Agency manager has blocked me from messages and still owes me 2 weeks of my work.

[yenn23]

Hi, I have an issue with an agency manager that has blocked me from communication already. I still need to get paid for 2 weeks of my work but I am unsure if I would still get my money. I have escalated this issue already with upwork but not sure what can actually be done since agency to agency member payments are not protected. 

[tinker_bell3]

Hi Kinney,

I checked and it looks like our team is already assisting you directly regarding this concern. I will follow up with the team that's handling your case and they will update you directly as well. Thank you!

[yenn23]

Well in this case, should the client be sanctioned for not making sure the freelancer gets paid by the agency? Eitherway the freelancer always gets thte short end of the stick. Are there even requirements to run an agency? They can totally commit fraud under your nose and no one does anything about it. It is a fact that upwork cannot facilitate the payment from Agency to member but does it not raise any red flag on your end if an agency doesnt facilitate any payment at all? Why is it not even part of the protection? I see upwork charges the same fee?

[aocumen · Accepted solution]

I'm sorry to learn about your experience, Kinney. 

I would like to clarify that in both a client-freelancer, and client-agency setup, Upwork is not a party to the relationship or any dealings between Client and Freelancer, or Client and Agency. For more information, you may read Section 2.1 Relationship with Upwork of the Upwork User Agreement. The second to the last paragraph of the section discusses in detail the Agency, and the Agency freelancer's relationship to Upwork. 

If you have more information you would like to share on your support ticket, feel free to follow up and the team handling your case will update you in the same ticket thread. 

[yenn23]

I am not sure if I was made aware of this when I signed up for upwork as agencies at that time do not exist. It says the new user agreement took effect on may 21, 2018 which means only those that made an account from that afterwards are subject to that?