Is he ripping me off my money?
By sohapilee
@sohapilee (14)
Philippines
July 6, 2011 2:09am CST
I recently came across a person who offered me a job writing articles for certain blogs online. It might be because of my naturally-suspicious nature, or perhaps is just my intuition, but I have a feeling that I might be getting abused. I write excellent articles when I put my mind to it. I can edit them even better. I've been a bookworm in my entire life, and I've had a lot of experience. But this guy, he's offering me too-low rates for my talent.
I don't know but I just feel like I deserve something more. The thing is, on the first day, he told me that it's going to be 3 dollars per article. The next day, it went down to one dollar. And today he's telling me that it's actually just 10 freakin' pesos. I think that might be 10 cents in the American currency. Whoever pays that amount to writers? Even my school pays 300 pesos for a 300-word article. Isn't this too much?
So now I'm having second thoughts. This 'middle-man' never introduced m eto the client. So who knows how much the client is paying him?
Seriously, this is driving me to insanity.
Should I quit or not?
Is this a rip-off?
Am I getting abused because they think I'm naive?
What am I supposed to do? I am at a loss.
And a little bit enraged.
1 person likes this
10 responses
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
6 Jul 11
If you think you are not compensated for what you're worth then quit. According to the facts that you have written, that middle man never honored your first agreement. I would be suspicious too. And for a ten peso? I'd rather write for my lot. Mylot pays less but I don't have any specifications to follow. I just write whatever I feel and I get to enjoy discussions around here.
Find another job!
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
6 Jul 11
I agree with you Toni. He doesn't have to hang on to that job, because he is so under rated . Perhaps it would be better that he really quit and find other good paying sites for article writing.
@sohapilee (14)
• Philippines
6 Jul 11
And aside form mylot, do you know other sites that I can write in?
Are there even sites that offer those kind of jobs?
(And SIMPLYD, I am actually a 'she')
@toniganzon (72279)
• Philippines
6 Jul 11
Try triond too. There are a lot of sites that pay you for writing. Use the mylot search engine as there were topics discussed about this before. You will see that a lot of mylotters earn from writing online.
So search now and you may get rewarded for using the mylot search engine too.
@tiwari5485 (422)
• Canada
6 Jul 11
lucky you got paid, I have done three articles for some my lotter and have always been rejected without any pay for some reason or other. Wondering if it's a scam.
@marcmm (1804)
• Malaysia
6 Jul 11
I think we can trust some of the task there. And the paying rate also very low. An article for a few cents? You must be kidding me. I can earn more from posting in mylot.
If you really want to earn a lot, I think Helium and Suite 101 is an established name in writing site now. The quality is very high but the pay is quite good.
@tiwari5485 (422)
• Canada
6 Jul 11
I certainly will have to try these two sites. I have had no luck as far as getting paid at mylot.
@marcmm (1804)
• Malaysia
6 Jul 11
This guy really ripping you off. Just tell him that you're done with him.
Maybe you should try other site. Since you are good, I think you should try Helium
I know there are a lot of people didn't recommend Helium. But there are some way to earn a lot there.
First you ensure you write a few articles and get approve. Then you might try to get a star. This star will enable you write at the market place. The market place is where you earn a lot of money. most of the articles there paid minimum like $10 and even up to few hundred. And at the marketplace, you can get upfront payment. You should try this site.
Suite 101 also have a good reputation.
Leave tyhis guy and join this two site.
@Bannybanzie (1397)
• Philippines
6 Jul 11
Go to freelance sites like Odesk. Get your great portfolio ready and whey employers see you're right, you're on your way to great money dear. Now it takes time and a lot of effort to get your first job but it's totally worth it specially if you can pull it off. And yeah, he's paying you so low. Go to odesk.com. That's the best freelance site to go to.
@sohapilee (14)
• Philippines
7 Jul 11
Oh, so that's the best? I signed up for that but the requirements gives me a lot of headache! There are just so much to do before I could apply!Have you that site personally?
@Bannybanzie (1397)
• Philippines
8 Jul 11
Hi!
Well the fact that you need to put effort actually assures you that it is indeed a good site. There are a lot of people who want to go there and have jobs from that site, but if they cannot do the effort, how much more could they do the work? Yes, I have an account in that site and my profile is 100% complete. I suggest you just complete your profile. Focus on at least one area where you think you are very good at, and then build your profile in that area.
Make sure you make a great portfolio. That will attract employers. 
and remember: No pain, no gain!
and remember: No pain, no gain! @imnobodyspecial (318)
• United States
7 Jul 11
You were offered a position as a self employed writer for several blogs, by a person is evidently selling your articles to these blogs. I presume this person is also selling YOUR intellectual property as his/her own which leaves you with no recourse to copy writ or residuals for this intellectual property.
Leave his/her employ. There are several places you can place your intellectual property where you can get paid for it being view while retaining all rights to said property.
There is also the possibility of creating your own blog or website and using income generating avenues, such an approach would insure your continued ownership of your intellectual properties and copy writs.
@marxistmind (102)
•
6 Jul 11
I feel your pain my friend. The issue you have is that people will write long article for next to nothing. I don't how people think that writing a 500 word article for $0.50 is worth it. I have seen a lot of poor offers for peoples hard work on odesk, but the trick is just to leave them too it and don't work for them.
It is enraging that people think that they can pay you next to nothing for something they can't do themselves. These people pray on naive writer who are new to the industry and make a living from them.
So I would leave it my friend.
@sohapilee (14)
• Philippines
7 Jul 11
Exactly what's bugging me. Because I think the rates that he is paying me is just simply too low! It's unjust.
I'm thankful for the many opinions here...I guess soon I will simply quit!
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
6 Jul 11
This person is definitely scamming you. It is just unprofessional to quote one price and have you work on that assumption and then pay you less. 10 Philippine Pesos is just $0.23!
Yes, you should certainly expect a better rate. $3 for 300 words is acceptable (though many established freelance writers would demand more, especially if they are selling all rights to the work).
@SpikeTheLobster (6403)
•
6 Jul 11
Umm, yeah - quit. If he said it's 3 dollars a post, it's $3 a post. He drops the rates, you don't do the work. Or you could work out how much his rate is and write a respective number of words: 23c is about 1/12 of 3 dollars, so he gets 25 words.
It's probably because you're (a) a student and (b) in the Philippines. He thinks you won't walk out. He's obviously stupid.
@Jlyn10 (11966)
• Malaysia
6 Jul 11
Yes, the payment is definitely too low. If you are very good in writing articles, why not write for yourself on those revenue sharing sites like Triond. They pay you when people view your articles.
And if you're looking for freelance job, you can try as what Bannybanzie suggested - Odesk.com or maybe Freelancer.com. Sometimes the payment for an article could go as high as $5USD or even more.
