Thread: Please advice?

Webmasters advice?
To make a long story short, we have used a company in Ukraine to program a complex web page that we have designed. It was supposed to take 3 months, but after over 1 year it is still not finished. The website is 90% ready, but every time they fix a bug they make 10 new bugs - and I do not know if we dare to continue to use them.
I have made a few websites before, but this is the most excruciating experience I’ve ever been through. In addition, the company now want us to pay them the final amount (that was supposed to be paid when the page was finished) + hourly rate of the hours they spend on getting the page ready - even though we have not made any changes in design or content. In addition they write the number of hours with a fork when we compare the number of hours on similar projects that we have worked on earlier.

What I wonder is:
- Is it smart to find a new company to make the site ready, or should I torment myself even more to get them to do the job 100% done?

- Will a new company be skeptical to complete a project that others have developed?

- I reckon that it is an open code that has been used to program the Web site. Can a new company have trouble finish coding the website?

- They have installed the Web page on our dedicated server in USA. Will we need the codes to the web company in Ukraine before a new company can finish programming our Web page? I do not want to pay them the final amount for the completion of the website if they do not finish it.

- I have heard a lot of positive things about programmers in the Philippines. Have any of you experience with freelancers or a company that you can recommend for some advanced projects?

Regards from one who is in the process of developing a large ulcer!

Answers to most of your questions highly depend on the specifics of the agreement between you and the web company. Any agreement includes deadlines, so if they were to complete the project for 3 months and delayed it for 1 year they should lose in money. However, if the deadlines were not fixed, you will have to wait as long as they need. Regarding the cost of their service - the same issue, it should be clearly stated in the agreement.
As for the code, if you decide to pass the project to some other company, you will need to provide the source code to them. I'm doubting that the Ukraine company would release the sources if you don't pay them the final amount.
And how skeptical the new company will be depends on how much you will pay them
I have never heard anything about programmers in Philippines. I recommend you to choose a new company by their portfolio not by their location.
It is evident that you need to deal with other people - according to your message you are very dissatisfied. So if you can get the sources and do not pay the final amount - look for new programmers.

I think if a site is giving you issues and you can't get it right after a year, it is time to move on. I think a new niche site will work out if you put some effort in. I have been in your situation before but if you keep at it and make the right choices, it will end up better in the end.

You don't want to be putting so much effort into that old site that is only going to give you issues after issues.

When you select your new website programmer be very clear with your business needs, functional specifications, and technical specifications. Have a plan with deadlines and get it all in writing. Have a signed contract that spells out the deliverables. Take control of your project at the front end and you will see a difference in the end result.

This is the horrific experience many webmasters face, that is why you must have a good idea of the programming involved in case you have to do it yourself, or move it to some other company that know what they are doing, always check feedback for these companies that bid on your projects, it is a risk, but if you do the legwork beforehand you can avoid these type of situations