Client asked my to take the work outside UpWork and then she understood it was a mistake

[herrera_sarria_r]

Hello,

I have a client who asked me to take the work outside UpWork. I told her that I do NOT work outside UpWork and instantaneously reported the client. After that, she wrote to me telling that her intentions were only to use a project management tool (like Basecamp) to manage the projects but she never thought about paying outside the UpWork Platform. I replied telling her that everything (payments and communications should be using UpWork) and she accepted and keep sending me tasks on our open contract. I replied to the ticket I have open with UpWork Customer Support updating the case (since the client accepted to keep all the workflow using UpWork) but I haven't received any answer from the support team. I have a few questions on how to proceed in this situation:

1- Should I keep working with this client? We have an open contract and she is sending me new tasks

2- The Support team at UpWork said that they escalated the issue (with the screenshots I provided) and that an investigation would take place to analyze the client's behavior. If I keep working with this client (using UpWork platform) and an investigation takes place would I be affected somehow?

3- What is the right thing to do when the client is asking me to meet deadlines with this project?

My ticket id with Support is: #23191076

Thank you so much in advance,

Roman

[martina_plaschka · Accepted solution]

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@Roman H wrote:

Hello,

I have a client who asked me to take the work outside UpWork. I told her that I do NOT work outside UpWork and instantaneously reported the client. After that, she wrote to me telling that her intentions were only to use a project management tool (like Basecamp) to manage the projects but she never thought about paying outside the UpWork Platform. I replied telling her that everything (payments and communications should be using UpWork) and she accepted and keep sending me tasks on our open contract. I replied to the ticket I have open with UpWork Customer Support updating the case (since the client accepted to keep all the workflow using UpWork) but I haven't received any answer from the support team. I have a few questions on how to proceed in this situation:

1- Should I keep working with this client? We have an open contract and she is sending me new tasks

2- The Support team at UpWork said that they escalated the issue (with the screenshots I provided) and that an investigation would take place to analyze the client's behavior. If I keep working with this client (using UpWork platform) and an investigation takes place would I be affected somehow?

3- What is the right thing to do when the client is asking me to meet deadlines with this project?

My ticket id with Support is: #23191076

Thank you so much in advance,

Roman

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 I think you overshot it a bit. It is not against any rules to communicate outside the platform or use tools that you can't possibly use within the platform. 

Have you been paid for your work on schedule?

I believe you owe this client an apology... 

[petra_r]

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@Roman H wrote:

I have a client who asked me to take the work outside UpWork. I told her that I do NOT work outside UpWork and instantaneously reported the client. After that, she wrote to me telling that her intentions were only to use a project management tool (like Basecamp) to manage the projects but she never thought about paying outside the UpWork Platform. I replied telling her that everything (payments and communications should be using UpWork) and she accepted and keep sending me tasks on our open contract.

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 This is nonsense.

As long as payments are made through Upwork you are obviously allowed to  communicate / work / interact with your clients in any way you want.

I wonder what feedback you'll get for getting the client into trouble for doing absolutely nothing wrong and just because you didn't bother to find out how Upwor works before running along "reporting" a client for something that only exists in your imagination.