Change Expert Payment Policies
I definitely think a change in policy is in order. If justanswer.com values its experts, then a change will be made.
Customers should be able to rate us for their own purposes. It will enable them to pick the best experts. But our pay should never be contingent on whether or not we are rated. We did the work; we should be paid.
A customer may not rate us because they went on vacation, became ill, just didn't feel like it, or worse yet, passed away. We still did the work and should be compensated. If they pay, the money should come to us. Period. It shouldn't be refunded simply because they didn't rate us. Is it refunded? We don't even know. Or does this company keep the funds?
I have a job that was originally posted at $70 and passed to me by another expert. I did the work a month ago! This customer has a 26/26 so it is very peculiar why this customer has not rated me. They weren't even on the site for almost a month. Anyway, the original price was as I said, $70. When I accepted the job and started writing the customer, the price dropped to $33.20! Luckily I had taken a photo of both prices but still I had to argue with the customer service people in order to get paid the $70. Yet I am not being paid the $70 because the customer has not rated me. Nor has their number changed to 26/27. What is going on?
There should be transparency if the company expects us to be transparent as well, and be held to high standards of ethical behavior.
I have talked to other experts who say they just figure some times they won't get paid. Why do they accept that? My time is valuable and so is my work.
There are other expert sites that do not have rating contingencies. Your company may lose some very good experts if the policy isn't changed. And policies change all the time. They are organic.
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Irwin Law commented
I tend to agree with you. Our fate as experts should not be in the fickle hands of our customers, especially the types who used legal in order to avoid paying lawyers for ANYTHING. Hello!! I also wonder about the payment system itself, and if we are in fact competing with JA for a split of the money that the customer has paid. The system seems to be "boom or bust" for experts? Why? And the biggest mystery of all: Why are so many customers not returning to read the Answers. Are they all putting in for refunds, or are they leaving their money "on the table". Overall, I think this is a great website and I enjoy doing it.