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prasad90
02-14-2013, 05:43 AM
Recently I had seen that they are deleting all contact information of mine and subcontractor after awarding the project. When I asked them what the heck is happening they informed that now even after awarding the project freelancer and employer should not exchange contact details (You know what?? 10% of life time money from all projects!!! between you and contractor :RpS_smile: ).

They asked me to post or discuss all my project in their private message board. And only authorized people have access to it?? You know what?? Our business secrets are at risk to the faceless staff of freelancer.com. Then I replied I did not authorize freelancer.com to look at my business secret. Then they lied (They started telling that they can not have look the private message board, only their system will identify the contact info :scared_1:)


Soon Google, yahoo,msn may authorize to read our emails before us. What a joke :RpS_smile: .

Then I have to quote the my constitutional rights guaranteed by Australian Constitution (That I am allowed to discuss my business with my client or subcontractor where I feel safe, and not where freelancer.com is asking me to do). And I have taken this matter to Australian fair trade (ACCC Home (http://www.accc.gov.au)).

Then They changed tone!! They were telling me it is for safety that if anything go wrong they can check message board and take a decision. Then I have reverted to them "Who are they to check my emails and messages?? Did Australian government granted them any legal power??

Their reply was "Whatever happened outside of freelancer.com is not under their jurisdiction. I have reverted to them with proper reply "Whatever happened inside also not under their jurisdiction!!. It is under Australian Govt Jurisdiction. Also asked them why they think they have judicial powers.

Finally they agreed that I am entitled to discuss my business with my subcontractor or client wherever I feel safe. And they said if you want you can exchange the contact information.Still the message board is same

I have written what happened to me here in details with messages

If you are an employer or contractor make sure you are not falling in this trap. Fight for your right. Soon I will post full conversation Here. They are just an introduction agent. Just like real estate broker. They need not handle Australian Legal System. Australian Government is well capable for that.


FreeLancer and Privacy and Confidentiality Issues | Sajith For You (http://sajith.snydle.com/free-lancer-and-privacy-issue.html)

scratchycat
02-14-2013, 09:16 AM
Welcome to RS, prasad90 and thank you for exposing more information about the practices of freelancer.com. I believe the picture in post #61 of this thread fairly depicts what most people are saying about freelancer.com customer service.

http://www.realscam.com/f10/freelancer-com-withholds-my-money-1281/index3.html

We look forward to hearing more from you and what results or NOT that you are getting. Some people have already received notification from their legal teams to meet with them. Somehow they always seem to turn the game around to make you and others look like the ones committing criminal acts instead of admitting to any wrongdoing on their part. Just read some of the statements from "Alistair Low" and "Matt Barrie" and "emir", etc.

http://www.realscam.com/f10/freelancer-com-withholds-my-money-1281/index3.html

http://www.realscam.com/f11/freelancer-warning-ripoff-1736/
http://www.realscam.com/f10/freelancer-com-took-back-my-money-due-employer-account-problems-1584/?highlight=freelancer

http://www.realscam.com/f9/scamboard-scam-board-com-really-helped-me-get-money-back-thank-you-scamboard-1936/?highlight=freelancer

http://www.realscam.com/f11/freelancer-warning-ripoff-1736/?highlight=freelancer

irefocus
02-18-2013, 10:02 AM
I've seen complaints about Freelancer.com here and elsewhere on the interwebs. After it looks like I am about to lose about $600 due to their crafty thievery, I am sharing my experience on as many avenues as possible. There are better alternatives that are SAFER for Freelance type work. First let me rant, then I will break it out a bit clearer to hopefully help prevent others for falling into the same pitfalls should they decide to brave the dangerous money sucking waters of freelancer.com. At this time, I personally can't get away from them fast enough, and now that they seemingly for no reason have suspended my account and blocked me from withdrawing funds, it seems to be dragging on longer than I thought. First of all, they seem to have the most unprofessional support system going, not a single ticket I have opened has ever been resolved, they simply stop responding - this includes disputes when their super awesome useful site errors out and costs me money - such as their "exam" section does from time to time. Error in an exam = $5-10 lost. The next part is probably my favorite, hidden somewhere in their TOS is something that apparently states "we merely provide an introduction, once a freelancer accepts a project, we take their money, and if the project employer takes off, tough.". This cost me $65 once. Project was posted, I won, I clicked accept and despite using their, again, super awesome useful UI to enforce a 100% up front milestone payment, the employer had $0 funds in their account, and 0 intent on following through with the project. The second I clicked "Accept" on the project awarded, Freelancer debited $65 from my account - I never heard from the project employer again, and as far as Freelancer is concerned, they provided a great service. Cost to employer = $0, Cost to Freelancer= $65, Profit to Freelancer.com = $65 < --- this makes NO sense what so ever. How can they have a million protection bits in place for employers, and virtually NOTHING for the freelancer. They even claim that requesting a milestone payment is the SAFEST way to get paid on their site,.... safest way to ensure they get money and you get F%$#%d in my opinion. Now the best part. I had an offline client who wanted a website, so I asked if they could post it to freelancer.com so I could continue to build my portfolio and reputation there. I assisted in the set up, initial deposit and posting an accurate project description which was then awarded to me - after allowing the project to be bid upon for 2 days. Project completed, funds were transferred, reviews were left, all was good. This happened around the same time as the $65 burn so I had decided I was done with Freelancer.com, it was time to move on (to Odesk, which has a seemingly solid reputation). I went to withdraw the funds in my account to PayPal - I thought this would be instant - wrong. They forced a 5 day waiting period - not sure why, but it was scheduled for today, Feb 18. So today rolls around and what a surprise, an email from Freelancer.com - my account has been limited through a suspension and withdrawals from my account are blocked - however they promise I can still continue to collect revenues. They apparently have a problem with the offline client's project that I helped get onto their site and provide funds. I've gone through their verification process and am told that within 48 hours this will be resolved and I in theory should get my money - I am skeptical.

So, here is My Opinion on how to prevent this from happening to you on Freelancer (or even similar sites). Personally, my advice to everyone now is steer clear of Freelancer, it is bad news, but if you must:

1) Before signing up - very important, do not even create a profile - Read, CLEARLY understand their TOS - I don't even believe anyone at the company fully understands it, they seem to just make up policies on the fly as needed - but specifically make sure you understand how they take payments, how they block payments and what they consider a violation - ie no sharing of contact details before a project is awarded - this is a big no no on Freelancer.com (and pretty well any similar site like Odesk, Fiverr etc).

2) Once you are set up, do all the verification stuff - don't give them any reason to believe you aren't who you say you are - this may not matter, I did all that and they STILL questioned my identity when I tried to withdraw funds

3) When bidding on a project, make sure the Employer has sufficient funds in their account before you Accept the project. You can see this on the project page on the same line as your bid, there will be a little $ icon that is either green (they have the funds) or with a red X (they don't have sufficient funds). Also, be sure to request a milestone payment up front - I don't know how to Force the employer to accept this, so you might want to check with Support (if they answer, or give a truthful answer is another question) before trying to get a project.

4) Make sure you define clear milestones - don't leave any room for disputes - this will also help you understand the project overall - 1 - design submitted for review 2 - ecommerce integration commence 3 - ecommerce integration complete etc (or whatever makes sense for your project)

5) Don't bother with their exam platform - this seems to crash out and costs you money.

6) Final - Freelancer.com WILL NOT refund money, be careful, don't leave it in your account or they will find a way to take it, and their support is not friendly, useful or respectful - they will find a way to say you violated something in the TOS no matter what

Hopefully this helps someone, I for one am deleting my entire profile - hopefully I can get my money withdrawn before, but like I said, all of my experiences to date have left me very skeptical. Personally I say steer clear, try oDesk.

scratchycat
02-18-2013, 11:22 AM
Hello irefocus and welcome to RS.

Thank you for sharing your information here in Real Scam and possibly you have already read some of our other forum threads.

http://www.realscam.com/f11/freelancer-warning-ripoff-1736/?highlight=freelancer

http://www.realscam.com/f10/freelancer-com-took-back-my-money-due-employer-account-problems-1584/?highlight=freelancer

http://www.realscam.com/f10/freelancer-com-withholds-my-money-1281/?highlight=freelancer

http://www.realscam.com/f10/free-lancer-again-doing-malpractices-2053/?highlight=freelancer

There are numerous links to blogs from people like yourself who have been ripped-off by Matt Barrie and Freelancer.

scratchycat
02-18-2013, 11:26 AM
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BBB: NOT a government agency as listed in your local phone book. Instead the BBB is a private non-profit / franchise operation. 20/20 exposes the BBB, Hamas Terror Group Gets 'A' Rating - BBB is running a "pay for play" scheme.


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Submitted: Thursday, February 07, 2013
Posted: Thursday, February 07, 2013
Reported By: Lou_M — Dallas Texas United States of America




Freelancer
Internet United States of America Phone:
Web: Freelancer.com - Hire Freelancers & Find Freelance Jobs Online (http://www.freelancer.com)
Category: Consumer Services


Freelancer Freelancer is definitely a scam. Buyer beware! Internet



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Add me to the list of people ripped off by Freelancer.

The billed me twice for the same transaction and refused to issue a refund. When I filed with paypal, freelancer locked my account until I cancelled the dispute.

Long story short, don't use them!

I've read over 100 reports of employers (me) and freelancers having problems.
February 7, 2013

Ripoff Report | Freelancer | Complaint Review: 1010251 (http://www.ripoffreport.com/freelancer/consumer-services/internet-internet-46790.htm)

scratchycat
03-01-2013, 09:11 AM
Time to take action!!!

http://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/australian-government-stop-the-attrocities-of-freelancer-com

scratchycat
03-01-2013, 09:12 AM
Time to take action!!

http://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/australian-government-stop-the-attrocities-of-freelancer-com

Petition reads:


Outsourcing.




To:
Australian Government





The website which boasts of more than 7 million freelancers has been conning its users out of their hard earned money for many years now. There is no response from the company's side and those who dare to speak out are slapped with Cease & Desist Orders from the lawyers of this scam site. In some cases the money earned on the site has been the sole livelihood of the members who have been left in the lurch by this arrogant, ignorant, uncaring, and at times a hand in glove conspirator with scammers firm.

I request you to to wake up and deliver justice to the victims of this so called 'World's Largest Marketplace for Outsourcing'.

Sincerely,
[Your name]

roko1
06-27-2013, 10:45 AM
If you're not careful, they will change the subscription plan without asking for it and without warning just to take you all your money. I switched to SEOClerks.com , so far best results + enjoying their lifetime affiliate program.

scratchycat
01-08-2014, 10:27 AM
If you're not careful, they will change the subscription plan without asking for it and without warning just to take you all your money. I switched to SEOClerks.com , so far best results + enjoying their lifetime affiliate program.

That is what most people discover AFTER they complete a project for freelancer dot com. Read the latest at Freelancer Revealed (http://omnipresentwords.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/freelancer-com-scam-part-i-how-10-cost-me-14000-among-other-misgivings-and-apathy-of-freelancer-com-staff/)