FreelancerReviews 20,200

Yes, I created an account with them about 1 year ago (sort of) and I've never used, for most of my freelance jobs are here in the UK; Until the other week when I decided to give it a go and try the web site.
I have to say it's very cool how it resembles a video game, with all the achievements, badges and many interesting items like exams and other things.
I've noticed that they charge you fees for almost everything (that is ok, it's business after all) but right now, I'm having some problems with my first costumer as he is relinquish to pay me even the first milestone, even though is just the 40% ahead.
It put me off the fact that this guys are not even "fully verify" and I reckon is just another bloody "thief" who wants the work for free. Don't get me wrong, I know that 70% of the people out there are the same (its a tough world) but I find frustrating that even with all those gadgets of yours, you cannot give me protection in this case. Not here just to criticise but I would like to give some suggestions, for example:
1.- Frelancer.com should not allow an "unverified" client to even create a bid on the first place.
2.- As soon as I accepted the bid, these guys took my money from my Pay-pal account, It would be just fear if you develop some kind of gadget that also takes the first milestone from the client into the freelancer account. That would make me feel more protected/secured. But regardless all the cool gadgets they've got, freelance.com is not offering me much more security that the average freelance job I can find on the streets…

Seems to me that all this game works out nicely for them, but for us is the same battle as always. I really wish you could come back to me with some ideas or advises so I can keep your account, hoping to have an easier/Safe journey with you guys.
(after I sent this email to Freelance, they answer me back with a very polite email as they are "very happy to keep me account" but no answer regarding my issues, not sure what to do)

I just accepted a $250-contract unknowing that the employer is a bogus one. After accepting it, that's when I noticed that it has been posted by another person since this person offered the same job to me. The supposed-to-be employer is not responding anymore. What's worst - Freelancer has already deducted a fee of $25. Really frustrating. I've been working in Odesk for 4 years now and they only deduct fees for a certain contract/job from that contract itself - not from other contract's earnings.

This is what Freelancer management has responded with regard to the issue - the $25 isn't refundable! Really really frustrating. It's okay to get fees if nly they have deducted it from that particular contract. Really really frustrated to the Freelancer management. I was really hoping I could get a refund! Who else would benefit from the unrefundable payments - hmmmmm?

UPDATE: Finally I got response from Freelancer.com and I got the project fees refunded, however I lost 280 EURO

I am using Freelancer.com since last three years. It is great website for online work. Easy to get client but sometimes you feel like i do and then you write a review here.

Have done a lot business. But two days back I experienced strange outcome. I got one hourly project and worked hard whole night to finish it. Client was happy and I got my money and great feedback. I went to sleep 0400 am in the morning after placing the withdraw request.

But when I wake up in the morning, a email from Freelance.com came in and said the money request is declined because the user is triggered. What does this mean, I don't know.

I contacted customer support and asked for the clarification and more info but I got answer of what I knew.

I don't have any negativity except the customer service I got response after 3 days.

Wow - these reviews are eye openers. I just created an account with them - haven't given them any money - didn't know that appeared to be necessary, but I sure won't now. I really dislike them. Who ever heard of a freelancer site not providing a way to attach writing samples? Or even put them on your profile?

Why do they need to know my birthday? My phone number? Their profile compilation is limiting and short sighted.

I'm totally blowing them off. I HAD to do one star - it won't let me leave them blank

EDIT: The freelancer support personnel were very helpful and quickly refunded to me the money that had been charged. I was expecting it to be a pain to get assistance after having read earlier reviews; but i personally cannot fault the support they gave.

I've been using freelancer on and off for a while with no problems. Today though i found that I had been bumped onto a paid membership and my paypal account had already been charged. At no point did I give them permission to do that, and they sent no email to tell me that they'd done it. My first clue was when the money was deducted from my paypal account.

Edit, they got back to me very quickly to offer to refund the charge. I cannot fault their service. The real test will now be whether the money actually makes it back to me.
My issue seems a lot smaller than that of the other reviews that I have read but is no less frustrating. This is a devious tactic which I was lucky to have noticed. I have emailed to ask for my money to be returned, but time will tell. Clearly the fact that this is necessary shows that there is something very wrong about the way that they do business.

This website smells like a scam. Employers can post jobs without revealing their true identity. The website does not make employers have payment information on file before they post projects. Workers can start work without employer milestones. Employers are not required to fund the project, once it has been accepted. There are no internal controls! Avoid this website at all costs. Find a reputable website to do freelance work! There is eLance.com and oDesk.com. These sites have integrity.

I had nearly 800 reviews, and suddenly they closed my account, saying the reason was I failed to deliver quality work to client 1 time. Oh yes, 1 time. And I had competed 800 projects with 5 stars.
So what was that? Some new way to scam me Marcus? Is this what you people do?
You people are Einstein? When someone do not even work and get vanished after deadline pass, you people tell, it is solely our decision whom we hire and this is just a venue to work. Am I wrong Marcus?
Is this what you people are doing?
Just see the negative feedbacks here and see how many here. Just see how many here. So don't say here all people are fraud and you people are only the good one.
Even for your checking I gave you my ticket number via which you people sent me message saying, I failed to deliver work that client was expecting and for this my account is closed.
800 reviews I had. 800.
So don't even bother to say sorry. You people destroyed my life without any fault. God will teach you people a lesson. That's for sure.
I verified my account 4 times. So obviously I am not a fraud. So seriously, I don't even know why you people destroyed my life and my family's life.
Don't you people ever think to solve this mistake and to open my account, so again me and my family can feed?

I have been with freelancer.com for many years (since vworker time), but actively been working there for the last 10 months or so. They seem to be worried about their commission only. The help desk is taking easy ways out instead of reviewing a matter in a fair and objective way. My personal experience is getting bitter and bitter day by day. An employer is cheating me not paying the major part of the fee (but freelancer had their share already and they are happy and not caring us anymore after), but after reporting this matter and even after several weeks, both the employer and the help desk is not responding. When asked the last time, only then they sent me an email saying I have exchanged my contact details and have completed the transactions outside the freelancer system, so this is not out of their authority. This is insane and gross careless statement. I have not done both, and they can verify this very easily by reading the chat between the employer and me, if they want (I had asked to do so too) My problem was how they could come to such wrong conclusions and be so stupid. I am looking for contact details of higher authorities to report this type of harassing behavior. Because it's now a quoted company, authorities must regulate this kind of injustices as I think.

Our record shows that the payment that your employer released to you for the projects was reversed because they are currently having issues with their account. As per protocol, we have reversed the transactions that your employer have made to its original source. We are unable to provide you with further information regard this issue because of our Privacy Policy.

So the gist of this is 'employers come find work for free over freelancer'?
If it is the employer's fault why penalize the freelancer?

An ignorant employer did a direct hire on the website for USD2000 and i accepted. My fees of USD200 was deducted then the employer cancels and does not honour the payment saying that they are not liable to bear these charges as they are unable of such terms. In the end, i lose USD200 for nothing just like that and i approached the customer service and they say they cant do anything about it! Why do i have to bear such cost when the employer is unreasonable! Super cheated. Freelancer earns at my cost and my cash just gets deducted like that. Scam!

Completely not trustworthy. They closed my account saying that we issued warning and I already gave them reasons and lifted warnings. But now they are saying we are going to close your account. They steal my $400 as well. Marcus from there support just saying follow... tickets and there is no response for 20 days. He is just saying that your case is under review and we will reply but I did not receive any reply yet. I don't how they can do with people who spend day and night and give them business. I will must recommend to you people to work on other freelancing website and do not work on freelancer.com because they do what they want they have 0 freelancing care. And I am going to Sui them in the court next week as I have discussed with my lawyer already.

I have used them for many projects and spent $5000 plus on the site, then they rip me off completely. As soon as my current project finishes I WILL NEVER use them again. The freelancer doing a job was incompetent and did 5% of the job I under the advice of freelancer customer support cancelled the job... FREELANCER DID NOT RETURN THE MONEY, the freelancer appealed me sacking him but because I WOULD NOT PAY FREELANCER MONEY to appeal the case they gave the freelancer $147 despite the fact he only wanted $100... STAY AWAY FROM THEM LIKE THE PLAGUE, My feedback from all other freelancers is 5 stars but it seems they protect even the dodgy freelancers because if they dont then they dont get paid

Freelancer start cheating with the freelancer now. He suspend account of users and delete milestone created most freelancer home runs by this website but freelancer come on cheating now you can see below link

In my case he suspend my account on freelancer and not replying i am totally dependent on freelancer after 10-15 days i am very frusted now and complaint here
He suspend my account and always say contact to you client and when he will reply to us then we will unsuspend your account but not giving any reason to suspend. This is wrong with freelancer so please dont use freelancer
I am hoping i will get some help by you

These guys are total fraud. I have been trying to take my money out for about one month. I have tried for about 4-5 times and each time they create some issue and then they cancel my withdrawal.

I am already in loss of around 500$ because of these guys. I will not recommend anyone to use this site to get work. I am thinking of writing a big blog post regarding the problems that I have faced with freelancer.com and I will also put at least 100$ in promoting that blog post so that this cheater site freelancer.com do not cheat other people. I have faced tons of problems on this site.

Their support is the useless support I have faced till date. They never know anything. It is really very very frustrating working on this site.

This company is really a big SCAM. They simply withhold your money for no reasons and then no one knows if you ever will cash on your earnings or not.
This company should be closed down for fraud as soon as possible so that other future frauds can be prevented.

Freelancer.com withholds my money for 3 weeks already.
The payment was scheduled to 22/may/2014, today is the 24/may/2014 and they still did not process my request. I wonder if they ever will….
Their support does not know what to say.

This company seemed like a big SCAM. They simply withhold your money for no reasons and then no one knows if you ever will cash on your earnings or not.
This company should closed down for fraud.

Horrible site. They have buttons after you post a project to trick you into posting it again (and pay again). And they charge you without letting you know for every tiny thing you do (sometimes even without me actually entering the site at all).

After I filed disputes with PayPal they froze my account and say that there's a problem with my identity. But they are not telling me what's wrong, bacause it isn't. I have registered with my real name, my phone number and my real address. Never entered anything that is incorrect.

So that's bull$#*!.

I will contact a lawyer, since I'm not able to pay the freelancers that have done work for me. Fraudulent site.

Do not enter your credit card or PayPal at this site!