Greetings.
This post is my initial attempt to compile a list of warning signs and issues that may help to distinguish legit and illegit services. First a couple of disclaimers/caveats:
I am writing purely from a writer's perspective, ie. as someone who has gained professional experience working for a few different academic research companies and who currently maintains professional relationships with 3 such organizations. I won't be naming them because I don't want to be accused of promoting any specific organization and because I think that authors, like the members of any other profession, have a responsibility to conduct their own research on potential employers. Let's be honest: any writer should be at least a bit skeptical of anyone claiming to be a writer and endorsing that they work for a particular company. It's not in MY best interest to advertise how great the companies that I work for are because I want them to keep their number of qualified writers relatively low - that means I have a greater access to, and choice of, work projects because I have less competition within the organization.
However, this list is intended to act as a potentially helpful guideline for old and new writers alike. Helping fellow writers not be scammed by fraudulent businesses helps to ensure that the legit companies that I work for face less competition from these frauds. Pointing out the frauds also potentially helps to improve the reputation of the industry as a whole.
Again, this is specifically a post by a writer to other writers: I have never ordered a custom essay myself and would only attest to the quality of work produced personally by me. I think I have a decent idea of the quality of work generally produced by the companies that I work for but that is a topic for another thread.
I should also note that this is purely from an American perspective. While I think most of the issues described below are universal, it is quite possible that certain legal issues such as contracts will vary according to nation of origin. I won't speak to anything but my own experience.
Signs that you may want to work for a company:
1. They have standards for employment.Standards should exist for both initial hiring and continued employment. Ask yourself these questions: Do they require a minimum level of education? Do they require that you meet deadlines? Do they require a minimum standard of work quality? Do they request a resume? Do they interview you? The first company that I applied for called me within an hour of receiving my resume. I was surprised and delighted. Yes, I still work for them today (years later).
2. They have you sign a contract.The contract (independent contractor W9) explicitly explains the working conditions to which both sides agree. The contract includes provisions concerning decisions to terminate the working relationship and plagiarism.
3. They initially limit your work options.No legit company should be willing to offer a dissertation job worth thousands of dollars to a writer who has not even produced some 3 page book reviews. Placing such an order in the hands of a newby writer is a CLEAR sign that the company does not properly cultivate long term relationships with its writers and therefore has no alternative but to trust potentially huge projects to new faces.
Each of the three companies that I currently work for limited my initial writing contracts to short, relatively simple orders. I didn't see it then but in retrospect I understand that these initial projects were tests to see if I was reliable. IE., if i did flake out and not turn in a project, or turned in plagiarized work or incomprehensible dreck, the company would have a better chance of containing the problem without jeopardizing its relationship with the client. As a writer proves him- or herself capable, then longer and more challenging jobs should become available gradually. Don't expect to get a $1000 freelance writing job offer immediately - if you do, wonder why they would give it to you instead of a more experienced writer.
4. They have your best interest in mind and treat you professionally.A legit company has the interests of its contractors in mind when making decisions because management recognizes that a shortage of talented writers will lead to financial ruin. They offer both positive and negative feedback. If you do a great job, they tell you. If you screw up, they tell you and explain how to fix it.
*They do not expect you to work for free.* They expect you to be fairly compensated in a timely manner for the work that you do complete.
5. Other aspects of the company are professionally presented to the public
Their website is free of errors.They have a high rate of returning business (something that you as a writer will see with time because clients do frequently request the same writer for future projects).
Signs that you probably do not want to work for a company:
1. They have no standards for employment.If becoming a writer just requires you to sign up at the company website, that's a bad sign. If they do that with you, that means they do that with everyone and have zero quality control over the projects produced. If you aren't degreed and you think you can get work, you can, but customers notice the difference in quality and legit companies do too.
2. They expect you to work for free.Legit businesses do not forget to send your payment for completed projects or experience financial difficulties that delay your reception of your payment for the work they commissioned. This would never happen in other professions and I am constantly amazed when I hear people are putting up with this in this field.
They also do not expect you to revise projects for free. Revisions take up your time and you are therefore entitled to compensation (I understand that in some cases the need for revisions may be your fault, but I am assuming that you do not turn in crappy work). The bulk of revisions that you do for a company should be compensated.
I am also very skeptical of companies that use penalty systems to deduct the amount paid for projects. None of the companies that I work for use such systems and frankly they sound to me like a tool that is far too easily manipulated to permit the company to invent excuses for non-payment. Don't work for any joker who thinks that it is legitimate to penalize your payment. I obviously don't mean in cases of plagiarism - if you plagiarize, you deserve to get nothing and the company has every right to fire you. However, amorphous claims of plagiarism without evidence used to deduct your earnings while permitting you to continue to write is a clear sign of manipulation and fraud on the part of the business.
3. Their per page rate is low.Think about how quickly you type and are able to write within an hour. Add the time that it takes to research a project (that are you not directly compensated for) and try to estimate your hourly goal. You should be able to comfortably make $30 per hour without breaking a sweat. If you can't, this may not be the field for you. If your typing skills are a problem, invest in a course or get practicing.
What should you be making? Again, I only want to offer a rough estimate rather than any hard rule. A per page rate in the range of $8 (for courier new font, relatively easy work) to up to 20$ (for times new roman, rush projects requiring a high level of knowledge, such as PhD level work) should be expected. $1-$6 dollars per page is ridiculous. You can't live on that comfortably and no legit business should expect you to do so.
4. The website is sketchy.Spelling and grammar errors are common. The company does not give details on its origin. It lacks phone support.
The warning signs all add up to one vital issue that all writers should remember: respect yourself and expect the company to do the same. Value the time that you spend on a job: this goes for full time writers and individuals writing to simply supplement their income. This is a business. It has the potential to provide long term compensation if that is your goal. It is also a nice way to supplement your income. Do not expect to work for peanuts and do not let yourself be used by others.
If folks would like to add other warning or positive signs, please do.
