed a date that I thought I had already fixed, sorry

https://artists-beware.livejournal.com/848670.html WHO: Tortle WHERE: Tumblr , Weasyl , FA WHAT: 5 pay-what-you-want Animal Crossing-style characters. WHEN: September 4th, 2014 PROOF: Full email correspondence, showing prices, items, responses etc. Paypal receipt for payment. Followup email from me; and latest one. EXPLAIN: Contacted in september regarding some animal crossing style characters for myself and a friend; originally was 4 but added another character. There was agreement, and payment was sent over. Time goes by, and i see or hear nothing of this commission on his tumblr - but other adoptables and posts taking on more work are posted before completion of mine. He was streaming templated characters and i'd joined and asked if he would be able to stream mine after, but i got a response suggesting he'd forgotten who i was/what my order was. Waited a bit, then I sent him 2 emails asking about progress, and if i can get a refund because i have a shit job and would really like the money back, since nothing is being done with it. Responds with that he will be done in 'the next few days'. Waited 3 more months, still nothing. Then tortle drops off the face of the earth, for months. He'd just returned to posting to his tumblr since the 5th of May. He's continuted to post as usual, but no mentions of commissions or past work being completed. I've sent him an ask on his tumblr stating that i would post this if i'd received no response, and i have yet to hear from him either on tumblr or email. TL;DR: So its been 8 months now, and i've seen no progress shots or anything from him. I have recently lost my job, and i am at my wits end because the money would help me immensley. (Also, it's another point to note that on his Weasyl page, there are comments left from others that are waiting as long as me. I've contacted one of them, and her side of the story is similar to mine; No responds from him regarding refund or progress shots.)