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by bravura 3661 days ago
That is against their TOS.

Upwork encourages you to do all messaging on the platform, and scans your messages for hints that you are trying to move work off the platform. If so, they give you temporary bans or other punishments.

I'm not saying that no one does this, but Upwork are vigilant about it.
4 comments
mundo 3661 days ago
That seems akin to a dating site that bans users for discussing marriage...
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tzaman 3661 days ago
That's because married couples would blame the dating site when getting divorced :)
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phonon 3661 days ago
The non-circumvention clause lapses after 24 months (from the date you first "identify" that person through the site.) So, kinda bad but not terrible https://www.upwork.com/legal/ (There is a buy-out clause, but it's pretty expensive.)
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waterphone 3661 days ago
That sounds like a terrible environment to lock yourself into, but it also seems pretty ineffective. If I was temporarily banned for hinting that I was going to leave the Upwork platform, that would be a trigger to leave it even more quickly.
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MichaelBurge 3661 days ago
Leaving the Upwork platform permanently isn't what bothers them[1]; they're worried more about the while loop where you:

* Obtain a lead on Upwork

* Request moving off of Upwork to avoid fees

* Do subsequent payments through Paypal or similar.

In this case, you aren't moving off the platform entirely and banning you will hurt your lead generation.

[1] At least in the context of this specific case.

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HelloMcFly 3661 days ago
How do they prevent/monitor phone calls? It almost seems like the nature of the beast for this type of organization: you help establish the relationship and take a commission. If they want to take the relationship "to the next level" then you just have to accept that.

Of course, it's not that easy, especially if you feel you're being cut out of money you are "owed."

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