Buyer wants the work to be delivered on his server but he is not willing to make the payment.
Answered
Hello All,
I'm undergoing an horrible experience with one of my Buyer. I started working on his project and its been over 3 weeks now, the site is fully functional and he is happy with my work.
He needs the source files to be delivered on his server & when I asked him to release the payment, he said he can't.
When I got in touch with PPH team, this is what they have responded.
I'm sorry for any inconvenience this has caused you. Please check PPH T&C. Sellers have to deliver the work done before payments are made. Thank you
Blessing,
Your fellow PPHer
I had a bitter experience earlier. I delivered the source files on Client's server without getting the payment. From then on, he stopped responding to my messages and kept declining the invoice which I raised.
He messed up with the site and claimed the site is not functional whereas the site was working absolutely fine on our server.
Finally, I raised a dispute but PPH refunded the deposit to the Buyer and I was left in dark.
I'm sure many Sellers would have experienced this. What assurance do Sellers have on this portal?
What should I do in this case? Can someone advise on this?
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Official comment
The best way to have approached this would have been to ensure that escrow had the full amount of money in it, then to make the files available via the PPH workstream - either a zip file or a link to their location.
You must demonstrate on the PPH workstream that the buyer is happy (get their agreement on the workstream that they are happy with what you have done), you must also demonstrate on the workstream that you have handed over the work to the client.
With all this evidence PPH are highly unlikely to go against you in a dispute.
Really this is about trust and at some stage sellers need to hand over the work. I have never insisted that a buyer pays before handing over the files.
If there's a question mark over the buyers honesty I'd get the buyer to top up escrow to the full amount - I don't normally do that.
In your case, the only route to getting paid is to hand over the files. You were never going to get paid without doing so. Now you are in a worse position with the escrow deposit returned to the buyer.
Blessing is not popular amongst some PPH sellers and is not part of the customer service team based in Athens.
Comment actions -
Hello!
I agree with first answer- if workstream shows that buyer is all around happy then there is no need to afraid for anything and you should follow to PPH T&C (give all files to buyer). I used google drive several times (because of file size) and never asked for money until buyer is not received all files he need.
Regards, Renars -
I would add is that when this buyer complained about a non-functional site, you should have had a test site running on your server to demonstrate that was not the case. I know it's not always possible.
There's only so much you can do and we are just people. You have presented your case. I have no idea if the buyers position has merit or not. It can be difficult for PPH to know in cases of technical complexity who is in the right and I suspect they will have a bias to hand money back to the buyer if the sellers case is not strong.
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Paul/Renars,
Thanks for your inputs.
In fact, I had a bad experience earlier delivering the codes.
I had payment on my escrow account and I delivered the codes to the Buyer. The site was functional on his server but he said that he will test the functionalities and will release the payment.
1 month went on, no inputs from the Buyer. I posted several notes on Workstream and he kept ignoring my messages. Finally after 3 months, I raised an invoice but he declined it.
He has tried making changes on the site and he totally messed up with it. He claimed on Workstream that the site is not functional & I posted the link of our server and the site was fully functional on ours.
Unfortunately, PPH closed the dispute on favor to the Buyer stating I delivered a site which is dud. I claimed the site is functional on our server and I provided the URL as well but no luck.
PPH refunded the payment to the Buyer. I lost almost 2 months working on that assignment without earning a single penny.
I'm worried the same might happen to this case as well.
Also, Buyers gets the codes and they take 3-4 months time frame saying they are testing the functionalities. When I go for a dispute, My ranking goes down even though PPH knows the fault is on the Buyer & not on the seller.
Should we Sellers wait for 3-4 months to get paid for the work we have delivered? What assurance does PPH has on such cases?
I have been working on PPH for over 5 years now. To my experience PPH is a paradise for BUYERS & a hell for SELLERS.
Does anyone agree to this?
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First of all, what has happened is really rotten, but you are not helping yourself.
I have been using PPH longer than you and not had any experience like yours. I have had one dispute and PPH handed over the escrow deposit to me. I warned the UK buyer I would take them to court, told them what evidence I would present and they paid me the balance.
"Buyers gets the codes and they take 3-4 months time frame saying they are testing the functionalities."
That is partially your fault. If you are building a new site for them as a test, get their approval about functionality from your test server, before shifting to the clients server.
If that's not possible, give them a strict deadline of one or two weeks for testing and insist that they do not modify the site in any way during that period. You might even change the access password to make sure that doesn't happen. If they don't agree to the test period and conditions contact PPH customer support - they may help negotiate with the buyer.
"When I go for a dispute, My ranking goes down even though PPH knows the fault is on the Buyer & not on the seller."
PPH doesn't want disputes. I know it can be unfair."Should we Sellers wait for 3-4 months to get paid for the work we have delivered?"
No, but you are contributing to that situation."What assurance does PPH has on such cases?"
None. How could they?"I have been working on PPH for over 5 years now. To my experience PPH is a paradise for BUYERS & a hell for SELLERS."
In terms of disputes with buyers, my experience is that your statement is wrong."Does anyone agree to this?"
Not me. -
I am always splitting big projects in milestones or time frames (to keep my cashflow steady). I have experience as illustrator and information system developer, when I am doing illustrations, I am splitting my job per weeks, when I am doing information systems, I am splitting my job in several logical parts based on functionality (if project seems longer as 1 month) and after payment I am raising invoice or making new proposal. Sure, sometimes it is not possible but normally its works very well and in that way we both- seller and buyer, can get more positive feedback's. Most important is discussion before job is even started, if client agrees to split big projects or pay without giving him finished product, then its fine.
Sure, there will always be some risks and the best we- sellers can do is make sure that you did everything in first step to lower all risks.I am sorry about your bad experience but in this case I am not even sure if you have any multi-choice as trust client and follow PPH rules.
Regards, Renars
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Sellers have no assurance on this portal. Trust me. I am undergoing the same thing. Gave the complete source code to the client, and the client emailed customer support saying he paid the invoice in error and now PPH wants me to pay the client back..
So My work is gone and it seems I wont be getting paid too. Been 4 years on this website with 170 reviews and I think I just wasted 4 years.. Freelancer or Guru would have been more rewarding if I would have put in my hard work there.. PPH give 0 security to its sellers.. As they treat their sellers as shit as the buyers are the ones who are paying them in the end..
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Maf,
That's absolutely true. PPH is a paradise for Buyers and not the same for Sellers. I have experienced this 4-5 time here on this portal and I'm afraid raising a dispute against them. Raising a dispute makes your ranking go down.
I'm really fed up with PPH and I'm planning to close my account in the near future very soon.
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Hey Beyondgrip,
Thank you for acknowledging. What annoys me the most is the PPH staff's rude behaviour. They forget that we are freelancers and they are not our bosses.
Anyways, I dont think I will be on this portal for a long time as I am not giving a refund this time and pph staff wont budge. I think its time to bid farewell to this 4 year long relationship with PPH. What is disappointing is the time I wasted gathering those 170 reviews. But oh well!! Everyone started afresh and I will do that again..
Anyone who wants to hit me up sometime, please skype me on moonymaf.
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I also disagree of some of PPH rules and algorithms for level boosts, but overall I do not think it is possible to make complicate international investigate to find out who is right and who is wrong. It would increase PPH commission much higher as it is now. I think services is matching the price you are paying for. None is obligate to work via PPH only, I am using several freelancing portals and each of them have some cons and pros however PPH helped find some long term clients I am working with (outside PPH) and I am sure it would not be so easy possible buy hunting those customers somewhere else. If PPH is only or main source of income, then there can be some issues but if PPH is just part of freelance business, then I think it is pretty awesome place for advertising your skills, gain some superb feedback's and grow self-confidence.
R
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This is again a proof showing how PPH SUPPORT sucks big time!!
Client was on a vacation and PPH has automatically refunded the deposit in just a span of one hour. I'm based out of US and all this happened in UK business hours.
I raised a ticket but no one responded and they marked it as SOLVED. Here is the screenshot http://prntscr.com/8cvcwi
Anyone, Anything to say?
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