What to Do?

[financemark]

A prospective client asked that I accept stock for compensation - after a lengthy interview process where he asked for far too much free consultation.  I said no.  We spoke several days later and he stated that he had "hired someone to do the project for all stock".   I note that the job posting does not show that anyone was hired.

Questions:

1.Is stock issuance allowed here?  Can't see how as it is not remuneration that UW can share in.

2. Should I flag if I suspect client has hired off network?

Thank you,

MK

[timsmith99 · Accepted solution]

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1.Is stock issuance allowed here?  Can't see how as it is not remuneration that UW can share in.

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 No.

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2. Should I flag if I suspect client has hired off network?

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 Maybe.

[nkocendova]

Hi Mark,

Stock issuance is not allowed as per our Terms of Service and if you have not yet flagged the client, you may PM me the information so we can look into this further, thank you.

[melaniekhenson]

How could Upwork possibly determine that the client actually hired offsite and wasn't just mumbling something to make you stop contacting them about the job? That could have happened anywhere, literally, and if/when you go reporting them, surely they'll answer that they haven't actually hired and were just trying to let you down lightly. "We've hired elsewhere" is the non-dating euphemism for "We don't want you, but we've had experience with people whining or asking for reasons or being huffy."

I'm not saying that's definitely what has happened here but it seems likely unless they managed to hire lightning-fast just randomly somewhere else, God knows where.

I'd leave this aspect of it alone, personally. He doesn't want you, and that's enough for you.

As to the rest, I see your answer above. ^

[tlsanders]

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@Melanie H wrote:

How could Upwork possibly determine that the client actually hired offsite and wasn't just mumbling something to make you stop contacting them about the job? That could have happened anywhere, literally, and if/when you go reporting them, surely they'll answer that they haven't actually hired and were just trying to let you down lightly.

Perhaps. But, it's quick and easy enough for Upwork to check the client messages and see whether he'd reached an agreement with another Upworker to accept stock.

[barada00]

I would like a "boo" icon next to kudos if it is possible.

[tlbp]

The guy doesn't have any money and got you to work for him for free. He probably has done the same to someone else. Upwork isn't really losing money if someone with no cash gets someone else to provide free work. 20% of zero. 

[melaniekhenson]

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@Tonya P wrote:

The guy doesn't have any money and got you to work for him for free. He probably has done the same to someone else. Upwork isn't really losing money if someone with no cash gets someone else to provide free work. 20% of zero. 

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Did he? The OP said the client asked for a lot of free consulatation work, but I'm unclear whether the OP actually gave it to him.

If so, OP, well...you don't start work until you've officially been offered the work via a job offer. 

If not, then the OP hasn't given the client free work, just a lot of conversation.

[tlbp]

I would bet the lengthy interview process conveyed a lot of information that the prospective client would have otherwise had to pay for. 

[melaniekhenson]

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@Tonya P wrote:

I would bet the lengthy interview process conveyed a lot of information that the prospective client would have otherwise had to pay for. 

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Possibly. If the OP answers, we'll know.

If he did give free work in this way without a contract in place, well...

[tlsanders]

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@Melanie H wrote:

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Did he? The OP said the client asked for a lot of free consulatation work, but I'm unclear whether the OP actually gave it to him.

I doubt that he did. I'm pretty sure he's the same guy who spent hours lecturing us about the foolishness of bringing your clients to Upwork with 0% fees, and he laid claim to a lot of financial analysis-type experience and expertise in the process. It would be pretty surprising if he'd made that kind of rookie mistake.