Discrepancy in Upwork Connects Policy and Request for Resolution

[07d7f0fb]

Dear Upwork Support,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express my concern and disappointment regarding the conflicting information on your website about the free Connects for new freelancers, and I find this issue is significant.

When I joined Upwork on 17.06.2024, I did so based on the promise outlined in this article: https://www.upwork.com/resources/how-to-get-free-connects, which clearly states that "All new freelancers receive 50 free Upwork Connects within 48 hours when they create a profile on the Upwork platform for the first time." It is also outlined in this article: https://www.upwork.com/resources/how-to-get-more-connects#understanding-connects. However, I did not receive the promised Connects within the stipulated time.

   

To my dismay, later I found another article on your website that states a different policy: https://support.upwork.com/hc/en-us/articles/211062898-Understanding-and-using-Connects According to this, new freelancers must purchase 100 Connects or subscribe to the Freelancer Plus plan to receive the initial 50 free Connects. This contradictory information is misleading and appears to be a violation of the FTC Act and other consumer protection laws in the US, such as potential Misleading Advertising and potential Breach of Contract.

 

As a new user, I am disappointed by this discrepancy and feel it does not align with the trust and transparency expected from a platform like Upwork. This inconsistency has left me feeling frustrated and misled. As someone who chose Upwork based on the expectation of receiving these Connects, I feel that my trust has been undermined. I believe this situation may also affect other new freelancers who, like me, joined Upwork based on this promise.

I kindly request that Upwork honors the original promise by providing me with the 50 free Connects. This gesture would go a long way in restoring my faith in your platform and ensuring a positive start to my freelancing journey here. I appreciate your prompt attention to this issue and look forward to a resolution that upholds the integrity and user satisfaction of the Upwork community.

Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to your prompt resolution of this matter to maintain the trust and satisfaction of your users.

[feed_my_eyes]

Upwork changes their policies all the time without informing anyone, so I very much doubt that they're going to compensate you; they'd have to compensate hundreds of other freelancers who've also tried to join in recent weeks. 50 free connects won't be enough to land a job anyway, so you may as well buy some - it's only $15. 

You can tell by looking at the dates on those articles that they don't contain recent information, and those articles are mostly garbage anyway. You need to look at the support pages for (semi-)reliable information.

P.S. Your profile photo isn't compliant with the terms of service, either.

[8ce7c74c]

Hello Annie Jane B (or other Moderator from Upwork), 

My User ID : 8ce7c74c

I haven't received my Free Connects after my account signed up and created profile. It's is clearly stated in your website that i should get it in 48 hours after signed up an account (https://www.upwork.com/resources/how-to-get-free-connects), but i have been waiting for a week and still none. 1 of my friend who are using Upwork also got the free Connects in 1 week after the signed up (my friend didnt purchase any Connects nor the Freelance Plus Membership).

Have tried to contact the bot in live chat but it didnt solve the problem. I have just sent an email to support@upwork.com but just found out that the email has been disabled from this community. 

Is there any solution about this or explanation for this? 

Please reply me here or on email using the email that I can contact on so I can get a clear explanation.

Thank you in advance.