Finished job still open more than a month. Should I (freelancer) close it?

[jennifer_kosfeld]

Hi!

I have a client that I've done a couple projects for. All of my work has been paid (yay!), but the job is still open after more than a month. Client had indicated there would be additional milestones to do, but he appears to have gone missing. I reached out to him via Messages a couple weeks ago, but no response. In this client's review history, there's a freelancer review from a while ago that indicated same client had gone missing after work completed on their project, too.

Should I close this job myself? The good news is, I've been paid in full for the work I've done - but I don't want anything to affect my Job Score (I'm working on getting Top Rated) if I close the job and the client provides no feedback. Likewise, I don't want my score to get affected by having a dormant job. (Note: I had previous project with the client that did get closed and received feedback).

Please advise on courses of action and potential outcomes for each one.

Thank you!

-Jennifer

[petra_r]

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@Jennifer B wrote:

Should I close this job myself? The good news is, I've been paid in full for the work I've done - but I don't want anything to affect my Job Score (I'm working on getting Top Rated) if I close the job and the client provides no feedback.

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 Unless you have too many of them, the occasional "No feedback" contract will not hurt you, provided money was paid. It only gets serious if there was nothing paid *AND* no feedback.

[jennifer_kosfeld]

Thanks, Petra!

I only have about a dozen jobs in my history (this being one of them), and about 9 weeks until I get Top Rated status. Should I just let this ride for a bit longer as a "Job in Progress" in my history before I close it?

[petra_r]

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@Jennifer B wrote:

Thanks, Petra!

I only have about a dozen jobs in my history (this being one of them), and about 9 weeks until I get Top Rated status. Should I just let this ride for a bit longer as a "Job in Progress" in my history before I close it?

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 If you are "planning" on closing a few more contracts in the next few weeks I would leave it be for the time being, if you're nervous, close it before it gets to three months inactivity.

I don't think one in a dozen being an issue though.

[dec0d3d]

I suggest you close it, Jennifer.

From my personal experience when you get paid for a job and you receive no more funds for a long period of time, as soon as the contract ends it will affect your JSS.

If the client is satisfied with your work then even if you end it and the client turns up,  it won't be a big deal.

Also, as other people said it, if you don't have much no-feedback closed contracts, they won't affect your JSS.

Hope you find my answer helpful.

Cheers!

[jennifer_kosfeld]

Ok,

Petra says let it ride, but close before three months' aging.

Rezart says close now.

So, if I understand correctly is it the aging that affects the Job Success Score? Or does the no feedback affect the Job Success Score more? Again, I only have about a dozen jobs in my history, so could this one knock me below 90% success?  (I have been fully paid)

[vladag · Accepted solution]

Hi Jennifer,

While we can't advise on the effect this contract might have on your score in the mentioned scenarios, I can confirm the information Petra shared that only a pattern of no-feedback contract can negatively affect your score.

It's up to you if and when you'd like to close this contract and I'd just like to advise you on focusing on working/completing ongoing/new contracts, which will help you maintain a good Job Success Score and become Top Rated. I understand this isn't the information you were looking for but as you can see, different users use different approaches. As a rule of thumb, it's best not to leave completed contracts stay open for a prolonged period of time, since apart from their potential effect on your score they also may give an impression to potential clients that you're involved on other jobs and won't have time to work on their project.

[jennifer_kosfeld]

Thanks, all of your input (Petra, Rezart, Vladimir) has been helpful!