My Experience with the Ibiza artist
Aline de Laforcade
In 2024, I purchased a piece of artwork from Aline de Laforcade, a fiber artist based in Ibiza, Spain. What should have been a straightforward transaction turned into an ordeal involving broken agreements, unprofessional conduct, and exploitation of trust, and holding my money, having the logistical challenges of international disputes.
I was left $2,500 short, spending weeks attempting to receive the actual art piece I purchased, and now I had to file a civil claim against Aline de Laforcade.
Aline de Laforcade
Phone: +34 655 105 783
Address: Sant Mateu, Ibiza, EI541 |
(Diseminado Basora S. Mateu, 25, 07816 Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears, Spain.)
The Agreement
Selected Artwork: A piece from her portfolio with minor adjustments.
Final Dimensions: 1.80m x 1.20m.
Price: €4,000 (plus €250 shipping).
Deposit Paid: €2,247.81.
Delivery Timeline: 4-6 weeks.
The only agreed change from the original presented here, was to include additional blue tones in the design, and the rectangular size.
The original pattern and design were explicitly confirmed multiple times during our discussions.
No other changes were discussed.
The Created Artwork
She Created an Incorrect Art Piece.
Despite promising delivery in 4-6 weeks, Aline delayed the project repeatedly without explanation. Nine weeks after payment, she sent a photo of the completed artwork, which was significantly different from the agreed-upon piece:
The design and pattern were entirely different from what was ordered.
She never sought my approval for these major changes.
Attempts to Resolve the Dispute
I proposed three fair solutions:
Complete the artwork as agreed.
Provide the original piece at the original size (square), at the original cost.
Refund the deposit.
All offers were refused. Instead, Aline demanded an additional €4,500, raising the total to €6,745—a 168% increase over the original agreed price.
I offered an additional €1,000 as a goodwill gesture, simply to end the ordeal which by now lasted weeks over WhatsApp chats, bringing the total to €5,000, but she rejected this and refused to refund my deposit.
Unprofessional Behavior and Verbal Attacks
Aline de Laforcade’s responses to my concerns were marked by hostility and unprofessionalism. She:
Falsely claimed I had approved the design changes, which I had not.
Accused me of "changing my mind" after complimenting the work—misrepresenting my effort to remain respectful despite receiving the wrong piece.
Claimed her work was discounted, which was untrue as no discounts were discussed or agreed upon.
When pressed further, she became combative, refused to engage constructively, and resorted to verbal attacks. Her responses made it clear that she was unwilling to resolve the matter in good faith.
Exploiting International Distance
Aline de Laforcade appeared to rely on the fact that I am located in Miami, USA, while she is in Spain, to avoid accountability. She seemed to exploit the logistical and financial challenges of pursuing legal action across borders. Her unwillingness to address the issue left me with no choice but to file a claim in the European Small Claims Court in Spain.
Conclusion
This experience highlights serious concerns about Aline de Laforcade’s professionalism and business practices:
Breach of Contract: Delivery of a piece that was completely different from the agreed design.
Misleading Claims: False statements about approvals, discounts, and her inability to replicate designs.
Unjust Enrichment: Retaining my €2,247.81 deposit without fulfilling the agreement.
Unethical Practices: Providing a false address and leveraging the difficulties of international legal recourse.