Freelancer deleted all the web-app work done to date

[18b76402]

Hello, 

The freelancer I hired deleted all the work he has done to date and ended the contract.

I hired a freelancer on an hourly basis for 50 hours. I then changed the project to a fixed price project as the milestones were clear and it seemed that the hourly billing didn't yield much progress. 

However, even if the fixed price project progressed, I was unhappy with his work, so I asked to end the contract - and now in 10 minutes he has deleted everything he has done (even for the work he did for the hourly work (50 hours)). 

Can I dispute this?  

[prestonhunter]

re: "Can I dispute this?"

Read this page:

https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211062058-Get-an-Escrow-Refund

That is the most important one. Also:

https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211062158-Dispute-an-Agency-or-Freelancer-s-Hours

https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211068528-Dispute-Non-Release-of-a-Milestone-Payment

https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/sections/360002713853-Disputes

If you have an open fixed-price contract, then you can close the contract. When you do so, there will be an opportunity to EDIT the amount of money that you release to the freelancer. Change the amount to zero.

This will send a refund request to the freelancer.

The freelancer has already indicated that he is not going to try to obtain payment for his work on this fixed-price milestone. The freelancer will accept your refund request and the money in escrow will go back to your bank account within five business days.

So there is no need for a dispute.

[18b76402]

Hi,

Thank you for the information.

The freelancer has already ended the contract and the escrow has been released back to me. However, the work that he has done previously for 50 hours is also deleted.  Can I get anything back from here? 

[prestonhunter]

re: "Can I get anything back from here?"

Are you asking about how to get those files back?

Upwork does not have your files.

You may ask the freelancer to send you the files.

You can restore the files from the repository that your project manager set up. (Assuming you hired a project manager, and assuming she set up a repository.)

You can ask your hosting provider to restore the files from backup.

Be sure to change access credentials for the hosting account and other accounts associated with the project.

[prestonhunter]

Honestly?

I am not convinced that the work done by this freelancer is worth your time worrying about.

This freelancer sounds like he is more of a scoundrel than a serious professional.

Did you actually see his work and love it?

[petra_r]

What was the freelancer's hourly rate?

Is there no back-up of the work?

Next time you plan to fire a freelancer, revoke all access to everything.

You are too late to dispute hourly charges, but chances are Upwork will lean hard on the freelancer to replace what they had worked on under the hourly contract (only).

Whatever was done during the 50 hours should be reinstated. Obviously anything that wasn't paid won't be.

[LuiggiR]

Hi Esther,

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. We've shared your concern with the team and we'll have one of our agents reach out to you directly via a support ticket to assist you further.

Thank you.