How to ensure a secure transaction?

Question

Freelance

Greetings! Share your experience, how do you organize work with clients, are you interested in the settlement system, do you use any systems of secure transactions? If so, which ones? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

The first rule of safe transactions: do not work with shady clients. If the client is constantly trying to bring down the price, add work for free, and generally expresses his reluctance to pay at the very first stage, then it is better not to work with him.
I prefer to work with new clients only through Upwork. Large orders are only billed by the hour, so Upwork guarantees you that the time will be paid. Small orders can be fixed price, but it is very desirable that the client has a positive rating, a verified profile and that it is not Indian / Pakistani, etc.
Generally speaking, google "escrow". This is when there is a third party in the transaction. First, the client pays her money, then she gives it to you when she is convinced that the terms of the transaction are met. There are a lot of services for escrow transactions on the Internet. Sberbank recently rolled out its service, for example.
In general, there is no way to defend yourself with foreign clients, because if they want to cheat on you, they will cheat, and it is unlikely that you will sue them in another country.
With Russian clients, a well-drafted contract will help at the very initial stage. Then you can get money through the court.

Answer 2

Take an advance payment. And take it as a rule.
You have already been told about muddy clients. I will add to this also assholes - do not work with them.

Answer 3

At the interview stage, almost everything will be clear. You either trust each other or you don't.
If there is a suspicion that they do not trust me, I immediately refuse.
There are no safe deals here.

Answer 4

There are exchanges that fully ensure the safety of a freelancer. If you are unlucky and you are not working for this one, take 100% prepayment.

Answer 5

I use Escrow