Contract On Hold

[h_parashar]

I am new to Upwork. Just two hours after I got offered this contract it's being put on hold.
I wanted to knw whether client has paused the contract or it's because clients account is suspended. I can see suspended written in contract page. Not sure if that means suspended client or suspended contract.

Thanks and Regards

[8cdd8303]

Hello. My contract was suspended earlier due to some issue with my Client's account. Now I started working without the tracker since we both know that the issue will be solved easily and I am allowed to manually add the time I worked. But when I manually add it, I keep getting this "time overlaps thing". Can you please help me with it sir. Thank you

[AndreaG]

Hi Mary,

If there is a problem with your client’s Upwork account your contracts with them will be paused automatically and you cannot continue to bill that client through Upwork until the issue is resolved. There are many possible reasons this could occur, although we can’t share the specifics regarding your client’s account due to privacy concerns. 

You can check out this help article to learn some tips on what you can do if your contract is paused. It's important to keep in mind that any work completed during this time is not covered by Upwork’s Payment Protection programs, and this applies to Manual Time on Hourly Contracts as well.

[nyambura87]

Hello, I would like to ask something. I recently got this new client. We are working on an hourly contract for two to three weeks now. The first week, I billed and it all went fine. My payment was released on Friday as per the early payment option for top-rated freelancers. During the second week, I billed as usual as well. The payment was invoiced to the client on Monday as normal. However, upon reaching Friday, when I expected the early weekly payment to be released, I received a notification that the contract had been suspended by Upwork. I did not also see the payment as expected. Looking at my pending earnings, the invoiced payment still says that it will be available for withdrawal on Wednesday as per the usual billing cycle. My question is if the payment is already scheduled to be available on Wednesday, why didn't I get the Friday early payment since I am eligible? Is it suspicious that the contract was suspended on the Friday I was meant to be paid? Also, will I still get paid for the hours billed? 

[petra_r]

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Nyambura T wrote:

 However, upon reaching Friday, when I expected the early weekly payment to be released, I received a notification that the contract had been suspended by Upwork.  

---

The client failed to pay last week's hours. They didn't pay on Monday, or since.

If you you used the tracker and had meaningful memos and good activity levels, you are protected under Upworl's hourly protection.

If not, and the client doesn't pay by Tuesday, the funds (which were never there to start with) would be reversed,

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Nyambura T wrote:

 My question is if the payment is already scheduled to be available on Wednesday, why didn't I get the Friday early payment since I am eligible?

---

Because the client hasn't paid that money, so Upwork won't pass it on to you early in case they can't get it from the client by Tuesday. On Tuesday they'll examine your work diary and check if your hours qualify for protection, in which case they pay you out of their own pocket. If your hours don't fully qualify for protection and the client doesn't pay, you won't get paid.

[e6c001cf]

I got the same issue on upwork. It says client account suspended. It was an hourly contract. Will I get paid or not?

Suggest me pls

[e6c001cf]

I had a long-term client. Today I got a notification that the client account was suspended. Will I get paid or not? it was an hourly contract. 

 Pls, help me. I'm new at Upwork.

[petra_r]

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Manish K wrote:

I had a long-term client. Today I got a notification that the client account was suspended. Will I get paid or not? it was an hourly contract. 

---

If it is a long-term contract chances are that the client just needs to fix an issue with their payment method.

Did you:

1. Track your hours with the Upwork tracker? and
2. Enter meaningful work memos that clearly describe what you were working on? and
3. Have decent activity levels?
4. make sure all screenshots show you working on the client's project?

What is the client saying?

[1a1a6ae0]

My client has not paid me for 2 weeks of work citing that he has some problems with payment on the side of upwork. The contract was suspended by upwork. I suggested a solution - send payment via bonus upwork. However, the customer says he gets an error and can't send the money.

Customer's message: Hey Vlad, I tried to send bonus for all the balance but it says that it’s not allowed.

________________________________________________

I also asked to send me a screenshot of the error, the screenshot I attached. How to solve this problem?

[AndreaG]

Hi Uladzislau,

Your client should contact our support team directly so they can assist him. Please know, we're unable to discuss any details of his account with you because of privacy reasons. A quick way to contact support is by clicking the question mark icon that shows at the bottom right corner of this page. 

[1a1a6ae0]

The customer said that he had contacted customer service and there was no answer. Now he says he doesn't have time to deal with upwork problems. He sent me a new screenshot, when he try to pay with a bonus he get error that his account is suspended. The client has repeatedly offered to pay via PayPal. I keep refusing and telling him that all payments should be done via upwork. However, this way I won't get paid for the work I've done.
Question: Can I get paid on PayPal and pay a commission for the payment separately to upwork. Or should I be left without payment, even though the client is willing to pay?

[g_vasilevski]

Hi Uladzislau,

Please keep in mind that offering and accepting payments outside of Upwork is a serious violation of our TOS. 
I can also confirm that our team is following up on your client ticket regularly and is assisting them further. Thank you.

[1a1a6ae0]

Ty, I know that this is a serious violation and that's why I can't get paid for the work I've done for a month now.
So I would like to find a solution to this problem. I can't get the client to deal with this problem. He says he doesn't have time and has already written to support, maybe he didn't write I don't know.
I could suggest this solution: I get paid for the unpaid work through PayPal and then I pay a commission for this payment to the upwork of 10% (this is the commission I paid to the upwork with this client)

[1a1a6ae0]

I don't quite understand, should I expect a response from you? Can you suggest any solution? Is my solution a good one or is it in any case forbidden to accept such a payment and should I continue to insist that the client solve the problem through upwork?

[michael_nidelka]

A client bought a project from my catalog. I started the work. Now the order is paused by Upwork. Some kind of problem with the client's account. Do I have to finish the job? I can see on the order page how the time to complete the work is decreasing. The client is not responding to messages.

[sofia2008]

The message you received from Upwork did not mention to stop working?

[prestonhunter]

Stop working.

A problem with client's account is not your problem. It is the client's problem.

Don't work for free.

[garetbello]

Hi, 

My client's account was suspended last Thursday. I messaged him on Friday and he says it was already resolved. However it's still not showing in my time tracker as active. Anyway this can be checked? 

Thanks!

Margaret

[AndreaG]

Hi Margaret,

Unfortunately, we're unable to share any details of your client's account with you. This is because of privacy reasons, we hope you can understand. Please know that we recommend you do not work on a paused contract until it has been resumed. Any work completed during this time is not covered by Upwork’s Payment Protection programs.

[garetbello]

Yes for sure, may I just have a confirmation that he is actually fixing his issues or contacted support as he said he did.

Thanks,

Margaret

[11c7f583]

I have a client whose I loged in like 6 hours in my worksheet now yesterday it says the contract is suspended and I have already loged in my hours and it was in my review period .

The client says it is okay I continue working on that project because he says it was never suspended but I have stoped I would like to know where the problem is from my end or my client end.

And if so how will get paid for my loged in hours.

[g_vasilevski]

Hi Abraham,

The hold on your contract is due to a problem on the client's end. Our team has already reached out to your client to assist them further. Once their problem is resolved, the hold will be removed as well.

I would recommend to stop working on your contract until the hold is removed. If any issues arise, our team will reach out to you directly as well and will assist you accordingly. Thank you.

[wlyonsatl]

Abraham,

Don't even consider continuing to work on a project Upwork has suspended, if you care about getting paid for your work. 

The problem is one that only your client can fix and you should wait to work on it further. Suspension may last a short time or it may be permanent. In my limited experience, it has lasted from one to multiple weeks. Each situation is different.

[sweettart888]

Hi, everyone. I am new freelancer here in Upwork. I got a job and been working for a week already but then since yesterday I received an email from work that the contract is hold and wait for the advise from them before I continue working with my Employer here. Now, I am so worried. I asked payment from my employer for the work I finished then he sent payment. My question now is Should I continue working with him since he is sending me payment? Does it give me assurance? and also the payment processing will take 3-5 days here in Upwork. I've been working hard and worried for my small salary if I get paid or not. Please respect my post and thank you.

[prestonhunter]

re: "Now, I am so worried."

Don't be worried.

You didn't do anything wrong.

This is the client's problem.

re: "My question now is: Should I continue working with him since he is sending me payment?"

No.
You can't work on a contract when it is on hold.

It doesn't matter that you received some payment. That was for work that you already did.

NOW the contract is on hold.

So NOW you are not supposed to work.

[sweettart888]

Thank you enlighten me. Can I ask 1 more question? Can I look for another job and apply while my contract of my client is still on hold? or do I have to wait it resolved and wait als for go signal from Upwork Company before I can look for another job/client? Thank you so much Sir. I appreciate it a lot.