An Open Letter to People Per Hour: Please Comment Below on Payments
Dear People Per Hour,
I wanted to let you know just how much havoc, chaos and panic you have caused in my life since you announced your decision to subject us to the new payment clearance process and times. If you are a freelancer reading this, please comment below so we can try to support each other and so that we can let PPH know what damage this is causing us and that we, as freelancers, are not only the lifeblood of the platform but also real people with real lives and families to support.
I am a freelancer, but I am also a single parent to two young children. We have all lived through a year and a half of the most disruptive time in any of our lives due to the pandemic. I am sure it hasn’t escaped PPH’s attention that freelancers have had a rough ride during this time. I am mainly referring to the UK here as that is where I am from, but I am sure these problems are global for freelancers. As freelancers, we did not enjoy the benefits of furlough, of the Job Retention Scheme and many of us were not eligible for government grants or benefits. As we start to move out of the pandemic, many of us are reeling from the effects and have now been served a huge blow by PPH-a platform that is supposed to support us as freelancers and make our lives easier-by making us wait up to 18 days to receive money we have earned and worked hard for.
I don’t know about other freelancers, but my family relies solely on the money I earn from PPH and we live from invoice payment to invoice payment. We don’t live beyond our means, there is only me earning money and I work very hard.
On Friday, I came to the realisation that due to the new payment clearing processes, we did not have enough food to last us the weekend, let alone 18 more days. My rent was due on Friday, and I have not been able to pay that. So, we are hungry and on top of that I am now really anxious about not paying my rent. I earnt enough money this month to pay my rent and buy us food and everything on top, but it is sitting in my PPH account, and I cannot access it. This morning, my son’s school had to arrange a delivery from our local food bank. I have never, ever had to ask for anything like this before, but we had no choice.
I have not heard anything from PPH that makes me understand why they are doing what they are doing. I simply do not believe that in the world of instant payments, high tech and on-demand services why they need to hang on to our money for 18 days. It just won’t work for me in the long term, but at the moment, I am wondering what we will do in four days’ time when the food runs out, when I can’t pay my internet bill leading me not being able to work at all and when the stress of this will just be too much to bear.
I hope people don’t think I am being overdramatic, for some freelancers this will just be a frustrating experience, but for some of us, this is having real life, damaging effects on our lives and the lives of the people we love- and I am sure I am not alone.
Please comment below and tell PPH how this is affecting your life if you can.
Yours Sincerely,
Meri Williams
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A lot of companies introduce new T&Cs and the only opt out is to stop using them. Take Microsoft as an example. If I decide to opt out of their latest T&C I would have to format my hard disk and use another operating system.
Where PPH have probably broken the law is that they haven't given any warning about changing the T&C. They prevented us from logging in unless we accepted the new T&C and that was preventing us from finishing projects or withdrawing money. There are a few things that they do that would get them into trouble if a case went to court, but they know it is unlikely to happen.@Rachel. Is Paulson's message an old one from earlier in the thread? I have had a few email notifications where the message was from a few days earlier.
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@Paulson, Rachel, Simon, Thorsten, ALL.
YES. Paulson's message has been pulled out. I'm copying it here again:
That said, PPH is, as you can see, right in the "criminal" zone. They cannot even be called "unethical." The T&C forced acceptance is only a ploy and is meant to vindicate PPH. And if you've not noticed, I've got that many days ago. That's one reason - among so many - I'm so militant. Those of you still giving excuses to PPH, I believe every few hours you discover the level of deception and abuse PPH has been engaged in for years and now the pace is much faster. Also, a "chargeback assumption" was floated yesterday and it's very likely PPH is making many violations - and hence Simon's taking notice of warnings PPH got.
Taking PPH to court and bringing the word out in every possible way about them is the least that can done now. Have shame those of you who still want to accept PPH as a potential (and respected) freelancing platform. Heck!
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@Thorsten, ALL.
Mentioning proverbs, PPH's recent payment clearance policy has only been the last straw. They've been ignoring and even insulting freelancers with many changes over the years and now it's come to a head. Look now! Not only PPH will be a (bad) memory but is being exposed every few hours about YEARS of what has been suspected as "unethical" and is now taking shape as a possible criminalized activity. To be a conformist when you see all evidence of abuse means you accept to be abused yourself.
How similar to a partner, man or woman, staying in a relationship because of "need," kids, or what people might say.
How similar to communities, or workers, colluding when there's gain and only complain when they are brushed aside: easily, singlehandedly and, sure, without notice.
How similar to a promise - professional, emotional, political, economic, social, you name it - being broken, not once, but many times and those who have been failed still have "hopes" about change.
How similar to a slave, physically and mentally abused and denied a say over anything s/he is being ordered to do, and is yet accepting her/his master's commands as unquestionable.
To be free is not about living in a "free country," having your say, or being entitled to anything. To be free is to know you are free. To accept, unquestioned, what you are ordered to do (however sweetly packaged orders are) and simply carry on is to accept - is to not know - you are a slave.
THESE ARE NOT JUST SOME GUEVARIAN, REVOLUTIONARY WORDS. THESE ARE WHAT YOU, FREELANCERS AT PPH, ARE HAVING. STILL, ALL GLORY TO CHE.
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@Joseph, ALL.
Thanks, Joe (if I may use a pet name for you). And, yes, I have already participated in some protest organization efforts in my country, Egypt, where we had a regime change in 2011 and also in 2013. So, you are right I've helped many " jump off a bridge" but not "to their death," as you say, but to their survival. To be freed is to survive, not to die, man.
FYI. I'm still goin on in my "revolutionary efforts." All "sabotage " welcome. That said, any Bolshevik Russians around?
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@ALL.
#FreelancerJokes.
Resuming my freelancer jokes series, here is one I find interesting about how buyers on PPH - and elsewhere - are increasingly "negotiating" how much, if at all, seller/freelancers would be paid:
Hmmm. So, anyone buying this "exposure" pitch? I, myself, do not wish to be exposed in anyway - unless I choose to do myself. Right?
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I suspect, that many of the productive freelancers (the ones that make PPH money but who have longer development times), are going to stop doing business with PPH. Look at me, I'm spending more time on competitor sites, and NOT submitting proposals on PPH. They're really shooting themselves in the foot.
This just means the more desperate freelancers are going to be bidding on the jobs. And that reduces the buyer's experience. No buyer wants junk proposals.
What developer wants to work a long contract THEN need to wait an added 14 days to get paid?
And if you're one of the people who are in the "fast to be paid" group, you really need to wonder how stable PPH is? Are they going down? The message they send is a company so in trouble that they need to raise cash with the "float."
Na, I think PPH is struggling and that's what's really going on. It's not about "fraud" it's about their financial solvency. At least that is how many freelancers are seeing this - me included. I'm just not willing to risk doing big jobs on PPH given my fear that one day, I'll get the 404 error that PPH is shut.
That's the message they are sending.
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@Eric & Karen, ALL.
BIG YES. We, at least me am, are here not to discuss PPH as a viable freelance platform anymore but as a (bad) memory, a silly joke still going on, not least, a platform to share stories about each and every negative experience until a 404 error page is shown to all.
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@Eric & Karen, ALL.
Unpublished post. The embedded link:
https://www.peopleperhour.com/blog/buyers/10m-pledge-for-freelancers-small-businesses/
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Please, PPH didn't delete my message. I removed it, sorry for the confusion.
Seemed like everyone had decided to get rid of PPH and deal with clients directly.
Maybe I should speak for myself, I've sent a lot of direct pitch to clients, checked out some escrow services, and polished my social media accounts.
PPH was my safety net where I could come in, see what's available, bid on them, and take the money.
Now that the edges of that net are on fire, I have to (we all have to) find/create our stable ground - survival of the fittest.
After @meri asked for an exemption and they refused because “their hands are tied” (like they don't have money lying somewhere), it confirmed what I've always known... No one is coming to help.
@mohamed, write your book and do what you have to do, I'm not investing any emotions on them again.
Apologies for the other comment I made.
I've started the process of moving on, everyone should. It's the only way we can outlive PPH.
Take care.
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@Paul, ALL.
Thank you for letting us know, Paul. As I said, I'm still here to gather more material for my planned book and ongoing efforts to spread the word about PPH. So, it's up to anyone here, vet or newbie, to come in or out as they wish. This is now a no man's land. It does not need a "take care," "goodbye" or whatever to move on. You can just move on and still get some amusement, if you wish to, to see PPH, after so many years of false hopes, unraveling in the blink of the eye.
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@Florin, ALL.
Just wanted you to know. This is what I got: a pop-up. It's all up to you and of course anyone can do what s/he thinks best for her/his situation. We're just sharing here. That said, it's always good to help and not adopt a run-for-your-life attitude because this is so selfish when some who can do well without PPH just drop by here to "get the news." I do not need help, though, but I'm here at anyone who needs help's disposal. This makes a difference. You, as a freelancer, might not need help now or you're doing just fine, BUT you're seeing people suffering and just doing nothing about it. Well, what would you do when you suffer yourself and need help, in anything not just work, and see people go by without even looking? You see why PPH - and, for that matter, so many similar platforms - count on people's indifference to help others?
Being free is great. Being helpful is even greater.
I'm here to spread the message but also to HELP.
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@Florin, Joseph ALL.
Here is Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" lyrics.
I'm gonna make a change
For once in my life
It's gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it rightAs I, turn up the collar on
My favorite winter coat
This wind is blowing my mindI see the kids in the streets
With not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind?
Pretending not to see their needsA summer disregard, a broken bottle top
And a one man soul
They follow each other on the wind ya' know
'Cause they got nowhere to go
That's why I want you to knowI'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love
It's time that I realize
That there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me, pretending that they're not alone?A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart
And a washed-out dream
They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see
'Cause they got no place to be
That's why I'm starting with meI'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself, and then make a changeI'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could've been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that
Change!I'm starting with the man in the mirror
(Oh yeah!)
I'm asking him to change his ways
(Better change!)
No message could've been any clearerIf you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make the change
You gotta get it right, while you got the time
You can't close your, your mind!That man, that man (With the man in the mirror)
That man, that man (Oh, yeah!)
That man, that man (I'm asking him to change his ways)
That man (Better change!)No message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make the changeNa-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na, na-na
Gonna feel real good
Na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na, na-naI'm gonna make a change
It's gonna feel real good!
Chime on!
(Change)Just lift yourself
You know
You've got to stop it
Yourself!I've got to make that change, today!
Hoo!
(Man in the mirror)You got to
You got to not let yourself
Brother
Hoo!You know, I've got to get
That man, that man
(Man in the mirror)You've got to move! Chime on!
Chime on!
You got toStand up! Stand up! Stand up!
(Yeah! Make that change)
Stand up and lift yourself, now!
(Man in the mirror)You know it!
You know it!
You know it!
You know it!Make that change -
@ALL.
Another twist to this unfolding thread:
When people have joined in here to discuss PPH new payment clearance policy, how many of them have been really here to find a solution for Meri (since it was she, no one else, who dared to speak out), and of course for so many affected by PPH policy, and how many have been here to find solution for their own problem?
I think it is clear through contributions and what people suggest who really cares about Meri - or PPH community, if that's something that is out there - and who has been here for his/her own interest.
This thread is, once again, been transforming into something very rich: showing people's mettle at work.
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@Yuriy
Thank you so much, Yuriy, for these beautiful posts. My reference to the Bolshevik Russians was ironic, however. I've read enough about Russian history and literature to know where Russia was and where it is now. And yes, I cannot agree more with you that Russia, as a government, is making more harm than any good. All respect to people always.
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I have not had a job through PPH since last Sunday now. This is, I think, the longest period of time in which I've not had a job through PPH for around 7 years. This - albeit a single seller snapshot - suggests that some buyers have already abandoned the platform, unwilling to keep sellers waiting for payment (I would never go out for a meal then delay paying the bill for two weeks)...and I know that some sellers (me included) are looking at the alternative freelance sites. This is exactly the scenario many of us predicted. And when we are not earning on PPH, neither is PPH.
The longer this goes on, the more difficult it will be for PPH to recover not only lost momentum but also to attract back those who have been loyal to PPH for many years and generated significant revenue for the business.
PPH, the costs you would incur by rushing through fraud checks on ALL transactions (regardless of value) may be an annoyance...but it would be small change compared to the potential lost revenue a mass migration of your users to other platforms would cause.
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I don't agree with some of the messaging on here but like you @paul the enquiries and orders have dramatically tailed off in the last 6 weeks. I use to have a regular of 10 purchased offers on the go at one time (consistent for the last 3-4 yrs) and numerous enquiries. Now I have little activity (2 orders since Saturday) - now I know the summer can be a low point for freelancers but it does seem there is a major decline in traffic.
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Hi all,
I sent this message to Ioannis at CS:
Ioannis,Can you tell me who your external escrow supplier is?Can you tell me if there are any other suppliers involved in the payment/clearing process?Can you point me in the direction of the regulations that require you to do this?MeriAnd this is the reply I got. I am starting to think there are no regulations involved:Hi again Meri.
I’m afraid we can’t provide this information, as it is business confidential; you may refer to our T&Cs for all the information that we can offer publicly, in addition to what I've already shared in my replies and to what is posted in the PPH blog and community threads.
Have a lovely day.
Ioannis
PPH Customer Support -
Asked him again:
Hi Ioannis,Are you saying that you can't tell me what the regulations are because of confidentiality?Surely they are public knowledge?MeriReply:Hello Meri.
I'm afraid I don't have anything further to add than what I replied previously.
The answers to your questions are indeed confidential, and anything that can be shared with you already has, either via this ticket or through the blog and community posts.
Thank you for your understanding.
Ioannis
PPH Customer Support -
@Paul, Adam, Meri, ALL.
Seems like even senior members have been so reliant on PPH too that they are worried about orders. That, if anything, proves my point that PPH, like so many similar platforms, are just addictive: the more money you make on PPH, or elsewhere, the more it seems, psychologically, you should stick around and still have, well, "hopes," about more orders. With all that has been made so clear, many, including seniors, still cannot move on and away from PPH. Yet another interesting idea to add to my book.
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