Direct contract

[badorl]

I tried to login into my account today to send someone who wanted to give me a job outside upwork a direct contract proposal, but to my disappointment I notice Direct contract is not functioning on my account again? What could be the cause?

Could it be that the upgrade/maintenance that upwork team want to carry out is the reason it's not functional, or the feature has been axed from my account.


Please I need a quick response.


Thanks
Regards

[LuiggiR]

Hi Haider,

We’ve escalated your community post to a support ticket. One of our agents will be in touch with you soon to assist.

[m_umeryounis]

Hello to Upwork Community, 

I had 2 Direct Contracts that got canceled by Upwrok Customer Support on 22 April 2024. 
As per the guidelines, the money should have been returned to my client from Upwork Escrow by 22 April 2024, but as of today 2 May 2024, nothing has arrived in my client's account. I have already done the work and the assignment is complete, but Upwork Escrow from the looks of it has the money.

 
I then created a new contract with the same client email, my client as instructed has created the Upwork account on the email and now Upwork asks him to pay the entire sum again along with the additional fees. The client is willing to pay, however, there is nothing in the account when the guidelines and everything else say the money should have been returned by 22 April 2024 (Or within 5 business days). I have seen the client's bank statement and the money isn't there. 

Something to add is, my client didn't have an Upwork account when these two contracts were created. 

And there is no way to contact Upwork support on this matter. The support seems to be down so I can't talk to a speciality on this matter. I have been trying to reach them out via all support options for 2 days and all the say is there is a technical problem please try in a minute. 

What should I do? Any advice on the matter would be highly appreciated. 

https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025040794-Direct-Contracts-with-clients

[LuiggiR]

Hi Mohammad,

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We’ve escalated your community post to a support ticket. One of our agents will be in touch with you soon to assist.

[d6525493]

I checked that upwork direct is now showing on profiles and when i add hours on direct contract then it also shown on profile. So, does this mean it has an impact on Upwork stats? Do clients have option to give us review on direct Contract? If yes, then does that mean review will also shown on profile and will makes an impact on upwork stats.

[LuiggiR]

Hi Aniqa,

Yes, after the recent update, clients are now required to create an Upwork account when they are invited to a Direct Contract, and they will have the same impact on your metrics as other contracts. You and your client can leave each other feedback, which can impact your JSS score and Rising Talent or Top Rated status, and the number of contracts and dollar earnings will be counted in your totals.

[d6525493]

Ok thanks for the information

[59c80c2e]

Hey,

I recently sent a direct contract to a client. I was supposed to start working on the project today.

Initially the status said: "waiting to be accepted", but now it says "pending".

What does that mean and is there some action required?

[9234605a]

I am ready

[PradeepH]

Hi Renas,

Thank you for your message. I checked the Direct contract you mentioned and it appears that we are waiting for the client to accept and fund your contract. Once the contract is accepted and funded, it becomes active. You may want to reach out to your client to remind them to accept the contract. 

- Pradeep

[9234605a]

Yes

[9234605a]

Yes

[9234605a]

What is the topic of the work ?

[realeric]

Hi, I sent  contract to a client through upwork direct contract, but he cant get into the contract. What should i do so the client can get into the contract to approve? or it seems like he logged in with wrong account?

[LuiggiR]

Hello Eric,

I'm sorry your client is having trouble accessing the Direct Contract you sent them. Currently, Upwork requires clients to create an account when invited to a Direct Contract; do you know if the client had an Upwork account prior to getting invited? If so, they won't be able to accept the invitation to start a Direct Contract with you. 

[LuiggiR]

Hello Eric,

I'm sorry your client is having trouble accessing the Direct Contract you sent them. Currently, Upwork requires clients to create an account when invited to a Direct Contract; do you know if the client had an Upwork account prior to getting invited? If so, they won't be able to accept the invitation to start a Direct Contract with you. 

[realeric]

Hi Luiggi, this is what he replied to me. he said he was logged in

[LuiggiR]

Thanks, Eric. But did he have an account before receiving the Direct Contract? Or did he create an account through the Direct Contract you sent?

[realeric]

Hi, finally he can get into his account and accept the contract. Question is how shiuld i submit, get  approval for the submission and get paid? there is no sumbit section on the contract

[realeric]

Hi, how do i submit the work for approval? there is no submission section in the accepted proposal? 

[JoanneP]

Hi Eric,

To submit your work for review:

1. Go to My Jobs > My Jobs
2. Find the contact you wish to submit a deliverable on and select Submit work
3. Write a brief message to your client to explain what you’re submitting
4. Upload your deliverable, if you haven’t already sent it through another method, and select Submit. (If you already sent the work to the client through another method, you do not have to upload it again, just select Submit)

If you submit deliverables to your client through another method, such as email or directly through Upwork Messages, be sure to request payment by selecting Submit Work and Submit in the contract. This starts the 14-day review. You can read this help article for more information. 

[2d073793]

Hello Upwork Support, I want to know about direct contracts, as I want to connect with a client through them.

Kindly let me know about the "tax deduction on each transaction for clients and freelancers." For instance, suppose my client has to pay $100. How much tax would be deducted for both parties? Plus, what is the one-time setup fee for both parties?

[LuiggiR]

Hello Umme,

Tax responsibilities are different for clients and freelancers based on their location. However, as a freelancer, you'll pay a 5% service fee on these contracts if you are referring to the fees that are deducted from Upwork. Your client will pay a one-time contract initiation fee of up to $9.95 USD and the marketplace fee. The marketplace fee is 5% of the payment when they use a credit card, debit card, or PayPal. For example, if the payment is for $100 USD and they pay with a card or PayPal, they'll pay a $5 USD marketplace fee (5% of $100 USD). If they are eligible to use a bank account, the marketplace fee is reduced to 3%.

You can learn more about how Direct Contracts work by visiting this page.

[mehrab_sohail]

After recent updates in direct contract policies does upwork allow Clients to leave feedback on direct contracts?

[n_pudikova]

Nope. There is no such option for direct contracts. 

[mehrab_sohail]

I guess they have introduced it recently. 

[PradeepH]

Hi Mehrab,

Yes, you and your client can share feedback on Direct Contracts. You can refer to this help page for more information. 

- Pradeep

[7b830b2e]

I hope this message finds you well. My name is Ruhul Amin, and I am a cybersecurity expert with nearly 20 years of experience. Recently, I created a verified Upwork ID to address the security and payment issues I have faced when working with clients outside the platform. I have learned about Upwork's direct contracts and believe they provide a secure and efficient solution for both parties.

I have successfully engaged in a direct contract with you and received the payment through Upwork's escrow service, which has been beneficial for both of us. However, I have a few questions regarding our future collaborations:

1. Regular Contracts Without Direct Contracts: Can we transition to regular contracts on Upwork without using the direct contract process each time? I understand that creating multiple accounts for this purpose might not be feasible for you.

2. Limit on Direct Contracts: Is there any limit on the number of direct contracts we can engage in through Upwork?

3. Working with Direct Contracts: Are there any potential issues or limitations associated with using direct contracts for our ongoing projects?

4. Procedure for Future Work: If we wish to continue working together, what are the procedures to follow for maintaining our collaboration, whether through direct contracts or regular contracts on Upwork?

I appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter. Ensuring a secure and seamless working relationship is my top priority, and I believe Upwork's platform can help us achieve this.

Thank you for your attention to these questions. I look forward to your response.

Best regards,

[IvygailJ]

Hello KM Ruhul,

We will look into this further and will get back to you once we have more information.

[7b830b2e]

When can I expect a suitable solution?

[IvygailJ]

Thank you for following up, KM Ruhul,

I checked with our team and can confirm the following:

Regular Contracts Without Direct Contracts: The main difference between them is the sourcing channel and the fees that apply. With Upwork Fixed-Price Protection, we use escrow to ensure that you are paid for your work and your clients receive the work as agreed. It's important to remember that only the funds held in escrow are secure. For Hourly contracts, your clients are invoiced and billed automatically based on the hours you log following the weekly billing cycle. You can find more details about this billing cycle here.

Limit on Direct Contracts: There’s no limit to your total amount of Direct Contracts.

Working with Direct Contracts: I checked your contract and it appears to be active. If your client cancels a fixed-price contract with you, any money deposited into escrow will be returned to them. If you need to dispute that return of escrow, learn how to file a dispute on a fixed-price contract here.

Procedure for Future Work: You can enjoy all the benefits of Direct Contracts without any limitations. They are essentially the same as Marketplace contracts, and the only thing that could be different is the service fee, which is just 5%.

Feel free to visit this helpful article for more information.

[sontu01]

Hello everyone,

I've been exploring different ways to grow my freelance career on Upwork, and I recently came across the option of working on Direct Contracts. I’m curious if anyone here has experience with this and can shed some light on a few questions:

1. Impact on Success Score: Does completing projects through Direct Contracts influence your Upwork success score? How is it factored in compared to regular contracts on the platform?

2. Client Feedback: Is client feedback from Direct Contracts considered in the same way as feedback from regular Upwork contracts? Does it appear on your profile?

3. Visibility and Opportunities: Do Direct Contracts affect your visibility on the platform or improve your chances of getting hired for future projects?

4. Best Practices: What are some best practices for managing Direct Contracts, especially when it comes to ensuring they positively impact your profile?

I’d love to hear from anyone who has experience with Direct Contracts on Upwork. Your insights and tips would be greatly appreciated!

Looking forward to your responses!

Best, 

Samir

[LuiggiR]

Hi Samir,

Thanks for reaching out and for your questions. I'll be happy to help clarify any doubts about how Direct Contracts work.

A Direct Contract will have the same impact on your metrics as other contracts. You and your client can leave each other feedback, which can impact your JSS score and Rising Talent or Top Rated status, and the number of contracts and dollar earnings will be counted in your totals. A Direct Contract works the same as any other contract on Upwork, only differing in how it's initiated and the fees you'll pay (a 5% freelancer service fee on the earnings you make). You can learn more about how Direct Contracts work in this help article. 

[mehrab_sohail]

After recent change in policies does upwork allow clients to leave feedback on direct contracts?

[IvygailJ]

Hello Mehrab,

Yes, you and your client can leave each other feedback, which can impact your JSS score and Rising Talent or Top-Rated status. The number of contracts and dollar earnings will be counted in your totals. Direct Contracts contract will have the same impact on your metrics as other contracts. You can learn more here. 

[blair-pomahac]

A client that I have done some work for has contacted me about a new project.

He has 2 email addresses on Upworks

When I try to send a direct contract I get this message

"This email address is already associated with an Upwork account."

How do I find the clients profile?

[IvygailJ]

Hello Blair,

If you have worked with the client before under a Direct Contract, and you and your client want to work together again, you’ll need to initiate the new contract through the Direct Contracts page to continue to receive reduced freelancer service fees. If you have not worked under a Direct Contract before and your client has an Upwork account already, you can continue working with the client under the standard marketplace. Know that you will be able to create Direct Contracts and send contract proposals to clients who aren't on Upwork yet. You can learn more here. 

[blair-pomahac]

Thank you for taking the time out to answer my question. I had sent a direct contract notice to the client and they said their " reply to you came back as undeliverable:

[IvygailJ]

Hi Ilya,

You might want to check out Direct Contracts! With these, you can easily create and send contract proposals to clients who haven't joined Upwork yet. Just like your other contracts on Upwork, you can choose between a fixed-price or hourly contract. You'll send the invitation via email to your client. If you’d like to learn more, feel free to explore this helpful article!

[61edc86f]

Good afternoon!
Can the customer leave a feedback after the direct contract has been fulfilled?