[Boudica]

I'm not sure if this was an intentional scam... I suspect he's got something going on IRL and is burying his head in the sand about keeping people up to date.

I would recommend ALWAYS agree on a timescale when asking ANYONE for graphics or design work. Some professionals will take months to do small work, as they have 100s of pieces on the go. Some only work once a week outside full-time jobs etc. While I believe people should be more transparent with their customers for the sake of professionalism, I'd recommend agreeing on deadlines before paying anyone for work in future.

It's easier to hire a friend you know to do it, as they'll tend to reply faster. Sucks that it's not going well, but I hope Nuance does pull through in the end.

But if you don't respect your clients time, by not answering on one simple email, then you are not a professional. And there is no an excuse.

That's true. Hence why I said a professional should be transparent with their clients. This is also why a deadline allows you, as a client, to have more leverage to pull away a deposit when the professional is being sketchy and unhelpful. There's a difference between behaving professionally and being a professional. They should come hand in hand, but don't always.