| oDesk |
| Odesk Beware of Odesk Customer Service and Marketplace , Internet |
| 23rd of Jun, 2011 by User492663 |
| I have been working in odesk for two years. I had the unfortunate mishap of complaining to their customer service and their Odesk Marketplace of my recent buyer (also known as my employer) and some of my co-workers making fun of my ethnicity and my being a disabled person other than having a hair lip. Before oDesk permanently suspended my account, my rating was a 4.62 or 5 stars and I still had 3 pending projects plus my clients have stayed with me for more than six months. This new client that I have complained to both odesk's customer service and marketplace was just less than a month ago. If I could draw your attention to their odesk marketplace regulations, it bespeaks of two things: guaranteed protection from harassment of any form whether it be sexually or otherwise. When I complained about the buyer's behavior, what happened was that Customer Service referred my case to their Marketplace and I was asked to submit my evidences from pictures (JPEG/PNG) to chat transcripts of any form if available. I have done all of that. While awaiting the result of the investigation, without warning, odesk suddenly suspended my account permanently! I was the victim and the complaining party and this is what they do to complainants. This horrible story just tells you that odesk is biased if you will complain about American Employers and Filipino Co-Workers. I am a Malasian Christian working from home because of my condition but this does not mean I am not useful nor am I a dependent. Odesk told me that my suspension was permanent and I cannot anymore complain and they would never respond to my emails any more. They claim to have warned me of a past misconduct that I was never aware of nor I did but there was absolutely none and now my account has been permanently suspended. In finality, their email, it is their prerogative not to reply inspite of the fact that I have a pending complaint lodged against my buyer since I am no longer considered to be a member of odesk. Beware! If you are a disabled person, not an indian, not a filipino, then please do not apply at odesk. Aside from their mostly filipino customer service people having very poor comprehension and grammar, they would rather side with the Americans because they think they are Americans too totally forgetting their beautiful culture. A very sad situation that ODESK refuses to rectify. -odesk provider victim- |
|
|
|
|
I was too a victim of Odesk. I have started working on Odesk since March of 2010, and my account was suspended permanently after a year. With a 4.80 star rating and almost 1000 hours.
So here are the reasons and story behind my struggles on Odesk.
1st violation: If you’re an old or started earlier on Odesk, you could notice that the system "You have applied for this job" is a new system that lets you know you have already applied for that job opening. I was job hunting on that time and I was searching on Business related job opening which is my expertise. I was reading the entire job opening which they look the same for they have the same needs. Copy and paste was not my style in writing cover letters for I have read their terms that spam cover letters are not allowed. I was really confused that one day, they had suspended my account and told me I was having spam cover letters. They told me to have an ID with my verification on it, so I passed a postal ID which is I processed a week and 3 days. I have lost all my job interviews, the jobs applications as well as my time to work. This clearly states that it is not my mistake on my first violation and "they only wanted me to make my account verified so they are making up reasons so I would give them something as identification." Verify your account system was not yet available at that time. Account resumed.
Conclusion: Odesk can suspend your account with no further notice, gives you hassles and also blames you a violation you never committed for their own purposes. (Identification)
2nd violation: I had an employer from Israel and we are working on a powerpoint presentation which he needs it in 3 days. This was an urgent project and he needs it to be done quickly. As a freelancer, you also want to get paid after a project is completed. After we had finished the presentation, his account was suspended and he is not able to send funds. At that time, I needed also money urgently for I have a family and bills to pay (life of a freelancer). So he proposed to me that he would pay me outside Odesk which is Paypal directly, so I agreed to his terms. I knew it was a violation on Odesk terms, but can I decline his proposal? My family will starve if I hadn't agreed on his terms and maybe has possibilities he could runaway with the project finished. Odesk suspended my account for the 2nd time and I admit it was my mistake on this violation. Account resumed.
Conclusion: Odesk is serious on having their percentage on buyers’ funds as well as providers’ earnings.
3rd and last violation: There was a time that I had an employer from the US, this man was really great when we were starting on a social media marketing project. He talks like an educated man whenever we discuss about the project. I would like to let you know guys that I had basic pay of $3-5 per hour on my Odesk profile and with this employer; we had a $1 per hour and 2 hours per week contract. (I accepted this job even though I know the rate is not that good, its still money) One day, he accused me of stealing his money which is the time I had worked for his project and I was wondering what I have done to him to act that way. Seriously, I have higher rates on my past projects and campaigns which are double or triple $1 and I would steal a total of $2 per week? I was so mad and disgusted that after I had done for him on his projects he would accuse me that way. So I need to confront my buyer and explain to him. Another day had come that ODESK again suspended my account but this time it was permanently. (Employer reported me of stealing and threatening which I would assure you guys is not true) They will always accept employers' accusations and take their side.
Conclusion: Odesk is biased when it comes to decision making between provider and employer. Whatever the provider's nationality is, they will always take employers' side. Come to think of, no employers' is equal to no profit. Employers' funds are their profit so providers are second to their priorities. Notice or try to have a misunderstanding with your employer, you will be treated and experience the way I did.
Message: Don't put too much of your life on ODESK, they will push you on the edge of the cliff whenever they want. |
|
|
|
Hello Guys!!
I have a verified account in odesk. I still don't know why they keep asking me a proof of document. I already submitted all the documents that they need to reactivate my account. It's been 2 months now and still no proper response from odesk. I'm very disappointed with there actions. All i need right now is just to get all my money and i will never ever use ODESK again..
>and also if you have questions please don't ask or try to contact there customer service. For sure they will suspend your account. Very unfair!!! |
|
|
|
| This one is scary? I am working with odesk for years now, and this is a mind opener. Really? There's no warning, or what not, then your account has been banned? What about your earnings with other projects? DId you still get the pay? It's a good thing that i have my back up job from <a href="http://www.brettbrosseau.com/'>Brett Brosseau</a>. At least I have a fallback just in case things like this happens to me. |
|
|
|
I also was a victim from oDesk. I reported an employer who disputed me from the work I have done. It is said that oDesk pays guaranteed payment if done HOURLY, right? If the time was logged manually BUT if every employer can provide FULL PROOF that the employer permitted his contractor to work manually then it is okay also. However, this will prove you that oDesk will stick their butt to every employer because we (contractor) are their only second priorities. The buyer or employer are their source of money.
Whatever proof a contractor have even if it is FULL PROOF. oDesk will never give a damn on that proof because they will go on the side of every employer and not on the contractor. |
|
|
|
If the time was logged manually BUT if every CONTRACTOR can provide FULL PROOF that the employer permitted his contractor to work manually then it is okay also.
sorry, mistake from the first comment. edit done |
|
|
Post your Comment
|
|
|
