So it seems pretty common for clients to try to scam you on odesk

8 replies
I did $200 worth of copywriting work for this one guy, who basically has refused to answer any of my skype messages in over two weeks and hasn't paid me a cent for a job since I finished it like a month ago. I have had other, similar experiences as well. Is this typical?
#clients #common #odesk #pretty #scam
  • Profile picture of the author cynthea
    I haven't used Odesk, so I can't say. But based on your Odesk experience, sounds like a better place for you to sell your services would be Elance or one of the sites that requires the client to put funds in escrow to ensure that you will be paid.
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    There's a lesson here. Always get paid first. You've learned it at a bargain price.
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  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    Didn't you get at least a 50% downpayment?

    A month is a long time to try to get in contact with
    a client, but you have already delivered the copy
    without pay then you can only blame yourself.

    Tough lesson for sure.

    -Ray Edwards
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    • Profile picture of the author The Copy Warriors
      Originally Posted by Raydal View Post

      Didn't you get at least a 50% downpayment?

      A month is a long time to try to get in contact with
      a client, but you have already delivered the copy
      without pay then you can only blame yourself.

      Tough lesson for sure.

      -Ray Edwards
      yeah, i have no doubt that i have been ripped off at this point. he's just being too evasive. the question is whether i should report this to odesk, and risk having him give me a bad rating when he finds out. i'm only like 6 jobs into my odesk career at this point and I just can't afford a bad rating. so i'm thinking maybe I should just drop it.
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      • Profile picture of the author JakeDaly
        Do what you can to get that money, mayne. I've never done business with oDesk, but I have to assume they have a dispute process in place.. in which case I hardly doubt oDesk's system would allow him to give you an intentional bad rating because you disputed his non-payment.

        Don't let no man walk all over you.
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  • Profile picture of the author abugah
    Sorry for that. However, don't be discouraged. There are other millions of good people who will pay promptly. This particular incident should not let you lose focus or determination.

    I think you need to get a way of asking for at least 30% down payment from new clients. But I know when you are new asking for a down payment feels like your clients may back off. Insist on it; it builds confidence in both parties.
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  • Profile picture of the author RickDuris
    Not to burst your bubble...

    When you don't get paid in this fashion, it probably has more to do with whether the Client likes your copy or not.

    I'll bet this is not about whether your copy converts or not. It's about whether they like it and they think it's worth paying for. If it's not, they abandon without a trace.

    Normally, Clients are happy to pay. oDesk or otherwise.

    - Rick Duris
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    • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
      Be upfront about getting paid upfront.

      --- Ross
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