Client not funding escrow - want to end contract and refund what I've been paid already

[fredcomm]

I have a client who is asking me to continue working despite the fact that he is not funding escrow for milestones. I am not interested in doing work toward unfunded milestones. Also, this client continues to fail to send me the information I need to do the project, yet insists his original milestone deadlines must remain in place. 

I want to end this contract and refund the client the money he paid for project initiation. How can I do this? Will it impact my success score?

Thank you.

Martin

[yitwail]

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Martin F wrote:

I want to end this contract and refund the client the money he paid for project initiation. How can I do this? Will it impact my success score?

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You can end a contract at anytime. In this case, the client will probably give you a critical review, but if the client chooses not to leave a review, then you dodge the bullet. You could also offer to refund part of the payment as a gesture of good will, but if you're concerned about JSS, then don't refund all payment; that will probably damage JSS more than a critical review, and you could respond to a critical review to give your side of the story. But it's up to you to decide what's the lesser of all the evils.

[fredcomm]

So you're saying my JSS will take less of a hit if I don't refund anything?

[prestonhunter]

re: "So you're saying my JSS will take less of a hit if I don't refund anything?"

Yes.

JSS very much does not like zero-pay contracts.

You may as well keep the money.

And you don't know you will get a bad review.

Try to end contract amicably. But don't work for free.

The client is violating Upwork TOS by asking you to work for free.