I have completed my Masters in Science, however I was never asked to reproduce any certificates. People may then claim to be gurus of anything!
Exactly! That's why the quality-oriented companies require scanned copies of the applicant's academic certificate and ID. Unfortunately, given the number of fake certificates and ID's which many of us receive, independent verification is often necessary.
Supposing that the applicant passes the screening process and is signed on, s/he has to bear the following in mind:
1) plagiarism: the legits have a one-strike policy, plagiarise once and you are out for good. There are no second chances,
ever.
2) punctuality: submit on time. If, for any valid reason, you feel that you may not be able to meet the stipulated deadline, send admin an advance notice. Sudden freak storms, data drive crashes, etc ... don't wash.
3) quality: unless you are a top level writer with the company, your work will be thoroughly checked before it is sent to the customer. Failure to submit quality work could result in immediate termination.
In short, legits appreciate honest, quality-oriented writers and pay them well. They are, however, completely intolerant of wannabes. Writing is a real job and has to be approached professionally. Unfortunately, many assume it is a quick way to earn some money - it's not and never will be.