Baycal Financial Inc

Hi there,Supporting creative freedom is a fundamental part of our work; we strive to maintain a secure and vibrant community, while allowing creators to autonomously execute their projects. Each project on Kickstarter is an independent work by a creator. They receive funding directly at the end of a successful funding period in order to fund their project and fulfill rewards. That money never actually passes through our hands — we only receive a small fee. Since funds go directly to the creator, only they can issue refunds. If you haven't tried reaching out to the creator directly through Kickstarter yet, we highly recommend doing so. Ultimately, creators are responsible for their own behavior — from communication and engagement to fulfillment — and while we can and do enforce our terms of use, we can’t force anyone to actually write their book or send off their designs to the manufacturer. A big part of Kickstarter’s mission is to support creative freedom and independence; we don’t step into the actual creative process or fulfillment process itself.Kickstarter's Terms of Use outline the responsibilities of backers and creators. This information can serve as a basis for legal recourse if a creator doesn't fulfill their promises. We hope that backers will consider that option only in cases where they believe that a creator has not made a good faith effort to complete the project and fulfill. If you believe legal action is appropriate here, please talk to an attorney about how to proceed.Best,Kickstarter

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

 l
 This was changed in Kickstarter by Kickstarter (pledge level).  I went to the company I backed and got told to be patient.  I didn't know companies had access to Kickstarters data and could change pledge levels ????
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Hi [redacted], We're happy to clear up any confusion here. Kickstarter is an all or nothing platform, which means backers are not charged for their pledge until the moment a project ends at or above its goal. If a project is not successfully funded, no backers are charged and no money changes hands....

 In your case, since the project was cancelled, it is now impossible for your card to be charged for this pledge. While we cannot re-send the email notification about this cancelled project, you can verify that this project has been cancelled by visiting the page at [redacted]. While a project creator can relaunch an unsuccessful or cancelled project, if and when they do so, they cannot carry over backers or pledges from the original project. Essentially, even if this project were to be relaunched, the creator would be starting from scratch and any backers would have to make brand new pledges. Unless they were to relaunch and you were to make a brand new pledge to the new project, it is impossible that you would be charged. Kickstarter does take the privacy and security of our users very seriously. Credit card information on Kickstarter is stored on a secure, dedicated database. Additionally, Stripe, our payments provider, meets and exceeds the most stringent industry standards for security. You can read more about Stripe's security protocols at [redacted]. If for any reason you're still concerned about whether your card information is saved on Kickstarter, you can check if your payment information is stored on your account at [redacted]. You can also remove any saved payment sources there. Best regards,Kickstarter

Hi there,Thanks for writing. We took a look at the "The World's First Weight-Reducing Backpack" project and it appears that its funding period on Kickstarter was from August [redacted], 2016 to September [redacted], 2016. The only way you are recognized as a backer on Kickstarter is if you pledge using the...

green 'Back This Project' button. If you sent a payment to a project creator after the funding period ended and directly through another website, there is no record of your transaction with Kickstarter, and it's not possible to be reflected as a backer to the project. For specific questions on how your contribution is handled and about the delivery of your reward, you should reach out to the creator directly. We hope this helps clarify. Best,Kickstarter

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

As Kickstarter already knows I've made multiple attempts to contact the project creator to resolve this issue and they refuse to deal with it. Kickstarter processed my purchase and ultimately was the infrastructure that screened the project creators. They bare some responsibility either to process the refunds or to be advocates for customers. All I am asking for is to receive refunds for the items that I did return.
 
 
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

[Your Answer Here]
Wow. Does kickstarter even bother to personally review these complaints. ? This response is exactly the same as the previously unacceptable response that does not even begin to address the issue.  I have ceased funding projects through kickstarter  I feel absolutely validated in that decision now  
 
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Hi there,Here at Kickstarter, we hate more than anything when a project doesn't come to fruition. Allowing creators to take risks and attempt to bring something new to life is the backbone of what we do. However, we also understand that there is an inherent level of risk in any creation process. That said, we expect all members of the Kickstarter community to act with honesty and openness. When we find that people are abusing the system or the trust of others, we do not hesitate to suspend their account or restrict certain account privileges, like launching another project. On our end, among staff, we track creators' fulfillment histories as comprehensively as possible - from snags to more serious complications - to help ensure creator accountability. While we can’t speak to the nature of specific projects that have been approved or declined, we’re constantly working on improving our vetting process for creators.Finally, when you back a project on Kickstarter you enter into an agreement with the project creator, as described in our Terms of Use: [redacted] . While Kickstarter is the platform for this agreement, we are not a part of it. These terms outline the responsibilities of backers and creators. This information can serve as a basis for legal recourse if a creator doesn’t fulfill their obligations under the agreement. We hope that backers will consider using this provision only in cases where they feel that a creator has not made a good faith effort to complete the project and fulfill.I hope that this helps to address your concerns, but please don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any other questions.Best,Kickstarter

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me and the matter has been resolved.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Hi there, If your pledge fails to collect when a project is successfully funded, you have seven days to fix your payment details. You can do so through the link provided in the email reminders, or from the “Action Needed” banner when you log into your Kickstarter account. If we’re unable to process your payment at the end of the seven days, your pledge is dropped and it's no longer be possible to pledge through Kickstarter. If this occurs, we recommend checking the project’s updates or messaging the creator to see if there’s a way you can support the project outside of Kickstarter. To message the creator, visit the project page and click the creator's profile image. This will open up their bio page where you can click the blue "Contact me" link and send a message. Best,Kickstarter

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

They charged my credit card on 8/**/2014 for $200.  They have taken my money and I have received nothing but their promise, per the emails you mentioned, that I would receive my order first before they began fulfilling non-backer orders.  This is not the case.  I want my order fulfilled immediately and as originally promised. Otherwise I want my money back, PLUS interest over the past 16 months they have kept it.  
 
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

[This is the exact same copy and paste response I have been receiving. It just ignores the fact that someone is ignoring their terms of service entirely, and not giving refunds where they are required.
 
 
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Hi there,Projects that launch on Kickstarter are often very early in the development process. This gives backers an opportunity to be a part of the creative process from the beginning. It also makes backing a project on Kickstarter very different from purchasing an item in a store.When you back a...

project on Kickstarter you enter into an agreement with the project creator, as described in our Terms of Use: [redacted]. Kickstarter is not part of this agreement. For more information about backing a project on Kickstarter, see our Trust page: https://www.kickstarter.com/trust Best,Kickstarter Support

Hi there,Thanks for getting in touch. Sorry to hear about the confusion you experienced when reading our Terms and when trying to learn more about how our site works. We are very open about the fact that funding is all-or-nothing on Kickstarter. This means that backers are only charged for their...

pledges if the project ends having met its funding goal. If this is the case, the backers will be charged at the moment of the project's deadline passing. If a project is successful, we then assess fees from the total of funds collected, which are taken directly as each backer is charged. These funds then go to the creator. If a project does not meet its goal, no backers will have been charged in the first place, meaning no fees would be assessed by us either.We do highlight our all-or-nothing feature in several places throughout the site, including our FAQs, which you've mentioned, as well as our Learn and Hello pages:[redacted]
[redacted]We also highlight the fact that Kickstarter is all-or-nothing directly in the project build process. When creators fill in their funding goal amount when building their project, they see the following text:"Your funding goal should be the minimum amount needed to complete the project and fulfill (and ship!) all rewards. Because funding is all-or-nothing, you can always raise more than your goal but never less. Once your project has launched, it will not be possible to change your funding goal.If your project is successfully funded, the following fees will be collected from your funding total: Kickstarter's 5% fee, and payment processing fees (between 3% and 5%). If funding isn't successful, there are no fees."We appreciate the feedback given about a desire to put this information in more places on the site. We will pass this along to the rest of our team to take into consideration when making future product improvements.Should you wish to relaunch your project and try again, feel free to do so by starting a new project draft: [redacted]For more tips on how Kickstarter works and how to run a successful campaign, you can also look at our Kickstarter Creator Handbook: [redacted]Best,Kickstarter

Hi there,We expect creators to fulfill rewards, offer refunds if they’re unable to complete their project, and communicate with backers at every step along the way. While Kickstarter is the platform for this agreement, we are not a part of it. We do not investigate a project creator’s ability to...

complete their project, nor do we facilitate refunds or the fulfillment of rewards. In addition, we cannot force a creator to ship rewards or issue refunds. While in most cases you’ll find that rewards are delivered as promised, it’s also important to realize that some projects might not fulfill as planned.When you back a project on Kickstarter you enter into an agreement with the project creator, as described in our Terms of Use: [redacted]These terms outline the responsibilities of backers and creators. This information can serve as a basis for legal recourse if a creator doesn’t fulfill their obligations under the agreement. We hope that backers will consider using this provision only in cases where they feel that a creator has not made a good faith effort to complete the project and fulfill.Best,Kickstarter

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

  Kickstarter, it's not that you can't offer refunds, it's that you won't because you're more interested in lining your pockets than in customer service.  You're just happy to collect our money and not provide any help when we do not receive what is promised.  This company no longer exists, there is no way to contact them.  Yet you are just laughing at all the backers.  I will make you this promise, if you don't provide a refund legal action against kickstarter will be taken.
 
 
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Hi there,We hate more than anything when a project doesn't come to fruition. Allowing creators to take risks and attempt to bring something new to life is the backbone of what we do. However, we also understand that there is an inherent level of risk in any creation process.Kickstarter is built...

around minimizing that risk through all-or-nothing funding, which allows the collective voice of the people to decide which projects reach their goal. On our end, we review projects, uphold [our rules]([redacted]), practice careful governance, and use anti-fraud filtering. The foundation of the entire system, however, is the collective wisdom of the people who back projects.Still, despite a creator's best efforts, some projects won't always come together as planned. In these situations we make ourselves available to creators to help however we can, and we encourage them, as we have in the case of this project, to be as open as possible with their backers about the obstacles they face. But no matter our efforts, projects will sometimes fail to come together as planned and backers will sometimes be disappointed in outcomes. We strive to constantly learn from this, and to make sure that expectations are appropriately set for backers (like on our [Trust & Safety page]([redacted])). Ultimately, however, the outcome of a project is the responsibility of its creator, as our terms of use state: "The creator is solely responsible for fulfilling the promises made in their project. If they’re unable to satisfy the terms of this agreement, they may be subject to legal action by backers."Best,Kickstarter

Hi there,You’re absolutely right — this shouldn’t turn into a luck-of-the-draw situation. When a creator starts a project, they’re taking on the responsibility of working to fulfill all rewards, and resolving any problems that come up. Kickstarter creators have a great track record of getting that done, but if it’s not happening in this case, we’re really sorry — and we’re sorry supporting this project has turned into a frustrating experience for you. We expect creators to fulfill rewards, offer refunds if they’re unable to complete their project, and communicate with backers at every step along the way. While Kickstarter is the platform for this agreement, we are not a part of it. We do not investigate a project creator’s ability to complete their project, nor do we facilitate refunds or the fulfillment of rewards. While in most cases you’ll find that rewards are delivered as promised, it’s also important to realize that some projects might not fulfill as planned.When you back a project on Kickstarter you enter into an agreement with the project creator, as described in our Terms of Use: [redacted]These terms outline the responsibilities of backers and creators. This information can serve as a basis for legal recourse if a creator doesn’t fulfill their obligations under the agreement. We hope that backers will consider using this provision only in cases where they feel that a creator has not made a good faith effort to complete the project and fulfill.Beyond this, when we find that people are abusing the system or the trust of others, we do not hesitate to suspend their account or restrict certain account privileges, like launching another project. On our end, among staff, we track creators' fulfillment histories as comprehensively as possible - from snags to more serious complications - to help ensure creator accountability. We may adjust our policies based on feedback from backers and creators, and/or data aggregated across projects. Additionally, our Integrity Team monitors our system and reviews reports that we receive from our community. While we can’t speak to the nature of specific projects that have been approved or declined, we’re constantly working on improving our vetting process for creators and we are grateful for the feedback you've provided.Best,Kickstarter

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID# [redacted], and have determined that my complaint has NOT been resolved because:

I reject the statement that funds cannot be returned, if the creator has bitten off more than they can chew with respect to a project it is not a matter of being honest and saying sorry.  Kickstarter have taken their cut of the investors money before any work is underway.  The creator has then also taken his cut of the money.  You discuss risk, no where in the advertisement was there warnings that this just may not happen and you should be prepared to just loose your money.  We as investors were sold a dream and years on we are still waiting.  I see no proof from the threads that there are satisfied customers out there.Based on my experience and from what I have seen on the forums this project has not been managed at all by the creator NOR kickstarter.  what has kickstarter actively done to try and support this project getting off the ground over the last 2 year?
 
[redacted]
 
In order for the Revdex.com to appropriately process your response, you MUST answer the question above.
Sincerely,
[redacted]

Hi there,At Kickstarter, we expect creators to fulfill rewards, offer refunds if they’re unable to complete their project, and communicate with backers at every step along the way. While Kickstarter is the platform for this agreement, we are not a part of it. We do not investigate a project creator’s ability to complete their project, nor do we facilitate refunds or the fulfillment of rewards. While in most cases you’ll find that rewards are delivered as promised, it’s also important to realize that some projects might not fulfill as planned.When you back a project on Kickstarter you enter into an agreement with the project creator, as described in our Terms of Use: [redacted]These terms outline the responsibilities of backers and creators. This information can serve as a basis for legal recourse if a creator doesn’t fulfill their obligations under the agreement. We hope that backers will consider using this provision only in cases where they feel that a creator has not made a good faith effort to complete the project and fulfill. Best,Kickstarter

Hi there,Thanks for reaching out and bringing this to our attention. We're sorry to hear that backing the Kapture project has been an underwhelming experience, and that you’re dissatisfied with the backer reward you received.Kickstarter does its best to maintain an ecosystem that gives project...

creators the support and freedom necessary to bring their creative ideas to life. This often means that when projects launch on Kickstarter they’re still in the early stages of development. This gives backers an opportunity to be a part of the creative process from the beginning. It also makes backing a project on Kickstarter very different from purchasing an item in a store. We expect that creators will make every effort to complete the project as promised. We apologize that in this case, the finished product was ultimately different than what the creator originally presented or what you expected to receive.As a backer of the project, you played an important role in its development. In cases like these, we encourage backers to contact a creator directly with input regarding the reward received. While Kickstarter is the platform for the agreement made between a backer and a creator (as per our Terms of Use), we are not a part of it. Each project is the responsibility of its creator, and it is ultimately it is up to a creator to determine whether or how to approach refunds and complaints about their product. Again, as per our Terms of Use, while we do reach out to creators and encourage them to follow up with backers, as we have in this case, Kickstarter cannot force a creator to issue refunds, respond to messages, or ship replacement rewards. If there are issues with refunds or rewards, it's up to a creator and a backer to come to a resolution on their own. Thank you for your understanding.Best,[redacted]