Help » Legal and Policies » Policy: Identity
Policy: Identity
Loading
- Identity Policy
-
Frequently Asked Questions
- What will the verification be used for?
- What if name and contact information are not real or cannot be verified?
- What is considered an acceptable portrait?
- What about Affiliate Contractors?
- What do I do if I know that someone is violating the policy?
- What do I do if my accounts are in violation of oDesk policy?
- I have specific business needs - can I be given an exemption?
Identity Policy
In order to protect the participants in the marketplace and the integrity of the feedback system, oDesk requires that participants adhere to the oDesk identity policy. In the context of this policy, we define:
- User
- A person who will conduct transactions on oDesk - submitting or applying for jobs, responding to interview requests, performing work or submitting or receiving payments.
- User Account
- The oDesk account associated with a user characterized by having a user ID, name and basic contact information.
In order to participate in transactions on oDesk, users must be who they say they are. Users must use their own name and contact information and portrait in their user accounts. The following rules apply:
- You must use your own name. For example,
- You may not use fake names: "Will work hard"
- You may not use someone else's name: "Abraham Lincoln"
- You may not use a company identifier as your name: "Company Worker 1"
- You must use your own contact information.
- Your complete address must be real and verifiable.
- Your portrait must be a likeness of you. For example,
- You must not use a likeness of someone else as your portrait.
- You must not use a company logo as a portrait.
The oDesk feedback system is compromised when users can abandon feedback by creating a new account. In addition, other policies created by oDesk for protection of the participants in the oDesk marketplace are also compromised by the use of multiple accounts. Therefore oDesk restricts each user to use a single profile on oDesk.
Prohibited behaviors include but are not limited to:
- Creating a new account for the purpose of abandoning your past negative feedback.
- Creating a new account for the purpose of artificially increasing your job quota.
- Creating separate buyer and provider accounts to hire oneself.
The oDesk feedback system is compromised if feedback associated with a user account was not earned by that user. Thus oDesk restricts user accounts to be used only by a single user, whose name and contact information are on the account.
Prohibited behaviors include by are not limited to:
- Sharing a User Account between multiple users for the purpose of artificially increasing hours or feedback.
- Sharing a User Account between multiple users for the purpose of concealing the identity of the person actually doing the work.
- Using a shared account to get jobs for other accounts.
- Transferring a User Account from one person to another.
Companies are not covered under this restriction - companies can be transfered between owners and depending on the roles different users can access and use a company account. But each individual user must be registered and granted appropriate permissions.
In order to enforce other oDesk policies, oDesk may require participants to verify the name and contact information on the user profile by submitting some or all of the following documents:
- Official identification document that shows photograph and name.
- Legal document that shows name and contact information.
- Legal document that shows name in English.
In addition, in some cases, oDesk staff may require interaction with the user via webcam.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Determining ownership of duplicate accounts
- Determining ownership of hacked accounts
- Unsuspending accounts
- Determining ownership of accounts showing suspicious or high risk activity
- As a backstop for Security Questions if it seems appropriate
- Any other reason that oDesk deems fit
If you are unable to verify your identity as matching that on the account, then oDesk could at our discretion:
- suspend withdrawals from the account,
- suspend hiring from the account
- suspend all assignments
- revoke the payment guarantee for existing assignments
- suspend the account,
- close the account and
- potentially suspend or close accounts suspected of being duplicates.
Your portrait must be a verifiable likeness of you and only you
- A simple photograph is recommended.
- An avatar or other stylized image of yourself is acceptable, within limits.
- Do not use a group picture. You must be the only person in your portrait.
- Do not use artwork that isn't a likeness of you. Logos, clip-art, landscapes, etc. are not acceptable.
- The likeness must be of you the person, not just a representation of your profession or personality.
- Images must be appropriate for a professional, global community.
Staffing managers must be able to provide documentation showing that the AC is working for them.
If you know that some user is violating the policy, you are obliged to notify oDesk by contacting Customer Support.
Please contact Customer Support and describe your specific circumstances. We understand that the policy has not always been clear and therefore oDesk will work with you to remedy the situation during the transition period, while still protecting the interests of the marketplace and the integrity of the oDesk feedback system.
Please contact Customer Support and describe your specific circumstances. We have several new features that can help you come into compliance and we might be able to help you.
All polices are subject to the oDesk Marketplace User Agreement. Any capitalized term undefined in this Policy shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the oDesk Marketplace User Agreement.
Violation of these guidelines may result in suspension or termination of your account. If you are aware of a potential violation, please contact Customer Support.
For further clarification or if you have any questions about a specific policy, please contact Customer Support.
