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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Hi Marcus, thanks so much for thinking of me! Yes, I finally got some of my money on Monday- it was such a relief. To be fair to them, Ioannis did send me a message on Monday morning and said he was doing his best to get it through on Monday and he did. Now comes the balancing act of trying to work out what to pay for and what can hang on and I can catch up with- but my landlord is happy. I am due another payment in about 10 days.
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This is a total disrespect Marcus. Shame on them for treating this way the people who are making their money.
I'm so, so disappointed with this matter. After +10 years of working here, not all the time but selective projects, I see that I was producing money for some individuals who never cared us with dignity and respect. At the hell with them. Every bad action must pay a price, sooner or later, on the Earth or in the sky and the Karma will act. Tic - tac - tic - tac...
Have a great day all of you
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@Florin.
You sound like a wife who is cheated on and now she is coming back on her husband. It's amusing a long term work relationship could see so similar to a private one. Good job Florin. That's the spirit. Keep it up and please check back here as much as you can. We, at least me, miss your karma comments so much. Thank you!
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@Nancy, ALL.
Oh yeah! I've got something similar a few months ago. It was a guy who had a selfie with his girlfriend. (Both sexy actually.) But he wanted more "effects" to the photo. (Honestly, the girl had such nice curves - and b***bs for decent people, or boobs, for people who are okay with things as they are - that she barely needed any additional "effects" or filters.")
That said, what's the problem if PPH has decided to shift part of its business to online dating? Seriously.
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@Nancy, ALL.
By the way, what does the $10 cover exactly? Is it just a casual date, some naughty stuff on cam or what? The customer should have been more specific. I think that's the problem about this order, not that it's about dating but that it's not specific enough. It just might drive away some "respectable" daters and bring in people who, well, seek something naughtier, you know.
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@Nancy.
Could you please be more specific so we, freelancers, understand what your complain is about exactly? I mean, if you are working on censorship offline or something, you might be justified frowning on this "project." But as far as I know, you're a typist. So, why would a typist complain about someone looking for a Bangladeshi girlfriend? (btw, where is "customer" from, if I may ask? I'm starting to get interested actually.)
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@Nancy. I think we have come to the conclusion that PPH don't vet anything, although they claim that they start vetting proceedings once an invoice has been paid and we want to withdraw our money. We would suggest that they need to start vetting the process a lot earlier.
Generally I wouldn't worry about the low quality projects posted, if there were still high quality projects. If the high quality projects are not here any more, why is that? Are prospective buyers put off by the low quality projects on the site? I strongly suspect they are. I've complained to PPH before to take the crap off the site, or set up another site, specifically for crap, and let the rest of us try and earn a living. Why are projects $10? Why are projects $10 and vague about what they want? There is nothing wrong with someone wanting to find a Bangladeshi girlfriend but they need to do it somewhere else. There are websites designed for that sort of thing, where they would probably have more success. -
@Simon. If I were in PPH's place, why would I set up a different line of business when a current one could still cover new activities?
It's all business, Simon, and whether we, as freelancers, like it or not, it's all up to PPH. I mean, who are we, technically speaking, to have a say about what PPH should have here or not?
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From my point of view PPH are becoming irrelevant. I literally can't get work here any more. I've made more of an effort over the last month or so and I've watched for new projects getting posted and I've submitted bids on anything suitable and I've had one new project, for £80, less £16 in fees.
This whole freelance platform website thing just doesn't work for me any more. I gave Fiverr a serious look today and completed a profile and started writing a "gig". When I reached the point where I had to write what is effectively a contract explaining exactly what I will do and what I won't do and what I need off the client to get started, I found I had a 100 character limit. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
I realise I can't put any pressure on PPH. If they are happy with what they have here, and it makes them money, they will continue. If it stops making them money they will just pull the plug on it. -
There is no way I would invite one of my direct customers to one of these platforms. My experience with Upwork is that they are far worse than PPH, although they are still getting projects posted.
I saw a job this week for $20 and was tempted, because it did look small and there were only a handful of applicants. Then I spotted the link to expand the description and there was a whole page of requirements. Then the punchline was that the buyer wanted it delivered within 12 hours (while they were asleep) and would think about accepting the proposal and paying for it when they woke up. This is not the first time I've seen Upwork buyers wanting a project to be delivered as the proposal. Upwork disgusts me, but I have had some projects that have paid enough to justify looking out for more. -
@Simon.
Well, here is a list of platforms I've worked on for years, on and off:
Upwork
Contently
Fiverr
PPH
WriterBay (Academic Help)
Academia-Research (Academic Help)
EssayShark (Academic Help)
Workana (Latin American version of PPH, Fiverr)
The list goes on and on. I can tell you, the beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. I've seen all in different hats.
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@Simon.
I've incredibly hilarious stories about each platform. That's why I find what's happening on PPH is just business as usual. It's just how freelancing industry works: first, so much hype and passion, then everyone so happy and making money, then some bad news starts to trickle in, then more bad news and, depending on where you work, you might wake up one day only to find your platform is no longer there and you've just lost your money or you have to beg for months to get at least a fraction of what they owe you.
In my next post, I'll share a hilarious story about my experience at WriterBay, which I found out shortly after joining them that they are based in Ukraine.
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@Simon
"My experience with Upwork is that they are far worse than PPH, although they are still getting projects posted."
You are so so wrong in your appreciations. The webs sites are like a jungle. You could find whatever, treasures, beasts, charming experience, stupid encounters, dangerous situations, junk or gold. Eyes wide open work well. It's so frequent to see some dumb posting like this in all the webs: "I am looking for a guru programmer to make me a new web site. Budget: $15". Could you imagine what kind of an idiot is publishing such trash? Yes, they exist and they are doing this everywhere, in all the sites. In fact, the world is full of idiots. The best way is to completely ignore them, not even read their posts. I also see this kind of announces in PPH, people asking for $4-5/hour projects. I never even read or pay attention to them, why should I do this if on the other side I'll find a crap? In fact I do not take low cost projects, $30-50 unless it's a matter of a couple of hours work.
In Upwork I am receiving good projects invitations and also see good jobs, maybe not every single day but actually I have more jobs offers than I can handle. Thanks God.
So, do not ignore Upwork, it's a solid work platform, in fact is the bigger freelance work site.
Best regards
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Mohamed, you are welcome. Almost 15 years in the net could bring a clear idea how's this game working. Avoid idiots and appreciate educated, good will people will make you all happy. Cheers up, this is not the end of the world, those PPH guys will have to re-consider their mistake or loose everything. Blessings.
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@Nancy, ALL.
The Girlfriend project:
As far as I can see, more freelancers, some from Pakistan and the United States, are applying to get the "job." I think you really need to be fair, Nancy! People have expanded the definition of PPH. So, you should not think PPH has gone "low."
After all, you never know what any community could develop into. Right?
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@Gadi, ALL.
Cannot agree more. Plus, I so much like the idea you did some forensics to dig out after this freelancer. I'm not surprised, though, something like this is happening. And, of course, it'd be a big No to report anything to PPH. They don't give a damn. This platform has just gone so way off that it'd be ridiculous having a conversation with whoever is in charge. Touch hat for you, Gadi, for your forensics.
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@Gadi, ALL.
Moderated. Shared Link.
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Mohamed, I took the ID picture from that link! I've already done the deep digging, haha.
If you do a Google image-search for the PPH profile picture which "Fatama Begum" has been using in PPH (and I'm quite sure you've already done that), Google shows the Bangladeshi ID in the search results, and it appears in multiple sites.
Between us, you'll surely agree with me that this person has a very bad taste in choosing a random PPH profile picture. Could have used a sexy model face just as much and probably sell some more work for all the horny fellas out there. I'm sorry for all the feminists who read this and might get offended, but pretty / sexy sells better, it's human nature set in stone. Nevertheless, I do not encourage anyone to use fake profile pictures.
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