Thanks Thanks:  0
LMAO LMAO:  0
Dislikes Dislikes:  0
Ignorant Ignorant:  0
Moron Moron:  0
Page 3 of 8 FirstFirst 12345 ... LastLast
Results 51 to 75 of 185

Thread: Freelancer.com withholds my money

  1. #51
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    Quote Originally Posted by EagleOne View Post
    I wonder if the editor for Good Weekend was contacted, would s/he be interested in having one of the reporters do a story on all the issues and problems Freelancer.com is having with so many people? I'm sure if a reporter would do a story, Mr. Barrie would not be able to blow smoke up the reporters skirts, but actually have to resolve all the complaints. I bet he wouldn't threaten to sue the magainze for doing the article based on facts. If he did, it would be fun to see the clash of the titans. Just a thought.
    The woman-chasing guru of Freelancer.com is a favorite of Good Weekend and it is probably not smoke he blows but money he got from all those contracted people he decided to not pay. They really need to let the world in on the game this company seems to be playing.
    The circulation of your host newspaper continues to fall by about 40,000 each audit period and the response from the editorial brains at GW is to put Lara Bingle on the cover? When the boys moved in recently to run the show I thought we might have seen the last of this type of sh*t. But you've jumped the shark. Goodbye GW. What a great read you once were.
    A comment from someone on their FB Page
    https://www.facebook.com/GoodWeekendMagazine
    Deer in the Headlights
    Don't get ripped off!! Stay informed!

  2. #52
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    Just going by some other articles from cover pictures I would say that maybe Matt Barrie's articles fit right in.


    Beautiful figures ... Malcolm Day and Bree Maddox have each made millions from businesses ranging from phone sex to online erotica. Photo: Frances Andrijich

    Malcolm Day wishes people would stop calling him a porn king. Granted, he has made a fortune selling videos with titles like Deep Lust and Great Big Tits. Yes, he is a mass-marketer of inflatable dolls, fake-fur handcuffs and glow-in-the-dark personal lubricant. But "porn king"? What kind of job description is that? "I believe the most appropriate terminology is 'adult-product retailer',–" he says.

    At 46, Day is a fit, sharply dressed man with centre-parted dark hair swept back from his face. In photographs, he can look slick and devil-may-care - like a porn king, in fact - but when I meet him, he has the conscientious air of a hard-working businessman. "I try to distance myself from any likeness to Hugh Hefner or anyone like that," he explains in his vast, Hefneresque apartment overlooking Perth. "That's not me, and it's not the way I'd like to be perceived."


    Read more: Malcolm Day & Bree Maddox Article In Good Weekend
    Malcolm Day & Bree Maddox Article In Good Weekend
    Don't get ripped off!! Stay informed!

  3. #53
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    19,835
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing

  4. #54
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    19,835
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing

  5. #55
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    P63XJ.jpg

    Has anyone else been losing money like this to Freelancer.com?? We welcome you to come to RS and comment on this??


    http://www.realscam.com/f11/freelanc...html#post36941
    Don't get ripped off!! Stay informed!

  6. #56
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    Freelancer.com - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    Background

    Freelancer.com is a "roll up" of several outsourcing marketplaces including GetAFreelancer.com and EUFreelance.com (founded by Magnus Tibell in 2004, Sweden),[3] LimeExchange (a former business of Lime Labs LLC, USA),[4] Freelancer.co.uk (United Kingdom),[5] Scriptlance.com (founded by Rene Trescases in 2001, Canada)[6]- one of the early pioneers in freelancing, Freelancer.de Booking Center (Germany),[7] Webmaster-talk.com (USA), a forum for webmasters,[8] and vWorker (founded by Ian Ippolito, USA).[9]

    Freelancer.com categorizes its users as either employers or freelancers. Employers are individuals or companies who wish to outsource their work.[10] Once registered, users are able to bid for projects, or post their own. To help employers decide which user to select, Freelancer allows providers to take exams and prove their skills.

    The major categories of work posted on the site are Websites, IT & Software, Mobile Phones & Computing, Writing & Content, Design, Media & Architecture, Data Entry & Admin, Engineering & Science, Product Sourcing and Manufacturing, as well as Sales & Marketing, Business, Accounting, HR & Legal.

    As of 26th October 2012, the company has set up 22 regional marketplaces with local language, customer service and currency support including the United States (Global), United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Philippines[11] and India [12][13]

    Other sites that provide similar services are oDesk, Guru, and Elance.

    [edit] Criticism

    Some reviewers have classified the site as a (partial) scam, [14] [15] [16]

    Some users also report that they do not receive remuneration as agreed [17] [18]


    Type
    Australian Proprietary Limited Company (Private)

    Foundation date
    Australia
    2009

    Headquarters
    Sydney, New South Wales,

    Area served
    Worldwide

    Founder(s)
    Matt Barrie

    Key people
    Matt Barrie, CEO
    Darren Williams, CTO
    Neil Katz, CFO
    David Harrison, Vice President of Engineering
    Willix Halim, Vice President of Growth


    Industry
    Freelance Marketplace
    Online Jobs


    Employees
    200 (October 2012)

    Website
    Freelancer.com

    Users
    6.6 million[1]

    Available in
    English, German, French, Indonesian, Italian,


    Of course Freelancer.com representative came and killed the edit.
    Problem is that this time the fellow Wikipedians came and recovered
    it... and again... and again...:


    History shows how much they have edited:
    Freelancer.com: Revision history - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    Don't get ripped off!! Stay informed!

  7. #57
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    https://getsatisfaction.com/freelancercom/topics

    One very upset freelancer writes: Profanity bleeped by me!

    Freelancer S**KS Now


    I bid on a project and client paid me and projects finishes successfully, then i withdraw funds on sunday but freelancer cancelled my withdrawal and when i contact Sh*t Freelancer Support they said" there is problem with your employer account ask him to resolve this issue then they will resolve my account withdrawal..

    What the (bleep) is this?? they are Blackmailing Freelancer (providers) your should (bleep) the employer whose had problem with you.. why you stopped my withdrawal.. Hey Matt are you Blackmailing freelancers??

    update your Mind and change these terms and stop blackmailing freelnacers..

    and chage your sh*t support workers they su*ks too ..
    Don't get ripped off!! Stay informed!

  8. #58
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    Here is Emir of CS replying to one of the 36 comments!

    Emir (Employee) 2 months ago


    Hi Allen. We appreciate the feedback. Unfortunately, we can't stop users from making chargeback claims. Once the employer does so, we limit his account and withhold all payments made to the freelancers that he worked with.

    Our Support Team will immediately conduct an investigation into the reason for the chargeback and ask them how we can help in resolving this particular issue.

    Most of the time, these concerns are resolved quickly with the freelancer getting the payment. But in certain cases, we have no recourse but to reverse the payments made to the freelancer. At this point, we will ask the freelancer to settle directly with his/her employer. But be assured that we will help the affected user in informing the employer about their project payments.

    I hope I've addressed your concerns. As always, we've taken note of your feedback about our site's services. We will continue to improve on the work that we do to serve you better. Thank you.
    Don't get ripped off!! Stay informed!

  9. #59
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    If you go back to the first page of this thread you will see other comments from Emir@freelancer.com. Much the same as what they respond to all who complain of not getting paid.

    So, freelancers are paying fees for be scammed


    These people should form an alliance and start a major campaign against this company before many others are ripped off!!!
    Don't get ripped off!! Stay informed!

  10. #60
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=135356

    They had this one going but nothing since November 2012.


    http://i.imgur.com/P63XJ.png (same as picture in #55)

    Freelancer is a big Fraud and not professional and responsible for our money, every client can easily reverse his amount after work done and take source code.

    this is my profile over freelancer sunztech | Freelancer.com - Web Develpement PHP Asp net Data

    we were developing a very complex desktop application and freelancer suddenly grab out my $4500 :S, saying its been reversed to client CC, and closed client account too, this was for my paid work, how come we can say client to resend us, and if they don't settle their issue with client, why my money was been reversed without any intimation, where we are not responsible to verify Client credit card, rather Freelancer, what type of objection it is, how i can work with it any more, i am an old user i have more then 40 reviews over there, my clients are there, how come they can do it with me HOW THIS CAN BE DONE TO ANYONE ????


    We should ask those people in Scam.com to come over to RealScam and give us more information.
    Don't get ripped off!! Stay informed!

  11. #61
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    19,835
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing

  12. #62
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    That just what I thought LRM!! They are all robots in the CS department according to what I have been reading. Here is one copied conversation with their CS:

    Freelancer.com Scam Artist 2012 | Creative Marketing Ideas
    Artinearth

    December 15, 2012 at 1:28 pm

    Hi everybody, I’m a freelancer victim as well. I’m an illustrator, worked about a year with freelancer, won MANY contests and some good projects, had no problems at all, all money was in my bank account in time UNTIL YESTERDAY! I won’t say more. Just read my conversation with help desk. It’s hilarious!

    21:45Monica P.: Hi, this is Monica. How can I help you?
    21:46ME: Hi Monica, my account was charged with a reversal of awarded prize on a contest !
    21:47Monica P.: Can I have your username?
    21:47ME: xxx
    21:49Monica P.: Thank you for providing that information. I will be checking your account. Please hold on.
    21:49ME: Ok
    21:52Monica P.: Kindly give me more time to check your account. Hold on.
    21:53ME: Ok!
    21:55Monica P.: Thank you for waiting.
    21:55Monica P.: Can I have the contest ID?
    21:56ME: Yes, hold on please.
    21:56Monica P.: Thank you for waiting.
    21:57ME: “Illustration Design for Staff Pencil Drawings” created by xxx
    21:59Monica P.: Thank you for providing that information. I will be checking your account again. Please hold on.
    21:59ME: Ok!
    22:00Monica P.: Thank you for waiting.
    22:02Monica P.: Your account shows that the prize money of $ 190 USD on the contest “Illustration Design for Staff Pencil Drawings (ID xxx)” was returned to your employer, xxx’ account because they are currently facing an account issue.
    22:03ME: What does that mean?
    22:03Monica P.: We have no option but to reverse the payment that they have made.
    22:03Monica P.: Your contest holder has an account issue with us that they need to settle first.
    22:03ME: Why? What do you mean? They have a problem and you take my money????
    22:03Monica P.: The funds will become available again once the issue is settled.
    22:04ME: Please explain to me how I’m involved to their problem.
    22:05Monica P.: As previously mentioned, we have no option but to return your contest holder’s funds until they settle their account issue.
    22:05Monica P.: At this point, we highly encourage you to keep communicating with your contest holder to inform them about your concern and their account issue.
    22:06ME: Please explain to me what kind of problem they have and why dio I have to pay for that!
    22:06Monica P.: I am unable to disclose further information about this matter to preserve the security and privacy of the other party.
    22:07Monica P.: As mentioned in my previous response, I am unable to disclose further information about this matter to preserve the security and privacy of the other party.
    22:07ME: Why do I suspect that you just took my money?
    22:07Monica P.: Your contest holder is currently coordinating with the proper department to settle their account issue.
    22:08Monica P.: Rest assured that your funds will be returned to your account once they have already settled their account issue.
    22:08ME: Look, Monica, I’m not an idiot! I want you to explain to me WHY don’t you solve your problem with his account without taking my money! This is crazy!!!
    22:10Monica P.: We have to return their payments made to undergo in a validation process and we have no option but to return your fudns from them.
    22:10Monica P.: Your understanding on this matter will be much appreciated.
    22:11ME: Are you a robot? Don’t you understand what I’m asking? I don’t want your appreciation, I want my money!
    22:12Monica P.: As already mentioned, your earned funds will be returned to your account after your employer has settled their account issue.
    22:12ME: Ok. If the problem is not settled?
    22:13Monica P.: Your employer is currently coordinating with the proper department to settle their account issue.]
    22:13ME: How much do I have to wait?
    22:13Monica P.: If they fail to settle it, it is possible that your funds will remain to their account.
    22:14ME: Do you find this fair or logic? I’m sorry but I still believe that freelancer just stole my money.
    22:14Monica P.: I cannot give you an exact time frame because the proper department handling this kind of concern has their own proceedings.
    22:15ME: Do you find this fair or logic? I’m sorry but I still believe that freelancer just stole my money.
    22:17Monica P.: Freelancer.com does not steal your money because those funds were on your employer’s account.
    22:17Monica P.: It is our protocol to return funds to the sender if they have an account issue that they need to settle.
    22:18ME: How is that possible since I was paid and I withdrew this amount to my paypal account?
    22:19ME: If this is your protocol, return YOUR money to the sender, not mine!
    22:21Monica P.: Your earned funds were from your employer who has an account issue with us; therefore, we have to put on on their funds and transactions temporarily.
    22:22ME: Do you think that I’m stupid?
    22:24Monica P.: Please do understand that we have to do that to ensure that all transactions are legitimate.
    22:25Monica P.: Meanwhile, kindly contact your employer about your concern.
    22:25Monica P.: Is there anything else I can help you with?
    22:26ME: I understand all these. What I don’t understand is why do I have to pay for other peoples’ mistakes or problems. If my employer is not legitimate, go after him. Not after me!!!
    22:31Monica P.: We have no option but to return your earned funds from them, and they will be returned once they have already settled their account issue.
    22:34ME: You’ve told me that about 10 times. It would be more honest from your part to accept that you’re stealing users’ money. I’m sorry but this is what you make me believe.
    22:34Monica P.: Again, we do not steal any funds of our users and we have no privilege to do that.
    22:35Monica P.: Your funds are only returned your employer’s account and will be available again after the settlement of their account issue.
    22:37ME: Again, appcreators has a problem with his account and you return to him my money! If you return money to someone that means that you owe him money. So you should return him YOUR money, not mine!
    22:38Monica P.: I’m sorry, but I have to end this chat with you as you’re refusing to follow the rules which have been explained to you. Please feel free to email support@freelancer.com if you’d like to discuss this matter further.
    ¬¬¬

    Don't you just love conversations like this when you report a problem?!!!
    Don't get ripped off!! Stay informed!

  13. #63
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    2
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    Theoretically Freelancer is just an introduction agent. They can not hold anybodies money or decide to whom they have to pay??. Not only that they are not supposed to discuss or ask any details about the project to any person as they are purely third party. How ever they think that they have judicial powers. I had a big fight about exchanging contact information as they asked me to discuss everything in their forum.

    Why should I discuss my business secrets on their Forum??



    Quote Originally Posted by AlaisterLow View Post
    Hi sratchycat,

    Let me address some of the issues you have brought up.

    We currently have an active marketplace and userbase of over 4 million users from all over the world. As you can understand we need to implement security measures to ensure our system is as safe as possible for all our users.

    We never suspend accounts for no reason. Account Suspension occurs when users have broken our Terms of Service of if we see their previous activity placing the safety of our marketplace at risk. We also at times limit users' accounts in order for them to undergo our verification system to ensure everyone is who they say they are on the site.

    I do understand the frustration and inconvenience that occurs at times when accounts get suspended or placed into verification, however it is a necessary step. The fastest way to get access to your account is to follow the prompts and steps in our verification center.

    Be aware all funds in your Freelancer.com balance remains in your account and will still be there once you go through the verification process.

    We are not in the business of scamming or ripping people off. What we are working to achieve is a safe and secure marketplace for both employers and freelancers across the globe.


    Regards,

    Alaister Low
    Director of Customer Experience
    Freelancer.com

  14. #64
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Posts
    1
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    What scum! They can't scam you like that and withhold hard earned money!!

  15. #65
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    Quote Originally Posted by melissamac View Post
    What scum! They can't scam you like that and withhold hard earned money!!
    Welcome melissamac, but they do!

    Indeed, the HIDDEN CLAUSES in their user agreement which have no base or rationale are the main causes of concern for this pathetic site.

    Clearly, all they want to do is exploit people much like the situation in some nations with high population density.

    What surprises me to no extent is the fact that the Australian Government is quiet even though there is not a single review which is in favor of this site. The number of complaints, going by the sheer number of posts on the scam sites should be enough of a red flag for any government to start investigations.

    However, the ill gotten gains are put to use in getting pro Matt Barrie articles printed in various media.

    I am in fact thinking of starting an online petition for launching investigations into this scam website.

    Freelancer.com Scam – Part I : How $10 cost me $14000 – Among other misgivings and apathy of Freelancer.com Staff | Jumbled Mumbling & Fumbled Rumbling
    Don't get ripped off!! Stay informed!

  16. #66
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    For everyone wanting to actually get something done about this company, here is your chance!!!

    http://www.change.org/en-IN/petition...freelancer-com
    Don't get ripped off!! Stay informed!

  17. #67
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    20
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    Free market at work... pardon its dust:

    pic.jpg

    freelancer.com UVs for January 2013 | Compete



    In my opinion the whole diversification of domains (launching Freelancer.com under alternative addresses like Freelancer.in , Freelancer.de etc.) is a sad attempt to cover the fact that the customers and potential customers are just fleeing from this company.

    How it works?

    Basically the most popular tool to assess website's popularity is Alexa's traffic rank (position a website has among all most popular websites in the world).

    What will it tell you about Freelancer.com?

    graph3.png

    Freelancer.com Site Info


    Horrible, huh? But there is an important fact. As I have mentioned, Freelancer.com launched itself under like 20 or 30 regional domains. And if an uncaring visitor them, he would say "not bad, while Freelancer.com is declining, its regional addresses get a huge spike in popularity":

    graph1.jpg


    Well... problem is that the display is of a logarithmic scale. This produces a kind of optical illusion. But let's see data presented with linear scale. It shows that the increases for associated domains are just kinds of pimples compared to fall on the main one:

    graph.png


    As you can see, this is something more than ripoff/salami slicing type of scam. This is an audacious and self spinning hoax presented to the media and general public. By blowing own trumpet and causing all the media buzz, the John Doe has a problem with understanding how mislead he is while signing up ("Hey, 7 million people couldn't be wrong"). Check out the "Wag the dog" movie, it tells the whole story of dumbing down the general public.


    What's the funniest thing of all? If they hadn't abused me in such aggressive manner, I just wouldn't care to investigate this company...


    =========

    Thank you for all your ongoing support. Please don't forget about us:

    Get a Hindu: HOW (F*CKING) DARE YOU?
    Freelancer.com Scam Artist 2012 | Build a Website | WordPress


    Chaim
    Last edited by ChaimS; 03-06-2013 at 08:01 PM.

  18. #68
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    Quote Originally Posted by scratchycat View Post
    For everyone wanting to actually get something done about this company, here is your chance!!!

    http://www.change.org/en-IN/petition...freelancer-com
    You are correct Chaim and it is just going to sit there unless more people take the time to do something about it.

    Thanks for updates in here. Everybody is fighting 'investments and ponzis, etc.' so we have little attention to a 'company' scamming millions from its users!
    Don't get ripped off!! Stay informed!

  19. Likes 1 Member(s) liked this post
  20. #69
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    4
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    Thank god there is still people who cares!
    So here is my situation: Have worked for 2 month on freelancer and made about 2000$ ... 20 days ago I've requested to withdraw 200$ of my money, and then there was a 17 days of request pending (due to it was my first withdraw! they said) at the day "16" I've received an email saying that my account has been limited... security reasons!!! They have asked me to pass 3 steps of id verification:
    1.Government Issued Document
    2.Proof of residential address
    3.Mugshot of me holding my ID Card and the Verification Code they gave me.
    I've sent them the documents today and hopefully I should receive their reply by next few hours.

    I hope they solve it in most peaceful way, otherwise I will join to massive amount of unhappy people against them! and help to make Matt's nightmare comes true sooner than he thinks. -_-

    Will let you guys know about the result by the next hours. ;)

  21. Likes 1 Member(s) liked this post
  22. #70
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    Hello alizap!! Welcome to RealScam!

    Very sorry to hear of freelancer.com withholding YOUR money that YOU worked for and claiming it as their own. This has been the case of thousands of others and no matter how many documents, ids, pictures, proofs, they have sent VERY few have stated they received any of their money due them. What is wrong with this company that they can continue to claim victims and get away with it?? Why are they not at this moment in a courtroom defending their illegal actiions. IMO if a person has worked and completed a job performance with a reliable company and that company has agreed to pay and PAID the employee (freelancer), it is totally illegal for the negotiating company (freelancer.com) to be able to 'freeze' those earnings.

    From what I have read of what has happened with other people, there is no way they are going to settle this to your benefit. However, if you complain to them you will receive a robotic letter from their (most horrible) customer service telling you that YOU have done something wrong, not this company - oh no!!! Matt Barrie does not make mistakes, only others make mistakes while he spends YOUR money on his wining and dining the sex models of his choice. I would not be putting this here except it has already been presented in other comments in several of the threads in Real Scam and even proof on his own Facebook page.

    We have tried to get the word out about this freelancer.com and warn people to not sign up with them but we are not making enough 'noise' to cause an investigation UP TO THIS POINT!! Please do sign that petition and contact everyone you can to do the same!!

    Please read more here of this malpractice.


    Get a Hindu: AN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM – WHERE IS FREELANCER.COM’S FINANCIAL SERVICES LICENCE?

  23. Likes 1 Member(s) liked this post
  24. #71
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    Here is part of what he spends YOUR money on - just one of his likes on FB:

    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Amazi...87106654667565

  25. #72
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    A portion of Chaim's latest:


    At the very same time Freelancer.com loves to use counterterrorism and anti money laundering laws as an excuse to treat its users like some rightless beasts. Problem with such approach is that sooner or later you will step on wrong hoof… pardon: foot.


    Okay, so how does Freelancer.com collide with the Australian law?

    One of the answers is simple: hasn’t got Australian Financial Services Licence issued by Australian Securities and Investments Commission, which is required for certain services provided by Freelancer.com.


    And under Australian Corporations Act of 2001:

    The maximum penalty for carrying on a financial services business without an AFS licence is 200 penalty units ($22,000), two years imprisonment or both.

    source: Australian Securities and Investments Commission - 12-196MR ASIC guidance on crowd funding




    They know about it and try to dismiss the potential charges in most goofy manner. When asked on open forums, the company people just ignore the question. In terms and conditions they state that:

    Freelancer.com is not a bank or other licensed financial institutions and does not provide banking services

    source: Freelancer.com | Online Jobs | Freelance Employment | Outsourcing Services | Programmers | Web Design | Freelancers






    Yeah, right… this is like selling cocaine and pretending to be in potato starch business. Changing the label doesn’t change the stuff. Subtle difference is that while cocaine is illegal, potato starch isn’t. Sadly, running de facto multinational financial corporation without any permission whatsoever is illegal too. And one doesn’t need any lab to prove what a deposit, money transfer or currency exchange are.


    By the way: have those terms and conditions been written by real Australian lawyer or by some cheap Filipino copywriter?



    Okay, let’s get on with the evidence. Categorized only the most significant issues. Not willing to quote the Australian regulations (yes, got them analyzed) - to make this document easier to read will compare Freelancer.com with companies providing similar services and do respect the necessity to register themselves. For those who are passionate about the law: please start your research with checking the status of non cash payments as financial products.

    Get a Hindu

    BTW!!! Chaim - great job on this presentation!! I would like to see US Media pick up on this one - it just might wake up the Austrialian government to what these people are doing. Tweet! Tweet! Twitter!! Get the word out folks and help those who have been scammed!!

  26. #73
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Posts
    4
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    Thank you for your deep concern Scratchycat.

    What good and clear article Chaim! Thanks! So They have replied to me, hopefully they have verified most of the steps but one, that says I need to set my account settings to my exact location and timezone in order to reactivate my account which is fine but they didn't mentioned what exact settings I should change so we could "SOLVE THE PROBLEM".

    seems like the guys are really in their personal business with our money! I've replied them as soon as I could. (it was 7 in the morning when I replied) and got nothing yet, it's 3:30 in Sydney ... Why that slow?

  27. #74
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Bulgaria
    Posts
    4
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    Hi,i would like to say i understand you and believe you because indirectly i know how do you feel.Last year the same time in Spain one friend of mine who worcked for the same company he hade the same problem with small cuantaty of money.He choose other company to work and left the battle with freelancer because they are verry strong and they command.I would like to congratulated for your battel with them thinking you will feel better.I wish you sucses.

  28. Likes 1 Member(s) liked this post
  29. #75
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    3,481
    Post Thanks / Like
    Blog Entries
    2

    Re: Freelancer.com withholds my money

    Quote Originally Posted by alizap View Post
    Thank you for your deep concern Scratchycat.

    What good and clear article Chaim! Thanks! So They have replied to me, hopefully they have verified most of the steps but one, that says I need to set my account settings to my exact location and timezone in order to reactivate my account which is fine but they didn't mentioned what exact settings I should change so we could "SOLVE THE PROBLEM".

    seems like the guys are really in their personal business with our money! I've replied them as soon as I could. (it was 7 in the morning when I replied) and got nothing yet, it's 3:30 in Sydney ... Why that slow?
    I really hope you get your money alizap. It is not right that a company can keep money you have earned and then charge you extra fees if they do decide to 'release' it. Here is another article you might want to read:

    I think Freelancer.com makes money by charging people excessive fees and flat out stealing peoples money. Before I wrote this article, I searched “Freelancer.com scam” on Google and read how Freelancer.com wasn’t even paying there freelancers after the jobs were complete.

    Freelancer.com was asking people to fax over Passports, Birth Certificates, SSN’s, or pictures of themselves in the mirror holding a sign with there username and password on a piece of paper. That’s crazy and unprofessional.

    So here’s how I think Freelancer.com works in a nutshell:
    1.Employers deposit money into Freelancer.com’s shady escrow account.
    2.After the jobs are complete, Freelancer.com makes it extremely difficult for the workers to collect there payments.
    3.If the employer requires refund, Freelancer.com figures out a way to eat up as much of your money as they can! If they’re feeling extra scammy, they’ll just suspend your account, keep all your money, and release it when they feel like it.

    By the way, don’t even waste your time contacting there customer service departments! Freelancer.com doesn’t even have a phone number, and the “online chat” customer service feature is the worst I’ve ever experienced. I felt as if I was chatting with 10yr olds, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I was!

    They’re a HUGE company right? What type of REAL company doesn’t have a phone number? Customer service is non existent now-a-days, and companies like this will not last very long.

    Freelancer.com Scam Artist 2012 | Build a Website | WordPress
    Don't get ripped off!! Stay informed!

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •