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Naeem's avatar
Naeem K Community Member

Connects

I submitted two proposals, but just as I clicked 'submit proposal,' I found myself outside of the top four bidding positions. However, I still haven't received my boosted connects back.

ACCEPTED SOLUTION
Andrea's avatar
Andrea G Community Manager

Hi all,

 

As a freelancer or agency, you'll use Connects to Submit Proposals and let clients know you're interested in their project. You receive ten free Connects every month at the beginning of your billing cycle and bonuses for some interviews you win. We will send you a notification in Upwork (notification bell) and an email when you earn free Connects. For more information on how this works, check out our guide here.

 

To purchase Connects, go to Settings > Membership & Connects and click on the green 'Add More Connects' button. From there, select the amount to buy and click on the 'Buy Connects' button. Please note, that if you have sufficient funds on your Upwork balance, the charge will be applied to your Upwork balance. You can check out this help article to learn about the available Billing Methods.
 
~Andrea

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954 REPLIES 954
Mykola's avatar
Mykola A Community Member

Yes, it must be refunded if closed without hiring.

Up to 48 hrs.

Pradeep's avatar
Pradeep H Retired Team Member

Hi Md Harun,

 

Thank you for your message. I checked the job you mentioned and it appears that this job expired due to inactivity.

 

Connects are returned only when the job is closed by the client or removed by Upwork for TOS violation. This is not applicable to expired jobs. 

 

- Pradeep

Mert's avatar
Mert G Community Member

There are offers I haven't received a response to for weeks. Also people do not closing their finished jobs. I'm still waiting to get my connects back and nothing happens.

When will you solve that problem?

Is it normal or do i overreacting for it? I'm spending time & money to get connect and nobody interest.

 

Unclosed works ;

f1c9c818_0-1719835322939.pngf1c9c818_1-1719835330180.png

and unanswered proposals ;

f1c9c818_2-1719835347628.png

 

Luiggi's avatar
Luiggi R Retiring Moderator

Hi Mert,

 

I'm sorry to hear you haven't received an answer to your proposals. I want to clarify that Connects are only returned if a client cancels their project before a contract is made (this doesn't apply to expired job posts) or if a project's post is removed from the platform because it violates the Terms of Service. You may visit the "Returned Connects" section of this article to learn more.

~ Luiggi
Mert's avatar
Mert G Community Member

It's scam. You're abusing your freelancers. We're all paying money to get contacts. You're not protecting our policies.
"Bla bla bla bla" only copy paste messages. You are just wasting our money. "Only declined or closed" bla  bla bla.
I paid, i applied and didn't get answer for 3 weeks and you're talking about articles.

 

I thought Upwork was #1 platform for freelancing but I see here is as garbage center.
There are many scam jobs, money-soaking systems, taxes-fees also customer services are totally useless.

The worst freelancer site and service I have ever seen.

Nayab's avatar
Nayab R Community Member

No. I think you should fix this problem from other expert freelancers. i
can't give you more information about this.
Mehrnaz's avatar
Mehrnaz M Community Member

Hi, I made the mistake of withdrawing a proposal, I applied for a job and withdrew it by mistake and lost 14 connect, Please return my connect.

Ivygail's avatar
Ivygail J Retired Team Member

Hello Mehrnaz,

 

Thank you for your message. Your Connects are not refunded if you withdraw your proposal from a project, the client hires another freelancer or lets the job expire without hiring. You can learn more about Connects here.

 

~Ivy
Ruth's avatar
Ruth W Community Member

Hello, can anyone help me understand the connects balance? Thanks ahead.

1. I am new to upwork and last month I upgrade the account to get the 100 connects and another 50 ones as new. 

But I found that there were only 91 connects, missing 9 of them. I checked a few Q&As, saying that it was prorated to the monthly billing however the another 9 has not arrived in my account yet.  I hold the Plus account for a whole month so I should get 100 connects in total anyway right?  Otherwise, the 100 connects can never be fully acquired unless we choose to upgrade on 1st day of a month. 

2. May I understand in what situation will I get refund on my connects? It seems that when one of my proposal got reply, I get my original 21 connects and the 4 as boost back, as a bonus I guess. But then the 4 was charged again.  

3. In another situation, when the job got closed, my boost got refunded immediately for "outbid" reason but the original boost was charged anyway.  Does it mean that if someone surpassed me to be the first 4 ranked, I would be refunded on the boost? Will it be useful to employ boost anyway?

 

 

Got a little bit confused with the rules. Need some clarifications. Thanks again.

 

Luiggi's avatar
Luiggi R Retiring Moderator

Hello Ruth,

 

Thank you for your questions; I'll be happy to help clarify any doubts you may have. The Connects that you received from upgrading your membership were prorated based on the date on which you upgraded. In other words, whenever you upgrade your membership, we'll allocate them based on time, or specifically, on how many days have already passed during your billing cycle. By prorating free Connects, we can be sure that you always get a fair amount, no matter when you make changes to your plan.

 

As far as when Connects are returned specifically, they are only returned if a client cancels their project before a contract is made (this doesn't apply to expired job posts) or if a project's post is removed from the platform because it violates the Terms of Service. You may visit the "Returned Connects" section of this article to learn more. Under limited circumstances, you’ll also receive free Connects (the number can vary) when you win an interview with an established client on Upwork. (To prevent gaming, we aren’t sharing all the details of what we consider “established.” In general, it’s a client who has hired and spent on Upwork in the past)

 

Lastly, when you boost a proposal, you are immediately charged the Connects needed to submit the proposal. You’ll be charged the Connects you used to boost your proposal at the end of the auction. The cost for the proposal and the cost to boost will show up as two separate charges in your Connects History

 

If either of the below happens, you’ll pay what you bid:

  • You are among the top four bidders at the end of the auction
  • The client interacts with your proposal while it is boosted. We consider eligible interactions as: the client opens your proposal, shortlists your proposal, messages you, archives your proposal, declines your proposal, or sends you an offer.

You will not be charged if you are knocked out of the top four slots by other bidders before receiving an eligible interaction.

 

I hope this information helps and don't hesitate to reach out if you have additional questions. 

~ Luiggi
Ruth's avatar
Ruth W Community Member

Thanks LuiggiR~ Now I am well informed on Q2 and Q3. For Q1, just want to further clarify, my membership cycle lasts from Jun.7 to Jul.6. And I've got 91 connects of the 100 committed connects coming with the membership in June. When will I receive the another 9 please since I have not yet seen them yet? And if I chose to buy connects rather than continue the membership, I understand that the new free 10 connects will be granted on Jul. 7, am I correct? Thanks a lot. 

Mark's avatar
Mark P Community Member

Hi former team,

 

What date do we usually get our free connects? I haven't received mine for the month of July 2024.

Mykola's avatar
Mykola A Community Member

No one date for all. Everyone have own. Check connects history to see when it was assigned last time, add month.

Delfina's avatar
Delfina M Community Member

Hello,

My current billing cycle is May 29, 2024 — Jun 30, 2024. Today is July 1st but  I have not yet received / renewed my monthly connects (freelancer-basic). I will be thankful if you could help me solving it.

Thanks!

Joanne's avatar
Joanne P Retired Team Member

Hi Delfina,

 

Please monitor it within today. If the Connects are still not credited after 48 hours, please let us know. 

~ Joanne
Upwork
Muhammad's avatar
Muhammad A Community Member

 I am skilled and hardworking but unfortunately not having money to buy connects 😥

    please give me free connects so that I could get job when I have suceeded job I will pay you back 

Please give me connects please🙏

Joanne's avatar
Joanne P Retired Team Member

Hi Muhammad,

 

Each month, freelancers may receive free Connects. Freelancers under the Freelancer Basic active accounts may receive 10 free Connects each month (To see if you get these, go to your Connects history). These Connects are given out each month on the first day of your billing cycle, which you can see here. To learn more about Connects, please check out this help article

~ Joanne
Upwork
Muhammad's avatar
Muhammad A Community Member

this is not answer of my request 

i asked for free connects  not at ending of month but before ending 

Oluwatomisin's avatar
Oluwatomisin O Community Member

Hello, since i joined upwork on april i havent recived the monthly free connect for the freelancer basic, haven't even gotthe. For this month and several billing circles have passed and still nothing. Please help.

Joanne's avatar
Joanne P Retired Team Member

Hi Oluwatomisin,

 

We saw your post in the community and converted it into a support ticket to give it the attention it deserves. Rest assured that one of our agents will be reaching out to you.

~ Joanne
Upwork
Oluwatomisin's avatar
Oluwatomisin O Community Member

Thank you, I'd be waiting for a response from the agent

Omid's avatar
Omid N Community Member

I'm using the android app, and  the option to buy connects does not exist in the app. Any idea why? 

Pema's avatar
Pema L Community Member

I don't think buying connects on phone works. I got an Iphone but it still don't support. So you gotta be on computer to buy connects.

Duong's avatar
Duong L Community Member

Hi all, 

About stories of Connects, buying Connects to apply for jobs...

I understand that using Connects to limit spam emails for Clients. This solution is right. One day Freelancers work and have a reputation, Clients auto-seek them, and Freelancers don't need to buy Connects to apply for jobs. 

 I see one Freelancer has a reputation on Upwork, they had a volume of private Clients, so they don't need to seek or apply more. Even, they don't use Upwork more. Because they had enough jobs to do, and enough time to work their jobs, could not work more.

However, almost all Freelancers seek jobs, apply for new jobs, or need one job to work and earn income. Using Connects within some allowed limit is ok. But one job takes over 20 Connects, and they must buy Connects and send Proposals without any feedback from Clients, even if they spent money to buy Connects and considered careful before sending and ensuring their background adapts to the demand of jobs. Spending big volume Connect sends Proposal and don't ensure they can have that jobs, the chance contact with Clients. They make Freelancers feel mod down, negatively thinking, and don't want to apply anymore. Find another way.
As you know, all emails easily become spam mail when Clients are not online, working on Upwork at the time Freelancers send Proposals.

I think Upwork should only set up one job around 10 Connects or less to create opportunities for Poors, new Freelancers need one job to work and earn money for their life. Anyway, Upwork charges a fee of 10% service and VAT already and a 3.5% service fee and VAT for handling transfer money to a freelancer' Bank Account. Upwork had revenue from all in operation to operate Upwork's Business.
Anyway, Upwork needs to have trend social action for humans a little bit.
How about do think about this one?

 

Thanks. 

 

Emmanuel's avatar
Emmanuel O Community Member

This has bothered me greatly, while I love upwork and love its capabilities, I can't help but be frustrated over these sort of things.

 

In the last month, 4 jobs I applied to were declined and at first, I thought evil spirits were against me until I checked my mail to see that it was the client who got suspended and my connects are supposed to be refunded to me. It's been more than 10 days since the first and about 5 since the other 3. Yet none of these connects have been refunded.

I mean, I paid for these connects so it's very annoying that it seems I'm being toyed with..

 

Please can this be resolved! @