How do I report a client who asks for direct work and payment ?

[2efd5d7b]

I want to report a client, first, he sent me an interview invite and asked me to make a discussion with the CEO at slack and if I pass the interview he will talk with me about the job terms. I made a 
A LONG interview with the CEO.he told me I am accepted at the job if I accepted the terms which are working with him and get paid directly not through Upwork. I told him it is against Upwork terms. his reply was it is either you onboard or not !!! I told him I am not. he is interviewing 14 more freelancers and sure he tells them the same. I have screenshots of his messages.

[petra_r · Accepted solution]

---

Eptehal Y wrote:

 ... he sent me an interview invite and asked me to make a discussion with the CEO at slack and if I pass the interview he will talk with me about the job terms. I made a 

A LONG interview with the CEO.

---

Just flag the job post as inappropriate, but be aware that you are reporting yourself for a violation of Upwork's terms of Service too. 

You are not allowed to communicate with any client before a contract is in place.... That obviously includes Slack.

[2efd5d7b]

I'm not allowed to communicate with any client before a contract is in place, is that includes any interview?

[petra_r]

---

Eptehal Y wrote:

I'm not allowed to communicate with any client before a contract is in place, is that includes any interview?

---

Absolutely! You may only communicate on the platform. No exceptions other than Enterprise clients.

[2efd5d7b]

thank you so much Petra, I didn't know that for sure !! . I will take that into consideration with any future client, thank you again 

[wlyonsatl]

Eptehal Y.,

I include this text in my first communication with any potential new client:

"As you may know, during our pre-contract communication Upwork requires that we only use either Upwork’s VOIP service or Upwork’s Zoom-compatible app to talk through the specifics of what you need and to discuss any questions you and I have for one another:

https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/217698348-Video-and-Voice-Calls

After that call, I can start work on this as soon as..."

I have never had a potential client complain about this, but the ones who don't want to comply probably don't bother going any further with my proposal. And that's fine with me...

[2efd5d7b]

Thank you for your advise I will sure take that into consideration with my future clients

[prestonhunter]

Eptehal: I do not know for CERTAIN... but from what you wrote about this "client" (this "CEO").... It sounds to me like he is nothing but a schemer, and that no matter what you did, you were never going to earn any money working for him.

Even if he was planning to pay you (which I doubt) you would have been violating serious Upwork rules had you continued to go along with that rule-breaking client. Of course it is not worth risking losing your Upwork account entirely just to play along with one rule-breaker's scheme.

[2efd5d7b]

I totally agree with you. I withdrew his job proposal at the very moment he asked for working and paying directly I felt he is a schemer. for that reason, I wanted to report him