Dispute unresponsive client

[c6af3687]

Hi!

I'm new to Upwork. My first contract was a fixed priced project, $35, to record 1050 sentences in 48h. I accepted the job on Feb 18th and the client funded the Milestone. I didn't understand the process so I wasn't aware she set the Milestone for only $5, payable on Mar 31st. I delivered the job ahead of time and requested a Milestone change for the full $35. We exchanged a few messages in which I clearly explained to her I was new and I didn't fully understand how the platform worked. The client insisted I had to wait for the first Milestone to be paid in order to accept the second Milestone for the remaining amount and stated I had to be patient about review and payment deadlines. The client then asked me to re-record some sentences claiming there were background sound issues, which I did on the spot.

Still, she never funded the second Milestone and became totally unresponsive.

The client has 4.55 feedback, 122 hires, member since 2021.

I feel outraged, like it was a scam, because the way the Milestones were set, I would always deliverer the full project before even receiving the first Milestone.

I can't find out how to open a dispute and I don't know what to do. I haven't terminated the contract yet.

I've done 7 other jobs and they all have been smooth. No problems whatsoever. Of course now I always check first if the Milestones are funded and I always ask the clients for specific review and payment deadlines.

So I really need help. 

Thank you

Sandra V

[petra_r · Accepted solution]

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Sandra V wrote:

I can't find out how to open a dispute and I don't know what to do. I haven't terminated the contract yet.

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As pointed out as an answer to your previous post, there is nothing to dispute because nothing is funded. Close the contract and leave appropriate feedback for the client.

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Sandra V wrote:

I would always deliverer the full project before even receiving the first Milestone.

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Don't do that unless you really know and trust a client.

[martina_plaschka]

 I didn't understand the process

That puts you at a serious disadvantage. 

Now you know better. 

You could have read all the available material to learn how to use upwork properly, which would have been free. You chose to pay $30 for it. 

You need to stop making another mistake: ending contracts yourself. Always let the client do it so that you get feedback. 

[c6af3687]

I just checked the job offer history. The original offer was looking for 99 freelancers. There are several ongoing contracts, all under the same job offer, all begging in Feb 202, and all still open. One can only assume all these freelancers have the same problem I do, so I wasn't the only one.. This means either the client isn't being serious or we all don't understand the contract terms. Is there any way the platform can check this out?

PS. I must point out I specifically asked the client "If I understand correctly, the first milestone I sent is still pending your review. The problem is that you set the milestone for 5€ and I requested a payment for the full amount, because I delivered the whole project. The second milestone on the contract is yet to be activated on your end. Is it possible for you to please check the milestones and see if everything is ok. I think they should both be approved and scheduled for payment for eveything to be correct.", to which she replied "The truth is, upwork has terms and conditions but it’s not so direct for all contract terms but according to the structure, you have 2 milestones scheduled and I cannot approve them for payment until our agreed due date. The second isn’t funded yet, it will be funded as soon as payment is set." But she never funded the second milestone. All these messages were exchanged through Upwork.

Thanks 

[prestonhunter]

re: "Is there any way the platform can check this out?"

No.

That is not how this works.

re: "All these messages were exchanged through Upwork."

Messages don't matter in this type of situation.

Funded escrow is what matters.

Now you know.

[martina_plaschka]

You should NEVER have agreed to a first milestone of $5 for a $35 contracts, that's just silly. 

That should have given you a very clear message. 

You should have either declined the offer, or talked to your client that you only accept single milestones for contracts below $XX, whatever. 

Upwork never interferes between client and freelancer.

You received an offer, and you agreed to it, therefore you have a binding contract with a client. 

Now the client is further exploiting your inexperience by stringing you along. You will very likely never get the second milestone. 

You agreed to an offer! You can't go running to upwork now and trying to get them to do anything about it. They don't have the time for this! 

As they say: live and learn. 

Time to move on now.