I utilized the freelancer website to have a website built. I posted the project, got a pile of bids on it and finally selected a developer.
All was going well when the developer became impossibly difficult to deal with and was not doing the work required of him. I, at this time logged a dispute via the freelancer site there was a negotiation phase where we were unable to come to an agreement so the dispute was escalated to arbitration. The freelancer who bid on the project... User id WSTIBS paid a $30 arbitration fee. I was required to do so within 4 days. No time zones were specified so I worked on NSW time. I paid the $30 on that same day and it hit freelancers account 2 days later.
The dispute was closed on day 3 and my money was awarded to the developer for the reason 'failure to pay the arbitration fee'. Clearly I had, even have the bank records to prove it. The payment was logged correctly via the freelancer system and even their support desk emailed me when queried saying that I could not have logged the payment correctly in any case (intimating some sort of system issue). The ticket was closed with a too bad, so sad type of response from freelancers support desk. I have repeatedly requested to speak with a manager and am
just blatantly ignored.
I believe they in breech of not only their own T&C's but also trade practices law... Seriously how can I have paid $800 for absolutely nothing and this be classed as a legal transaction?
I even wonder if they kept the money and told the developer that he lost the case... These people are a closed shop, cannot be contacted except via limited email addresses and on googliing their Sydney address it appears their offices are actually least by boost mobile?
Avoid this company at all costs
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