I hired a freelancer to redevelop a small application - estimated to be about 35-45 hours worth of work.
He committed to working on it at least 4hrs per day the first week, not more than that due to other work obligations he had. But he would do even more for the second week, and in any event would finish by the end of that second week.
This freelancer had just finished a two year contract worth well over $100k with a glowing 5 star review. I felt that I was in good hands.
In the first few days of the project, I was becoming concerned because he didn't work on it for 2 days in the middle of the week. I floated the idea if he was too busy, I understand, and would be willing to find someone else. He was apologetic, and assuredly told me that he'd make up that time over the weekend, and for the second week, he was able to commit to 8 hrs. per day.
He actually ended up putting in just over 30 hours that first week (about 20 between Friday and Sunday). Monday of the second week he logged 6.5 hours (making it us to 36+ hours). We spoke that day, he was going to give me a version for testing with the rest of our stack the following day.
When I reached out to him the next day for the version to test, he was unresponsive. Since then, 9 days later, he has put in just 4 hours. I eventually heard back from him, he mentioned something about a personal emergency but assured me that he would be able to pick it back up, and we'd certainly finish before the deadline.
Since then, communication has continuted to be very spotty. We're 40 hours into the project. There are 2 minor tasks left, and one other task that is potentially more complicated. The two minor tasks should take no more than 2-3 hours to do total. He originally told me that the last (more complex one) should take no more than 4 hours. Each day he tells me he will work on the project soon, but generally he doesn't. I imagine that he'll finish it at some point, but it's holding up other development, and I can't afford for this to go on for another 2-3 weeks.
I was in general too trusting, and clearly entrusted too much responsibility to him at the onset. I've learned my lesson and will approach future engagements much differently. I promise! 
He has Top Rated status, so I presume since early in week 2, when the work stalled, he's planned on just deleting any rating/feedback that I leave. That has me at least thinking that I'm entirely at his mercy.
Getting someone else to finish up the project is of course a possibility, I'd definitely prefer to avoid that though given how close it is too finishing. This has been somewhat of a nightmare - my goal is just to finish this up.
Aside from ending the contract right now, what would you guys suggest doing?
In most cases, as with this one, I'd imagine that the original developer can finish the last 5-10% of a project, 2-3+x faster than anyone else.
I don't have anyone on staff that can do it, either. I don't think I'll have an easy time finding a quality developer to take on this job for the last 5-10%. A different dev told me just today in reference to something else... "everybody hates the code made by someone else " direct quote!
Nonetheless, I'm of course considering it. I can't delay much longer. I'd rather avoid it though, and am looking for some suggestions aside from that.
Like...does Upwork ever intercede to salvage a contract and tell the freelancer (preemptively), that they won't be permitted to delete feedback for this job if they don't finish (unless they can somehow demontrate that I'm being unreasonable in one way or another)?
