An idle contract

[Anna N]

Hello everyone!

I have a client with whom I started working for a fixed price and we were working on the concept ideas before I would submit the first milestone. I did some work but we decided to change something and then to submit. Since then he hasn't replied for almost a month now. I am on Upwork for 5 months. I have a JSS 98% and all 100% contract feedbacks. Will my JSS drop significally if I close this inactive contract if there was 0$ paid? Does it make my JSS drop if I have it open now?

Please, I am still working on improving my Upwork knowledge, so I would appreciate all clearifying answers!
Sincerely, 
Anna

[Petra R]

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@Anna N wrote:

I have a client with whom I started working for a fixed price and we were working on the concept ideas before I would submit the first milestone. I did some work but we decided to change something and then to submit. Since then he hasn't replied for almost a month now. I am on Upwork for 5 months.

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 It would significantly hit you if it closed without any payment and any feedback, yes, but you can also request a token payment (a part of the milestone) for the work done so far - even if it is just a few Dollars, via the "Submit work and request payment" button - just edit the amount while you submit. That will either wake the client up, or it will just auto-release after 14 days and then you can close it.

[Anna N]

Thank you, Petra, for your answer!

But As I know the client can't leave me a feedback if there is no dollar spent, but if I request a few dollars then he can leave me a feedback yes? Which one will hit more? To close the contractwithout feedback or that he might leave a bad feedback? Though he just doesn't respond me and has barely anything bad to say

[Petra R]

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@Anna N wrote:

Thank you, Petra, for your answer!

But As I know the client can't leave me a feedback if there is no dollar spent, but if I request a few dollars then he can leave me a feedback yes? Which one will hit more? To close the contractwithout feedback or that he might leave a bad feedback? Though he just doesn't respond me and has barely anything bad to say

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 The client can leave you feedback either way. If nothing is paid then no feedback will show on your profile but the (private) feedback will still affect your JSS for better or for worse.

Nothing paid - Good (private) feedback = Good

Nothing paid - Bad (private) feedback = Bad

Nothing paid - No (private) feedback = Bad

Nothing paid - left open for months = Bad

Something paid - No feedback = No damage

Something paid - Good feedback = Good

Something paid - Bad feedback = Bad

Something paid - left open for months = No damage

[Tonya P]

The sooner you close the contract, the sooner it can start rolling out of your 6-month calculation window. I would start the process now, while my JSS was still high. 

[Anna N]

So do you suggest to close it without requesting a token amount of payment? 

[Petra R]

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@Anna N wrote:

So do you suggest to close it without requesting a token amount of payment? 

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 If it ends without payment and without feedback it will definitely hit your JSS.

If it ends with payment and without feedback it won't.

It really depends on how you think the client felt about the work to date.

[Anna N]

Ok thank you very much. 

I think he liked the actual work but wanted something different so wanted to change something and he was actually a mediator, he said he was going to ask his client for the opinion and then we could change but since then he is lost. Btw is tehre a way on Upwork to see my clients' last visit?

[Timothy F]

My job success score was at a respectable 92%, then suddenly, overnight it went down to 89%, making me lose the 'top freelancer' badge. 

Thing is, nothing changed. I've had no feedback between this morning and yesterday that could have lowered it, I'm working the same long-term project I always have too so don't have time to take on other projects. I have a couple of jobs that have been left open for a long time, despite several calls from me for the client to end the job if they're finished, would they affect it?  

Anyone know why this would've happened?

Seems a bit harsh to award me the 'top freelancer' thing, to only mercilessly rip it away from my vulnerable sleeping hands in the middle of a cold dark night for no apparent reason.

[Avery O]

Hi Timothy, 

Your Job Success score is updated every two weeks, and it’s important to note any movement in this score (either up or down) reflects both recent activity and activity over a longer period of time. Because we look at trends over a 24-month period, you can see your score change, even without recently closed contracts, due to past jobs slipping out of the 24-month window.

This help article explains how idle contracts affect your Job Success Score. You may also read more about how scores are calculated on this help article.