Client accidentally funded second milestone

[#1]

Hi everyone - Looking for some help with a problem. 

My client accidentally added and funded a second milestone in our contract after having released the money for the first milestone.  I'm not really sure what happened, but the first milestone was the total amount for the project.  Now we have a funded, second milestone in the contract.  She says that on her end her options are only to release funds for the milestone or cancel the contract.  I'm not sure what she is seeing so it's hard for me to help her through.  All we really want to do is to close the contract as successful.  Is there anyway to do that with an open, funded milestone?

Thanks!

[#2]

On your end, as the freelancer, just close the contract and that will release the money back to her.

Or ask her to close the contract without releasing the money, but requesting a full refund. Then you can approve the refund of the excess money. She can go ahead and "cancel" the contract. That won't claw back the money she already released.

This is not a big deal. Easily fixed.

[#3]

I would not approve a refund just yet. You need to remember that if you grant a refund it sends the money directly back to the client, not to escrow. I was scammed this way with a particular client. They claimed they accidentally released the second milestone and requested a refund. I happily obliged as I trusted it was an honest mistake. However, once the refund was issued the client completely cut off all contact. Tried to reach out to Upwork for support and they informed me that a refund goes directly back to the client and not escrow so I was therefore, not covered under the payment protection. Very bad experience. Would be very careful when it comes to giving refunds.

[#4]

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Hans D wrote:

I would not approve a refund just yet. You need to remember that if you grant a refund it sends the money directly back to the client, not to escrow.

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And that would be a problem.... how, exactly? She was fully paid for what she did and is owed absolutely nothing at all.....

She WANTS the money to go back to the client because the second milestone was an accident and is the client's money. Why do you suggest she hang on to someone else's money and delay the return of money to a client who owes her absolutely nothing?

[#5]

Hi Petra, I'm also facing the same problem.
My client accidentally created and funded a second milestone of $45. I need to know what I should do to get this money back onto her account.
I also want to know if this will negatively affect my job success score.

Sarah.

[#6]

Hi Sarah,

If the project has already been completed, you may request the client to end the contract. Refunding funds in Escrow doesn't affect your Job Success Score. You can share the steps below with your client:

To request an escrow refund

1. Go to My Jobs to locate the contract
2. Click the (...) options menu and select End contract
3. Choose Pay nothing and request a refund or Pay another amount when ending the contract

For more information, please have them check this help article. Thank you!