What can YOU do to ensure safe transactions with Employers?
Guru.com staff takes great care to quality check each project on our website; however, as in any marketplace, it is important that you take proper steps to ensure that your interaction with Guru.com Employers is smooth and secure.
By researching your Employers and carefully choosing your projects, you can maximize your satisfaction and earnings through Guru.com!
Take the following precautions before you work with an Employer.
Check feedback and statistics
Just as Employers view Freelancers' resumes and proposals before deciding whom to hire, you are encouraged to check Employers' backgrounds before committing to their work. On every Project Details page, Guru.com provides you with Employer Statistics as an indication of each Employer's success and credibility based on past projects.
Has the Employer earned a perfect five-star feedback rating? Have other Freelancers left positive comments about their working relationships? Does the Employer have a long and solid history of paid Invoices through SafePay? Positive past experiences are strong indicators that Employers are legitimate and reliable, and will make good working partners.
Protect your privacy
You are not obligated to provide Employers personal information such as your:
- Social Security number
- Bank account number
- PayPal account information
- Credit card information
- Birth certificate
- Marital status
If your Employers do not use Guru.com's 1099 tax service, you may be required to submit a W-9 form directly to them. This is the only time you should give private information to an Employer.
Set up your project properly through Guru.com
Never begin working on a project until you receive and accept an official, online Project Award. Once you accept a Project Award from an Employer you trust, create and upload an online Project Agreement in which you and the Employer agree upon a project plan (including details, scope, and milestones) and payment schedule. This guarantees that both parties will be on the same page for the duration of the project, maximizing the chances of the project's success.
Ensure your financial security and payment
Only accept payments from Employers through Guru.com's Billing and Payment system. SafePay helps you to avoid unpaid invoices and protects your financial and tax ID information.
When working with a new Employer, use Guru.com's SafePay system. Simply create a SafePay request for your Employer to pay 100% of the project payment to Guru.com before you begin work. Only use Guru Invoicing when working with an Employer you know and trust.
You should never accept funds directly from Employers, nor should you forward, transfer, or wire money for them, even if they instruct you to keep a portion of the money for your payment. Don't agree to work with Employers who request that payment take place outside of Guru.com's Billing and Payment system, as this behavior is highly susceptible to fraud.
You should never pay Employers — you're the one doing the work, after all! You work hard for your money, and the Billing and Payment system safeguards your well-deserved compensation.
Guru.com staff greatly values Freelancers' security and satisfaction. If a particular Employer or project seems suspect to you, or if you have any other questions regarding your rights and responsibilities as a Freelancer, contact us with the details and we'll address your concerns promptly. |