IS FREELANCER SAFE FOR REAL CUSTOMERS?
Freelance websites can be risky for clients. With a multitude of platforms available, it can be challenging to navigate and choose a safe and reliable freelancer platform to get your work done.
The freelance marketplace is highly competitive and filled with potential scams for clients. Clients may face legal issues or struggle to find consistent freelancer.
Additionally, fees and commissions charged by freelance websites can significantly increase your cost.
These negative aspects of freelance websites must be carefully considered before posting a project or job online.
What to do when freelancer negatively mark project as released?
If a freelancer has negatively marked a released project, it is essential to understand the reason behind their decision.
The freelancer may have had a negative experience with the client or may have encountered unforeseen issues that prevented them from delivering their best work.
The client should communicate with the freelancer and attempt to resolve any outstanding issues to prevent any further negative feedback.
If the freelancer’s concerns are valid, the client should take appropriate measures to address the issue and improve the quality of their future projects.
Conversely, if the freelancer’s negative feedback is unwarranted or malicious, the client may need to take a step to dispute or remove the feedback, especially if it has the potential to harm their business or reputation.
It is essential to maintain open communication and address any concerns promptly to avoid disputes and maintain a positive professional relationship.
Here is the real story we faced during our experience on freelancer.com website:
My friend had a very good account on Elance. The platform was perfect and very supportive in case of delivering client projects.
He was told me once that he had taken a project into dispute and was 100% sure he will win, but paying $200 USD that was divided 50% equally on both party’s client won the case because my friend did not have latest iPhone that client mentioned to make sure the delivery of the project.
He had to refund the escrow amount of the project to client even he had fixed multiple bugs and did effort on the system. This is how good companies works!
Let’s compare above example with freelancer.com:
But here is our experience with freelancer website experience. Our team assigned a small application project of 2 to 3 milestones and the developer built the Phase-1.
Freelancer has policy that they take customer feedback or rating after first phase which is totally wrong, they must take review after 100% completion of the project.
Dev said in phase-2, we should create further milestones in the same project after taking 5 star rating, and we did it.
But In middle of milestones 2, He needed money I requested to release milestone.
we released his money just for a gesture of wellbeing. Then the project went to milestone-3 which was very low in amount around 10 bucks.
The developer deleted that milestone and left the project without giving the source code for phase 2. When we noticed we told him we shall file the dispute, he said OK go ahead.
Unfortunately, there was not dispute button, now lets us see what freelancer.com is helping their customers.
Here’s the proof how beautifully freelancer.com helped a client who is paying the money:
As you can see freelancer is helping and supporting the developer instead of giving relief to clients by following their wrong policies.
- Freelancer.com enjoyed their own share.
- Freelancer who was working on the project also run away after taking all money.
- We as client don’t have anything and are losers.
The scam company details are as follows:
Website: https://crtvecode.in
Freelancer: recode (Scammer)
Another interesting point: freelancer shows him among top 2 freelancers.
We are writing this blog to express our concern about this scam freelancer who is scamming people. The freelancer in question has requested payment before work was completed, which raises red flags about their intentions.
As a responsible professional, you should also understand the importance of conducting business with individuals who adhere to ethical and legal practices.
Therefore, we would like to bring this issue to your attention and request you to avoid this company at all cost.
Fake YouTube channel:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crtvecode
Fake YouTube channels are a common occurrence on the platform and can be harmful in many ways. Their channel is one of them.
They use multiple platforms to make them look like valid company, but the fact is they are fake.
To avoid being tricked by fake channels, you should be vigilant when watching videos on YouTube. They can check for verification badges next to the channel name and look for information about the brand or celebrity in the channels about section.
In conclusion, fake YouTube channels like this are a growing problem, but we can work together to minimize their impact.
By being vigilant and taking action, we can promote a safer and more trustworthy online environment.
I am writing this blog to report our concerns about their fraudulent activities by the company crtcode.in. We have provided evidence and suggests you to avoid this company at all cost.
I believe that this company is operating without proper licensing or regulatory oversight and is therefore engaging in scam activities that are harmful to companies.
We can easily assume they are scamming people while hiding their location. As any valid company do not hesitate to provide their locations.
Here is the real case-studies experienced on freelancer websites:
Case Study-1 on Elance.com:
Start story something like in between 2011-2012 a couple of years ago My friend Jack had an account on Elance.com was founded in 1998 by MIT graduate Beard Sheth.
Jack had good reputation with lots of reviews on Elance.com, one day he told me he won a project and started working on it, Jack had an older version of iPhone device, and he was assigned a task to fix a responsive website.
The older iOS version was not supporting that font, but he said he did fix the font for newer versions, but accidentally shared screenshots from older device with client. Customer was short tempered, and he filed dispute, that you have messed up my website.
Elance took them both to Arbitration and reading both messages suspended jack’s account for not having latest device and wasting time. Later Elance.com merged into Upwork.com (former odesk.com)
Case Study-2 on Upwork.com (Federico D):
After working in Elance/ Upwork for several times I had a disagreement with a customer, lately, for the first time. I realized that having money deposited in Escrow, on fixed price contracts doesn’t inescapably cover you from unconscionable clients.
In a nutshell, I started working on a $2000.00 project on contract with a customer. He paid $300 in Escrow account for the first milestone. At the end of it, he started doing what everyone does and set about asking for further work done within the milestone.
I told him to do to the what is required. He said no- I knew he was only trying to get as much work as possible and that he’d also cancel the job. From Escrow he released $25 and asked for $275.00 in return.
The matter went to a disagreement, also I realized the problems. It brings me quite a lot of time gathering the information for the Upwork middleman who made no opinions in the end.
She was also trying to move me to accept a low payment on the base of the cost to go to arbitration. It costs $873.00, equally divided among the customer, freelancer and Upwork at $291 each, to pay the arbitration body.
That’s when an unconscionable customer can exploit the situation, it could have brought me a redundant $291, on top of the $275 he still owed me, if the arbitration went against me. He tried to take advantage of this.
On any jobs worth lower than $300 the freelancer will always have this dilemma, let alone on jobs worth $50 where I suppose most freelancers would take $10 rather than threat losing the money and time on arbitration.
So, I decided to call his barranca, I paid the $291 figure and asked the middleman to take it to arbitration. The customer didn’t bother to pay his share. I got the Escrow money and my arbitration figure returned.
I’m now disputing the bad feed- reverse he left me in retribution. Still, I would have lost $566, If I had caught an adjudicator in a bad mood.00. This Escrow system needs perfecting.
Case Study 3: Freelancer.com:
Freelancer.com charge for fixed price projects, if you are awarded a project, and you accept, we charge you a small project fee relative to the value of the selected bid, as an introduction fee. If you are subsequently paid more than the original amount set in bid, we will also charge the project fee on any overage payments.
For hourly projects, the fee is supposed to be drafted on each payment as it is produced by the employer to you.
The fee for fixed price projects is 10% or $5.00 USD, whichever is greater, and 10% for hourly projects.
if customer cancel the project without paying you, the money that was deducted from your account is not coming back, means freelancer.com don’t return it.
Case Study-4: Freelancer.com:
Freelancer.com charge users to take test again and again for the exam for scoring purpose. Which is totally unfair.
Below is what we get as reply when we tried to contact their support:
Negative aspects of using freelance websites:
- Scams: Freelance websites can be a breeding ground for scams. Fraudulent clients can post fake jobs, ask for upfront payments, or refuse to pay once the work is completed.
- Low Pay: Due to the competitive nature of the freelance market, clients may offer low pay rates for jobs that require a significant amount of work and effort.
- Unreliable Clients: Some clients may be unreliable in terms of communication and payment. They may disappear midway through the project, leaving freelancers with unfinished work and no compensation.
- Competition: The freelance marketplace is highly competitive, and it can be difficult to stand out from other freelancers, especially when first starting.
- Lack of Job Security: Freelance work is often unstable and unpredictable, and it can be challenging to find a consistent stream of work. There are no benefits or job security, and freelancers are responsible for their own taxes and expenses.
- Fees and Commissions: Freelance websites may charge fees and commissions for using their platform, which can cut into a freelancer’s earnings.
- Legal Issues: Freelancers may face legal issues if they accidentally infringe on a client’s intellectual property rights or if they are sued by a client for unsatisfactory work.
These are just some potential negative aspects of using freelance websites, and it is important for freelancers to carefully research and evaluate the platforms they choose to use.
If you are looking for trustworthy company providing software solutions along with satisfaction up-to the mark, Mobitsolutions is one of them.
Want to talk about software solution? Hit this link.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s):
- Q: What are the risks of using freelancer sites?
A: The risks include fraud, poor quality work, missed deadlines, and communication difficulties.
- Q: Can I expect consistent quality from freelancers found on these sites?
A: No, the quality of work can vary greatly due to the different skill levels and experience of freelancers.
- Q: Are freelancers on these sites more expensive than traditional employees?
A: Freelancers can be more expensive per hour or project than traditional employees due to additional fees charged by the platform.
- Q: Is there a risk of intellectual property theft when working with freelancers on these sites?
A: Yes, there is a risk that a freelancer may steal or misuse confidential information or intellectual property.
- Q: Can I rely on freelancers from these sites to meet deadlines?
A: There is a risk that freelancers may miss deadlines due to their other projects or personal issues.
- Q: Are there any hidden fees associated with using these freelancer sites?
A: Yes, there can be additional fees for things like platform fees, payment processing fees, and premium memberships.
- Q: How can I ensure good communication with freelancers on these sites?
A: Communication can be challenging due to language barriers and time zone differences, so it is important to set clear expectations and establish regular check-ins.
- Q: Are there any legal risks associated with using freelancers from these sites?
A: Yes, there can be legal risks associated with working with freelancers who are not properly licensed or who violate intellectual property laws.
- Q: Can I expect full-time commitment from freelancers found on these sites?
A: No, freelancers may work on multiple projects simultaneously, so their availability and focus may vary.
- Q: Can I guarantee the quality of work from freelancers found on these sites?
A: No, there is always a risk that the quality of work may not meet expectations or may require revisions.
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