Buyers Beware: oDesk is a scam
melvinng 3 posts
I hired this guy about a week ago:*removed by admin* because we had an email convo and he said he has done projects similar to this before.
He ended up logging over 25 hours of "internet surfing (watching videos) and projects he did for other Buyers" and I had to pay for it.
The screen shots odesk provided also showed that he was watching tv, gaming and talking to other providers:
*removed by admin*
I can attach all the screens that odesk took in that 25 hour period and none of which was related to my project. He worked on it for 1 week, without providing anything and in the end I had to hire someone else to finish it in 1 hour. The rate he provided was around $17+/hour and my VISA was billed $400+.
Results after I filed the dispute:
He agreed that he only worked 2 hours on it but logged over 25 hours.
09/22/2009 00:38:33 sevenmonkey
*removed by admin*
However, after an odesk person reviewed the dispute, I was only refunded 13 hours because the other 12 hours was logged properly.
I will let you guys be the judge here, but if I don't get a refund for the full 25 hours, I will file a dispute with my credit card company and take Odesk to a small claims court if I have to.
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Score: 7.8, Votes: 8
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gsisow 3 posts - Germany - Joined Oct 30 2007
"he sad"? wow ... how persuasive. By the way how about setting a work time limit preventing logging endless time for trivial tasks?!
melvinng 3 posts
Here is the problem, I wasn't able to dispute the hours before he logged them, nor was I able to set a time limit for the week that he was working.
The dispute button didn't show up until the end of the week when they ask me to review the time. I set a time limit however that doesn't start till next week, which is kind of stupid because that means once I hire him, he can technically scam me the rest of the week and I can't do anything about it.
Also after filling the dispute, odesk didn't read it till after my credit card was charged. I filed the dispute the day they ask me to review the hours that were logged.
prajwalpraveen08 10 posts - India - Joined Sep 16 2009
Odesk is not actually a scam, but it is actually a very complicated setup and until one knows all the rules of the game, there are chances that one may get screwed by well-known players of the game. It does not matter which side of the game you are... you may be a buyer or you may be a provider...
As far as your problem of not being able to set limit... though I am not very sure about it ... I think there is an option to end the work prematurely... and reassign it if necessary to the same user after changing the time limit.
Actually after visiting the profile you gave, it shows only 2 assignments done and does not show hourly work in it. This should mean, if I not mistaken, that you have not been charged at all (now) and have been refunded completely, else it should have shown up.
However, I find the number of hours done by the user to be showing 26 hours which should be actually be visible only if hourly work is done. However, the user's hourly log is not showing anything, which is a contradiction, possibly it was modified due to dispute in this case.
smahajan 148 posts - India - Joined Jan 12 2006
Report to support with all details and they will help you.
tcmarketing 2 posts
As a new buyer, considering hiring O Desk programmers and contractors for work on my telemarketing and call center website www.telemarketingconsultant.com, what steps should I take to avoid the issues above.
Can I count on O Desk to back me up if I have to dispute or will I experience the same kind of dissatisfaction as the party above.
I am now considering just paying more and hiring a local U.S. contractor.
Robert Kaiser
CEO
www.telemarketingconsultant.com
csycip 17 posts - Philippines - Joined Oct 15 2008
I've been in Odesk and was scammed too but I think that doesn't make Odesk responsible for every provider that you pick to do your service. In my case, since I am a dummy when it comes to using the hour rates, I take a RISK much as everyone does.For instance, I can't blame Odesk for that crazy client of mine (see my discussions) who agreed on a 30 dollar fixed price and decided that because I did the job rather swift, he'd only pay me 10 dollars. Had I used the "time thingy" I would probably had gotten more protection, but it was MY CHOICE to use the fixed service. I still have the fruitcake client sending me letters inviting me to a job and spamming my mail; aside from those threats BUT I can't sue Odesk for one fruitcake stalking me. Buyers and providers BOTH get scammed but I am sure that Odesk isn't in some eerie conspiracy to tolerate these people (providers and buyers).
Another thing is that it's a he said/she said thing. It's easy to become mad because one is paying for services ALLEGEDLY not rendered, but we haven't heard the other side. No matter how much you (or me) want to sue Odesk, it is always a matter of "due process".For instance, I can't prove that my cheapo client still bugs me and stalks me and still owes. But that isn't Odesk's fault.
It goes BOTH ways. WE all take the risk. Rational providers and buyers do not normally wish to scam one another -- unfortunately, there are funny farm candidates who mess up the system. They aren't Odesk employees and legally, Odesk is not the employer.
tcmarketing 2 posts
Hmmm, we have all been burned in business transactions one time or another.
For a few extra dollars, you should be able to buy insurance or protection policy that would provide refunds if product is not delivered, usable, or agreement is not followed.
I wonder why ODesk does not offer this? It's another source of revenue and could be optional. It would also give the buyers a comfort level.
csycip 17 posts - Philippines - Joined Oct 15 2008
Honestly we all have been burned by transaction at one time or another methinks. See my previous post about that cheapo client who scammed me and then stalked me. Last thing he did was actually file a complaint that I was "harassing" him (for Pete's sake, can you logically imagine harassment done miles away?0. Instead of getting an inquiry letter from customer service, what I got was a rather irrational letter from some customer service rep from Odesk TELLING ME that I SHOULD act more professionally and NOT stalk, get the address and number and go to this ***tards forums -- all of which are false allegations. I haven't even mentioned his name in the forums here except to refer to him as "a cheapo client".
The Odesk representative's letter sounded like she ASSUMED that all that was reported by this fruitcake client of mine was FACT. In fact, if I were a bit more sensitive, I wanted to write back and tell this customer care rep that she better check her facts and read the community boards. I was tempted to humor her and write back and admit that I must be some super-hero to be able to do those hilarious things that I was supposed to have done. This guy was the guy who didn't pay me -- I mean talk about chutzpah!(I mean this guy is definitely a funny farm candidate you know the type..)
So yes, s**t happens as it does in ALL sites like these. Now, I shall take my superwoman cape and fly across oceans
jakecastle 63 posts - Philippines - Joined May 10 2009
Hi Cynthia it's true we've all been burned by frauds here. I guess its all part of being a freelancer in this big brave world of globalization. Thanks for sharing your sentiments. I'd hold on to my cape if I were you though. I was thinking of organizing a party for oDeskers here in Manila.
axeo 7 posts
We have a fair amount of experience with outsourcing and know how to "bridge the gaps". Holler if we can help.
*removed by admin*
axeo 7 posts
Agreed. We know exactly what you are talking about. In most cases, it boils down to project management, but if you have to hire someone to watch the other someone every hour, what's the point.
Also, with a 24 hr clock, your off-shore could start logging time while you're sound asleep. They could burn a chunk before you even know it.
We always hire AFTER a well-defined, small pilot project.
What's needed is some sort of simple task manager where a time limit can be set by task. We have US-based project managers and high level devs so a little different for us than a business oriented end-user hiring oDesk directly.
Even when we set time limits though, some oDesk providers have mysteriously logged activity that takes them right to the limit. What a coincidence !!!
NOTE: We are happy to help other buyers here. Even if we are direct competitors (highly unlikely), there's still plenty of marketshare available to all of us, so we would still help.
AXEO
www.axeo.com