I was wondering if the client, after closing the contract and requesting a refund, still has the possibility to leave feedback. I recall that during the contract closure process, is required to leave feedback—positive, negative, or none at all—but once the contract is closed, it is no longer possible to do so. Can you confirm this?
Client feedback after contract closure
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Urjack
The client ended the contract?
Then they have already left their feedback, but it won't be visible until you leave your fedback or 14 days transpire.
If you refunded the money, the public feedback will not show, but the private feedback can hurt your JSS.
If the private feedback is bad, it will be used in your JSS calculation, not otherwise.
The party who closes the contract HAS TO leave feedback. If nothing was paid (the client cancelled without payment), no public feedback can be left UNLESS you win the dispute and get paid, in which case the client can leave feedback within the 14 days.
The other party can leave feedback within 14 days of the contract being closed, but does not have to do so.
Petra Hi Petra, it's a pleasure to hear from you again! You probably don’t remember me, but when I first signed up on Upwork a few years ago, we exchanged private messages, and you gave me some great advice. (I’m Italian and specialize in branding design, and you shared tips about my portfolio.)
Let me try to clarify: the client arbitrarily closed the contract and requested the entire milestone, so he must have left feedback (or he might have skipped it). Now, I’m considering filing a dispute. If I win the dispute, would he still have the option to leave feedback even after the contract has been closed?
It really bothers me to leave $4K to a spoiled kid.
Urjack They can, within 14 days. It is clearly written in the rules of Upwork:
"Leave feedback on a contract that has ended
Go to Jobs > All contracts
Choose the job you need and select the (...) button
Select Give feedback. If 14 days have passed since the contract has closed, your opportunity to leave feedback has passed and you won’t see this option.
You have 14 days from the end of a contract to leave feedback. We created the system to be double-blind, which means that feedback won’t be visible until both parties provide it for each other. We designed it this way to help ensure genuine, independent feedback from both parties. If only one party leaves feedback, we will post it after the 14-day period has expired."
the client arbitrarily closed the contract and requested the entire milestone, so he must have left feedback (or he might have skipped it)
The client must have left private feedback. They can't have left public feedback because nothing was paid.
Now, I’m considering filing a dispute.
For $4k I would CERTAINLY file a dispute and take it all the way to arbitration. For the full amount. None of that 50/50 nonsense the mediator will invariably suggest because that is what they are asked to do.
Was the work done?
Was the whole $4k in escrow?
If I win the dispute, would he still have the option to leave feedback even after the contract has been closed?
This is where you are going to have to be smart. The ability to leave feedback goes away 14 days after the contract was closed. You have 7 days to file a dispute. Take 5 or 6 of those. That initiates mediation. Let that drag on as much as practical whilst paying attention to any deadlines to respond. This will probably drag on another week. Then, depending on the outcome, there is the option to go to arbitration. By then you'll certainly b over the 14 day deadline and the client won't be able to leave feedback regardless.
If they do, you can respond to it but let's get through this step first.
Petra I refer to this part of the OP question: " I recall that during the contract closure process, is required to leave feedback—positive, negative, or none at all—but once the contract is closed, it is no longer possible to do so. Can you confirm this?". And I have also confirmed that only private feedback is allowed in his case.
Okay, now it's clear. If no funds have been transferred, only the private feedback has released, the public feedback can only do so after payment, but after 14 days post-closure, hi can no longer release it. @Petra, there’s $4250 in Escrow. I’ve provided extra drafts and work to meet the client’s expectations, but they’ve been unresponsive for over a month and now claim the work doesn’t meet their needs. I think I’ll follow your advice and go for external arbitration.
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You have to go through mediation first, just be absolutely clear in mediation that you have done the work as required and are not going to back down.
Say only as much as is absolutely necessary, and as little as possible. Stay professional and calm. Do not waver from your line.
Ask here if there is anything that is not clear or makes you feel uncomfortable.
Mediation will push for a 50/50 split.
Do not agree to that.
Much of what I know about disputes I have learned from @TopRatedTroll. I only ever had one dispute. (which was a joke because I told the client I didn't want to continue working with her, and theoretically she was outside the dispute period, but someone ín support told her if she added a funded milestone she could then dispute.
But I remember thinking at every interaction "What would @TopRatedTroll do!?" and it worked.
I ended up being able to close the contract, keep my money and she didn't even leave poor feedback.
Petra Thank you for the suggestion, I am well aware of the procedure. In the first year, a very similar client requested a full refund after several extra drafts and my attempt to find a satisfactory result. I asked for mediation, and since he was arrogant and rude, I went to external arbitration with AAA. After reviewing the chat and the designs I had proposed, the judge awarded me 95% of the amount, I believe he left him with 5% to buy some Kleenex to dry his tears.