Client not answering after job is done

[#1]

Could anyone give me some advice on what to do?

I have a client with whom I have an hourly work contract. I worked tirelessly for days because he kept changing the task and making additional requests before finally telling me what he wanted. I didn't even log all the hours I worked, not even half of them.

Now, I have sent him all the completed work and fulfilled everything he asked for. He has put the contract on pause and is not responding.

Am I being scammed? Have I worked for days without getting paid at all?

[#2]

I had a similar issue with a client Arham, what is the name of the client?

[#3]

Not Arham. It seems that this is not a rare occurrence. How should we resolve this?
Because I spent time doing this job, and I could have been doing something else and actually getting paid for it.

My ratings for the previous job are the highest possible, and I even received a bonus from the client.

[#4]

It looks like  that you are being scammed there are tips you should follow

1. Contract Agreement: Never start any work without a formal contract in place. If a client insists on sending the contract later, politely decline and avoid engaging further with that client.

2. Payment Protocol: Always process payments through Upwork. Do not accept or request payments outside of the Upwork platform. Do not reach out to clients outside of Upwork for any reason.

3. Escrow Verification: Once you have a contract, ensure that the agreed amount is funded in the Upwork escrow before beginning any work. If the funds are not in escrow, do not start the project.

4. Time Tracking: For hourly contracts, always log your hours using the Upwork Time Tracker. Do not work without using the Upwork Time Tracker to ensure accurate billing and payment protection.

[#5]

Some of my hours are tracked. But client is not responding after I sent my work. 
As I understood he has to aprove those hours and payment. If he never aproves and never respond, that means I'm not getting payed? Even if he took all files and work I've done?

[#6]

If it is an hourly contract and if you tracked the hours using the time tracker you should get paid automatically when the work week ends on Sunday. Check the Reports->Overview you should have funds either in the "In review" or "Pending" tab! 

He does "not" have to approve anything is the hours were logged using the time tracker also It should not matter if the contract is paused or even if the client ends the contract whatevere hours are logged you will be paid for that!

[#7]

I tracked it manually, cause time tracker didnt work for some reason

[#8]

So this means if he doesnt answer anything, in 14 days I will be still payed?

[#9 · Accepted solution]

Yes, you will still be paid if hours are logged using a time tracker. But in your case, since you logged manual hours he has an option to dispute those hours, and if he disputes those hours you will not be paid. 

If he does not answer or does not dispute you will be paid! If there rae funds in review wait till Friday the funds should move to in review and on Wednesday funds will be available to you if he does not dispute. 

ALWAYS no matter what the client says ALWAYS use time tracker to track hours, even if he gives you written consent to use manual hours you should not use manual hours. 

[#10]

Hey Ashraf ,

I think  the below statement "and if client disputes those hours you will not be paid" is not true entirely.

You have an option to provide some evidence to upwork and then upwork will decide whether you should be paid or not, based on the evidence you provided..

Plz correct me if I am wrong.

Regards,

Adarsh 

[#11]

If it was hourly contract, You should always fill the timesheet of 1 week.  Did you miss filling the timesheet .

You can also raise a dispute in Upwork

[#12]

I did fill teamsheet of 1 week  and started another week. In the meantime finished work and he put contract on pause. 

That is so unfair. Why would anyone use manual input if that can be just ignored by client? I would never use it again.

[#13]

Look at the reports page, there are 4 tabs (progress, review, pending, available). Is there money in any of those tabs?