You want to hear my story about how bad it was to work with a bad freelance client

After working my ass off, I was finally ditched. I spent a lot of money to make sure I make this money, but it turned out to be a scam.


It was on a Monday morning. I work up very early and went straight to my computer.

As a freelancer, it’s a regular thing to check your freelancing platform to check the latest job posts. I log on to freelancer and I saw

“Article writers needed”

Without wasting time, I applied immediately.

In fact, I was among the top five people that applied for the job.

I knew I was going to get the job because the employer didn’t just need one, rather he wants many.

However, after 24 hours, I received a message from him.

“Hello Ikechukwu, your profile looks good to me. Here is my Skype ID live:m********s. Let's discuss this project on Skype".

I thought about it and I accepted to chat with him on Skype. Just wanted to bypass freelancer’s fee.

I opened my Skype and sent him a message. He replied to me with details of his project.

I found out he owns a company that outsources writing jobs i.e. he gets the writing work then gives it out
He said I will work 3 hours for 500 words; he will pay $15 per article
Wow, was a mouth-watering offer (I said on my mind). Converting to Nigerian Naira (NGN), I will earn 5000 Nigerian Naira every 3 hours. That means I would earn 25000 NGN per day.

My heart melted when he said he pays weekly ( I thought it's going to be a monthly payment type of job.

He asked me “when do you want to start”

I replied “on Thursday”

It was not easy for me to start on Thursday. I have exams to take care of but the moment I remember that I could be a millionaire in 2 months, I just had to concentrate on the job (it didn’t affect my exams though)

The D-day is here. Thursday 8 am, am in front of my laptop ready to kick-off this work.

So, I opened my Skype, he was already online. I told him to send me a topic for my first article (since it’s a real-time work). Rather he sent me an agreement and I had to sign it without even considering how it will affect me.

Work just started.
5 articles per day aren’t bread and butter. He rushed the hell out of me. But, I was able to provide at least 2 articles per day.

You know the funny thing? I encountered a very deadly topic. I said deadly because I don’t think any writer could accept to write that. But I took the morale to tell him I can’t write on that because there isn’t any information online to help me write it.

On the 5th day, the sad news emerged. He ditched me after I wrote many articles that amount up to $130.

He never replied my chats on Skype. Last seen on Skype, “Days ago”. I tried giving him a call but I discovered he just blocked me.

I felt really bad.

Time, money and other resources wasted.

That was how I was scammed to do a hectic job and wasn’t paid.

“Life goes on,” I said to myself.

That was my experience with a bad freelance client



Here is what I learnt (and a lesson for you too)

1. It’s always good to collect upfront before you start a job. Don’t forget to announce that you will give 100% money back guarantee.

2. Keep your freelancing business on your preferred freelance platform. Platforms like Fiverr or People per hour do collect 20% of your earning. You shouldn’t worry about this because they have to eat too.

3. Be very sure you are going to receive your money. Define your payments platform on time.
These are my lessons.

However, if you are already a freelancer or you are about to go into the business, you have to bear this in mind

“You are your own boss”

You charge people for the services or products you offer to them.

Don’t allow them to treat you as if you work for them.

You don’t work for them; you work with them to solve their own problem.


originally appeared at http://passionentrepreneurs.com/bad-freelance-client/

That's really sad. I once read a related story like this in a Kenyan group, the offender used same strategy.
To me I think the best way is getting an upfront payment before starting the work, that way the loss won't be much.
I hope you'll get over this very soon and make more winnings.

yes it's very important to collect up-front

If you write for someone who refuses to pay, just open a blog and post all the content there, as long as there is a duplicate, that content will not rank and if he is really an agency, it will hurt his credibility because the owners of the article will do a copyspace and find that content also exist.
That applies to all those who get scammed here on nairaland. If you write a content that the contractor does not want to pay for, then you have a right to use the content as your own. Writing niche is the most risky job not to pay for if you know how to punish the culprit.

I am tired of hearing, I wrote for Mr B and he refused to pay.

successincentiv:
You want to hear my story about how bad it was to work with a bad freelance client

After working my ass off, I was finally ditched. I spent a lot of money to make sure I make this money, but it turned out to be a scam.


It was on a Monday morning. I work up very early and went straight to my computer.

As a freelancer, it’s a regular thing to check your freelancing platform to check the latest job posts. I log on to freelancer and I saw

“Article writers needed”

Without wasting time, I applied immediately.

In fact, I was among the top five people that applied for the job.

I knew I was going to get the job because the employer didn’t just need one, rather he wants many.

However, after 24 hours, I received a message from him.

“Hello Ikechukwu, your profile looks good to me. Here is my Skype ID live:m********s. Let's discuss this project on Skype".

I thought about it and I accepted to chat with him on Skype. Just wanted to bypass freelancer’s fee.

I opened my Skype and sent him a message. He replied to me with details of his project.

I found out he owns a company that outsources writing jobs i.e. he gets the writing work then gives it out
He said I will work 3 hours for 500 words; he will pay $15 per article
Wow, was a mouth-watering offer (I said on my mind). Converting to Nigerian Naira (NGN), I will earn 5000 Nigerian Naira every 3 hours. That means I would earn 25000 NGN per day.

My heart melted when he said he pays weekly ( I thought it's going to be a monthly payment type of job.

He asked me “when do you want to start”

I replied “on Thursday”

It was not easy for me to start on Thursday. I have exams to take care of but the moment I remember that I could be a millionaire in 2 months, I just had to concentrate on the job (it didn’t affect my exams though)

The D-day is here. Thursday 8 am, am in front of my laptop ready to kick-off this work.

So, I opened my Skype, he was already online. I told him to send me a topic for my first article (since it’s a real-time work). Rather he sent me an agreement and I had to sign it without even considering how it will affect me.

Work just started.
5 articles per day aren’t bread and butter. He rushed the hell out of me. But, I was able to provide at least 2 articles per day.

You know the funny thing? I encountered a very deadly topic. I said deadly because I don’t think any writer could accept to write that. But I took the morale to tell him I can’t write on that because there isn’t any information online to help me write it.

On the 5th day, the sad news emerged. He ditched me after I wrote many articles that amount up to $130.

He never replied my chats on Skype. Last seen on Skype, “Days ago”. I tried giving him a call but I discovered he just blocked me.

I felt really bad.

Time, money and other resources wasted.

That was how I was scammed to do a hectic job and wasn’t paid.

“Life goes on,” I said to myself.

That was my experience with a bad freelance client



Here is what I learnt (and a lesson for you too)

1. It’s always good to collect upfront before you start a job. Don’t forget to announce that you will give 100% money back guarantee.

2. Keep your freelancing business on your preferred freelance platform. Platforms like Fiverr or People per hour do collect 20% of your earning. You shouldn’t worry about this because they have to eat too.

3. Be very sure you are going to receive your money. Define your payments platform on time.
These are my lessons.

However, if you are already a freelancer or you are about to go into the business, you have to bear this in mind

“You are your own boss”

You charge people for the services or products you offer to them.

Don’t allow them to treat you as if you work for them.

You don’t work for them; you work with them to solve their own problem.


originally appeared at http://passionentrepreneurs.com/bad-freelance-client/

The freelancer wanted to scam the freelance company by avoiding paying the fee. It is just like getting a house through an agent, then you bypass the agent and deal with the landlord direct without paying the agency fee.

He did the initial scamming and then got scammed. What goes around comes around.

stagger:
The freelancer wanted to scam the freelance company by avoiding paying the fee. It is just like getting a house through an agent, then you bypass the agent and deal with the landlord direct without paying the agency fee.

He did the initial scamming and then got scammed. What goes around comes around.

Exactly!
Scammer jam scammer.

stagger:
The freelancer wanted to scam the freelance company by avoiding paying the fee. It is just like getting a house through an agent, then you bypass the agent and deal with the landlord direct without paying the agency fee.

He did the initial scamming and then got scammed. What goes around comes around.

Sir how can I get in touch with you please ?