I don't see a benefit, even if you received a free subscription. How beneficial is the service going to be, whether short- or long-term? Even if you use their content for current classes, you know you are using papers that other students submitted simply to gain access. There is no vetting process to determine the quality of the papers. Basically, anyone can submit anything. Having the papers "approved," doesn't mean they are quality papers. It simply means the submitter met the requirements of submit x number of papers to gain access. Not to mention, your hard work (assuming you wrote the papers you submitted) will not be used over and over by other students. And don't think that just because a student has already received his/her degree this won't come back to bite them in the butt (see archive.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/03/28/degree_revoked_over_cheating_allegations/, which is only one of several articles on this very issue).

If you need help, a paper mill is not the answer. Get a tutor, hire a professional writer who will provide only original content, or write your own and hire an editor to review if you aren't confident in your writing.

As @WriteReview said, the majority of client referrals are going to be verbal. The majority of clients are simply not going to review an academic writing service. That's one way we know the majority of all reviews are fake. No one wants to be publicly associated with essay companies. I get it, and I'm fine with that. Why? If you provide quality services (also meeting deadlines), that customer will eventually tell his/her friend/s, who will reach out when they need help. I'm also in agreement with @WriteReview on "free papers" as an incentive. I have neither the time nor inclination to provide free writing. I might offer a small discount to a new customer, but even then it depends on the extent of the work and other factors.

@FreelanceWriter
Exactly. The line is fine, and the area is gray. (See my reply to the OPs point 6: https://essayscam.org/forum/wc/academic-writing-jobs-possible-disadvantages-downsides-6178/ )

Ditto. I'm glad someone stood up for the company. I know that with the number of unscrupulous companies out there, it's easy to believe all the negatives. I'm glad this wasn't one of those times.

I tend to inspect people's comments and see what could be hidden indicators of a potential problem. I've learned this the hard way in my own writing career. I don't know if anyone else noticed, but this is a red flag:

In my 20+ years in the industry, these types of questions are indicative of a customer who might have plans to complain later (i.e. get an order AND a refund). It sounds like that may have been the case here. Regardless, the OP admittedly turned the work into his/her professor. That in itself negates any potential claims the OP has (legit or otherwise).

At any rate, kudos to @CPKate for defending the company.

From what I've seen in other posts, this has become a serious issue that legitimate companies need to address. There has to be fair quality control processes that not only ensure customers get what they order but that ensures writers are treated fairly. I detest companies that rely on automated system, too. There are simply some tasks that require getting of your butt and checking the paper or details before assuming a writer erred. Most freelancers here (serious, professional, long-term writers) know that the majority of customer complaints are related to something minor that a customer has misunderstood or left out of their original instructions. Sadly, a large number of customers react badly versus approaching their writer kindly noting what they perceive and allowing the writer to reply and/or correct if a correction is warranted. :)

I'm not sure about which companies are or remain industry leaders, but searching the forum will give you an idea of which companies have better feedback than others. Now, that's not to say that some negative feedback is bad just as not all "good reviews" are good, but it will give you an idea of which companies might be right for you.

Edited to say: Also, this applies to the freelancers who post here, myself included. Due your research on any company or writer you may want to engage. It pays to be informed beforehand.

Unless you fit into the category of being a bad ESL writer, why even ask the question? However, based on the verbiage of the posts, it would seem that your writing does need improvement. I'm not saying that to be negative or to put you down. I applaud you for what you're wanting to do and for seeking advice. That's the sign of someone who wants to improve.

Since your original post and update back in June, how far have you come? I like that you took orders in your native language. That may be where you succeed the most. Wishing you the best of luck and never stop working toward doing better. :)

My definition of ghostwriting and academic writing is similar to @WriteReview. Both require the writer to complete a project, most often from start to finish, where the writer will not be known or disclosed. What the client does with the project upon its completion (right or wrong) is, frankly, not the writer's business. The writer is hired to do a job. When the writer has received payment and the project has been delivered, the job is complete. The project is now owned by the buyer. The writer no longer exists, in that sense (aka being a ghost). If the writer has qualms about how the end project will or will not be used the best course of action is to not accept the order in the first place.

I have to disagree.

I've completed many copy writing assignments for business clients and it's just as stressful, if not more so. With an academic paper, you have references (and instructions) to back up your work.

In copywriting, you are at the mercy of your client's perception of what you've written. If Bob's in a bad mood today, he may find your writing less compelling that he did yesterday. Or perhaps Bob loves the piece but the rest of his team doesn't. Whatever the reason, you can be hit with several revision or even full rewrite requests.

Copywriting is similar to designing an ad concept... you don't know 100% that your work will hit the mark until the client sees it and, at the end of the day, their approval is the defining point of a successful project. In copywriting, like in graphic ad campaigns, the client generally has the final say on whether the project is accepted (paid) or rejected (not paid/refunded).

Of course, there are a few ways to avoid endless revisions/rewrites by making sure the client understands and agree to your policies before the project begins, but still, that doesn't mean the client will accept the project.

Unfortunately, that is a disadvantage of being an academic writer. However, as professional writers, all we can do it fulfill the clients' requests to the best of our ability and trust (albeit blind trust) they will use it as intended/ordered. While writing is not the same as retail sales, there is a similar presumption. For instance, when a customer buys a roll of duct tape or a tarp from Walmart, Walmart has the reasonable presumption the customer is not buying the products to use as tools in a murder kit. (Yeah, yeah, a bit dramatic, but you get the idea.)

Exactly. While I still love writing, I don't love the business of it. When writing became a full-time job versus something I did because I like to do it, it changed. Note, I always give my all to every project and will continue to do so. Still, there's no addiction or workaholic mentality here. Writing is my chosen career and I do it to pay my bills. Period. There are times when projects are big enough that I can take a break for a couple of days but there's other times when the projects coming in are smaller and that means I need more to reach my income goals. But an addiction. No. Not at all.

I've seen enough of the other responses to agree that the company is one to avoid, but relying on the view of the poster above? Ha. Well, I guess they have a point... I don't like peas with crab, either. A nice sauce, maybe, but no peas.

All legitimate US-based companies should always obtain a completed W9 from each writer before the writer is officially contracted and/or given an order. And yes, for writers outside the US, the company is still responsible for reporting what was paid to each writer. How it is reported, however, varies. A good answer (for US writers) is: ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3884694-deductions-for-independent-contractor-outside-the-us

I've seen some fairly good work by Kenyan writers in the past, though granted it hasn't been very often. A few of the Kenyan writers I've encountered have been brilliant and their writing was good, but (yes, there's always a but) there are always distinguishing areas in the writing that point to the work not being written by a native English-speaking writer.

You know, I really don't understand why companies that insist on hiring ESL writers don't, at the very least, have an native English-speaking writer or editor review before sending an order to the customer. Maybe there are some that do (surely there are??), but I haven't heard of it. If it were me, that's what I would do and I would also send the edited version to the ESL writer to show what was changed (i.e. learning tool). Personally and professionally, I am not the type of person to knock it if that's the job/profession a person wants to pursue, but if you are determined to be a writer (regardless of ethnicity), then always (ALWAYS) strive to improve. If you know your writing skills aren't up to par, work on changing that and don't take projects you know are above your current level.

Sadly, more and more professors are relying on the WriteCheck and Turnitin reports versus actually taking the time to review papers from beginning to end, and we all know that even WriteCheck is not always accurate. Knowing that many professors do not take the time to see if flagged areas are legitimately flagged shows a decline in the education system. Instead of assigning papers to help students learn and grow, it appears they're being assigned for the sake of having assigned something. Then students become overwhelmed with multiple papers to be written in almost every class yet no time. No wonder students need help (poor writing as an issue aside).

I can understand that, as paying clients, students need to know the work they ordered is original. Given the high number of questionable companies/writers, they can't afford to simply take the company's/writer's word that the order is 100% original. However, that doesn't change the fact that all programs retain the data submitted. There is no single plagiarism checker that does not do this, so there is no comforting answer we can give students -- other than to stress the importance of working with a reputable company/writer.

I don't use a plagiarism checker at all. I won't put my writing or my clients' project at risk. How do I avoid plagiarism? I don't plagiarize! It's a fool-proof method. ;)

I am careful to cite anything discussed where the idea or information did not originate in my mind or it's not common knowledge. Everyone has his/her method of how they cite, but I do it was I go along so that I don't unintentionally forget. I don't add placeholder parentheses to fill in later. That's too risky. What if I'm interrupted and forget to go back and add (Doe, 2018)? I just don't risk it. Of course, that's just my personal work style. Whatever a writer's style and preferences, avoiding using a plagiarism checker should be a rule.

The OP never explained how s/he was "conned off" by the students. Did they do a chargeback after receiving their papers? If not, then why in the world did the OP send the papers BEFORE collecting payment. That's asking for trouble. No, I'm not kicking the OP when s/he's down, just being real. There's no way I will work on one sentence before payment is collected.

I'd love to know the overall outcome. I also agree with the majority - the OP sought revenge, not justice. It sounds like they reacted out of anger and professionalism jumped out the window. Being scammed by a client is never a good thing, but trying all possible amicable options first is always the best way to go. Posting someone's paper should be last resort, after all else has failed. And even then, I still don't know that it's always the best way to go.

I'm not familiar with the company so I checked what appears to be its website (the OP didn't include a link, just a company name). Based on what it shows (on a decent-looking website), if the OP didn't receive a confirmation email, the order may not have gone through for whatever reason. If their payment was deducted from their bank, then they should address the current issue. If their payment was not deducted, try resubmitting the order. Depending on when the order was placed, that may be why the OP didn't get an answer when emailing/calling. The OP also said they called "their 24-hour helpline." I don't see anywhere on the website where their call numbers are noted as 24-hours.

It sounds like the OP was desperate (running out of time given their paper was due in 2 days) and was so rushed trying to order that they didn't pay close attention. While there are a ton of companies that are "scammers" out there, some issues can be linked back to situations like this. As long as no money was taken, and given that the OP then had even less time, I'd be writing my paper versus posting in a forum. ;)

The threshold or allowance percentage applies to flagged content that is generally common words or phrases. The student is still responsible for making sure paraphrasing is properly cited in every instance and that direct quotes are minimal (if allowed at all). While professors look (should should look) at the paper to see what the flagged areas apply to, the standard is below 15%. It also depends on the respective university's policies as I've seen some require less than 10%. I've never seen 20%. I'm not saying it's not possible as, like I said, each university has its own allowances. However, as a write or student, I'd be careful to keep the % below 10 to be safe. And even then, it depends on what that 10% shows as to whether a paper will be deemed as plagiarized.

It has been a while since anyone revisited this post or the website in question. I didn't see the website in 2016 but a visit today sparked an immediate concern. The moment you type in their url and hit enter, the website conducts a "browser check" that lasts about 5-10 seconds. Typically, a browser check should not be a bad thing, after all, when legit, it protects the company and its visitors. What is concerning is that this very same type of browser check can also be used for malware (see news.softpedia.com/news/malware-distributors-use-fake-cloudflare-ddos-checks-to-trick-users-500197.shtml).

From the screenshot I took, it seems the check is legit here, but we all want to be careful when checking out these websites we share in the forum. Especially, when it appears they are posted by a company associate.

• 
  Screenshot of browser check
  

That sounds like the most likely answer. ;) I totally agree with you on drafts being inefficient for writers.

Personally, I work on complete projects 99% of the time. If the client finds an error or something missed in the completed project (rare but I'm human), I am happy to revise. No questions asked. However, perceptions vary so much from person to person that I do not have time to go back and forth making changes because a customer says things like, "I like what you wrote, but maybe you would could focus on this instead of that." First, if you requested that I focus on "this" instead of "that" in your instructions, sure, I'll change it. Otherwise, it's considered a subjective opinion, and I have to be paid for my time. Can't pay more for my time? Well, since you already know you want to add "that" instead of "this," go ahead. In the time it takes to email the writer about trivial things, sometimes, the customer could have plugged those words or changes in themselves. Then we get "but that's what I paid you to do." So what then? Reviewing the original instructions to be sure I didn't miss anything, I remind the client of what they ordered and illustrate how I fulfilled their requirements.

Overall, the scenario above, if working with drafts, is often doubled. So instead of addressing any issues when the full project is complete, the entire order could become a back and forth of endless (and often trivial) changes.

I am pro-customer all the way, but as writers, most of us have a professional system that works and has worked well for many years. I know it is hard to trust a writer you've never used, but for the best outcome, sometimes you gotta bite the bullet that just go with the flow. ;) Constant change requests when a project is completed in draft stage, combined with the interruptions that drafts bring along, hinder a writer's progress and, while not intentional, can reduce quality.

Earlier posts convey most of what I would say, but I want to add that limiting the subject area will limit the amount of work one will receive. The OP said , "I am thinking of starting my own essay writing site with humanities focus." Initially, it would typically be better to expand one's focus to build a strong client base. Later, when you're established and have cultivated your reputation, you could then scale back to specialize in a specific area. When starting out, you're already in a position where no one knows you as a go-to source, so you need to reach a wider audience. ;)

I don't think you're a crook. Sure, you now know they are claiming something that isn't true. However, you can't control what a company says or doesn't say. What you do have control over is how well you write and treat the customers whose work is assigned to you. There's already a stigma of working with writers whose native language isn't English, so don't worry about. Just work hard and be you! As for the gray area, everyone here works in the gray area so no one has the right to judge. ;)

Right on!

Even still, there has to be knowledge of the offense and/or intent to engage or cover up and that's just not the case in the majority of cases. :)

I detest these types of posts that attempt to throw ALL writers and ALL companies under one blanket. Before I respond to the actual post's content, I will say that an OP who goes by "theParalegal" would be better served by first: 1) fact checking and 2) a spelling/grammar check.

I see that @srandrews commented on a few points back in 2012, but the bulk of the OP's post was never addressed. Here's my break down.

Why do students result to buying essays from essay writing services knowing very well that these companies rely on ESL writers?
While there are many companies that hire ESL writers (and I'll go as far as to say the majority probably fits the bill), not all companies do. There are several US-based companies that have been in business for years--if not decades--that work with only native English-speaking writers.

These companies rarely deliver your paper on time and are there to 'eat away' into your scant resources.
Again, an incorrect blanket statement that does not apply to all companies. I know of several companies that work hard to ensure their clients receive quality work ON TIME. So, check your facts.

Students love shortcuts which in turn tend to become 'longcuts' and later on keep complaining about how they were ripped.

In defense of students who seek help with their papers, you're now applying a blanket statement to all students. Sure, some are lazy and simply do not want to do the work. However, the majority (yes, the majority) have a legitimate reason for needing help whether it's being overwhelmed with multiple assignments, family/work issues, illness, or for many, English is not their native language and they need help making sure their work is correctly written. There's many reasons why a student seeks help and faulting them for doing so is cruel. (Which sounds like that may have been the OP's intention.)

Avoid these companies at all costs for they can: deliver a paper that leads to a fail on submission, blatantly refuse to write your paper/refund your money, submit your IP to major search engines whereby you end up being blocked (they collect info on your location and bank details) and finally can cause a host of problems once they see that you are bent on identifying and shaming them.

Again, check your facts. You're accusing ALL companies of doing these things when what you are saying is inaccurate. Even the most unscrupulous companies generally deliver something partially decent. That's how they keep students coming back. Some give just enough to be considered "okay." Granted, those companies you will want to approach carefully. However, there are several companies that have an established reputation and it's unfair to group them with the bottom-feeders.

Submit your IP to major search engines?? Huh? That does nothing. Nothing at all. Now, if you are harassing the company via email, they can report you, but the whole "IP/search engine/block me" claim... I call BS.

I've read a few posts where students claim a company threatened to post their paper online because the customer received the paper and then did a chargeback. In those instances, it's within the company's rights to do so. When the customer did a chargeback, they gave up ALL rights to the paper. If the customer turned it in as his/her own, that's the hole they dug for themselves. Think about it this way: if you buy a shirt from Walmart and realize it doesn't fit, you only get your money back if you return it, right? You don't get to keep the shirt AND get your money back. Now, add this... a paper is a digital product. Unlike that shirt you bought, it can't be "returned." Sure, you can say you're not going to use it, but what good is that? Just because you "said" you won't use it? Why should it not be an acceptable reason? Because you bought it. You received it. Just like eBooks, music downloads, etc. (perhaps you are one of those horrid people who read eBooks and then get your money back? aka STEALING / FRAUD). Sure, if there's a legitimate issue with the paper (something other than "I don't like it"), then by all means you should get a revision. The paper should be correct according to the info you provided when you ordered it. Nothing more, nothing less.

Remember that there is no law that stipulates that they are illegal. As far as they can prove that the paper provided is to be used for reference only, they will always manage to evade the law.

Uhhmm, every TOS I've ever read makes the usage terms crystal clear. If you opt to take the paper and turn it in exactly word for word as it was written, well... karma.

Additionally, they hold your personal details as soon as you make a purchase. Therefore, they can make your life a nightmare if they 'somehow' managed to report you to your institution. Remember that they have a host of intelligent hackers and spammers who they can use to their advantage.

I am not debating that fact that some unscrupulous companies do hold your information, but that does not mean ALL companies do. However, what has really sparked my interest in the OP's post is the overly harsh accusations. Those are the types of accusations (while many are not accurately presented) that come from someone who has tried to scam a company or writer.

So, here, I'd be more leery of "theParalegal" than the worst company out there.

As with any industry, yes, there is a hierarchy. A new writer will not (or should not) be assigned the same level or frequency of orders as someone who has been with the company for some time. While a writer generally has to provide samples of his/her writing when applying, this doesn't really tell the company what you can do for its customers. The samples simply show what is possible. For all the company knows, someone else wrote your samples or you had someone edit them... or they belong to someone else altogether. After you've been assigned a few orders and the company and sees what you can do, as long as the clients are happy, you will start to get more work. More than likely, if the customers are pleased, they will start to request you. Your client base will grow as will your income. It doesn't happen overnight, but as as long as you provide quality papers on time, you will move up. As long as your quality is consistent (meaning good writing with consistent improvements or excellent writing), you may move up quickly. A good company's objective is to make the customer happy so that they return and refer others. If you have a hand in that process, you're going to rise in the ranks. :)

Yes, asking around is good, but I'm an advocate for getting some type of live interaction. It's too easy to slap some text on a website or in a post online. Even the worst company can hire someone to create compelling content to lure unsuspecting clients. Anyone who's been a member here for even a little while knows that, while frustrating, the predators are plentiful in this industry. A few pointers:

--Getting the writer or company rep on the phone is a good start. If they don't have a phone, I'd be cautious. No posted phone doesn't mean a company isn't legit, but it is something to give reason to research them further. A call lets you know the language spoken (or fluency thereof) and it gives you a chance to ascertain their knowledge with what you need. Not all reps are writers, but they should have enough knowledge that they can answer the majority of questions you will have before you place an order.

--Chat (also an alternative if there's no phone listed) is good to get an idea of how the rep responds to questions (i.e. what is the rep's speed in replying and how accurate is the grammar?).

Live calls and chats give the rep no time to tweak their response. Email is okay for use after the initial call/chat, but as an intro, it doesn't let you know who you're dealing with. Not that any method is 100% accurate, calls and live chats will help.

This is an old post but one worth following up and adding to.


Did you pay as promised?

So, what I gather is that the OP paid but for some reason the payment didn't go through? I find it hard to believe that any writer would complete a full dissertation order before the payment was made. If the writer started then realized the payment didn't go through, why did he/she continue writing? At the very least, if they were set on writing it, why did they send the completed project to the OP before the payment was made?

The story itself makes NO sense. It sounds like the OP somehow screwed the writer (maybe a chargeback or dispute after the paper was received), in which case the OP doesn't have any right to the paper.

The OP didn't legally purchase the paper. He stole from the writer. Unless the payment has since been made in full, the OP still does not own the paper, meaning the dissertation (if submitted) was not his to submit.

Unless the deadline was soon, it is disturbing that the order (a dissertation) could not be cancelled less than 24 hours after being placed. Unless the writer jumped on the work the moment it was placed, it's unlikely that much--if anything--was done at that stage. The writer could reasonably request to be paid for his/her time for any research conducted and what was written already (if anything). However, it's unlikely one would be paid for research time if nothing had been written (even a couple of pages). Regardless, the company's refusal to refund the majority of your payment is questionable.


So instead of giving useful advice, you advise the OP to purposefully scam the company? Or more pointedly, the writer! I would hope the OP would not let a writer write a dissertation knowing the entire time he/she is going to claim a refund. What sorry, sorry advice!

From what I understand, the OP knew the writer had a tendency for missed deadlines but chose to use the writer again because the OP liked the writer's work. While I understand a client wants the same quality, quality is more than just the mechanics of writing; it also involves professionalism and timeliness. Going back a second time was risky--which the OP now knows. Sure, as writers, things happen that are beyond our control, but even a short reply to let the OP know something is better than radio silence. However, after the first few emails went unanswered (assuming the emails were a day or so apart--not back to back to back in the same day--and depending on the time left to your final deadline), I'd have emailed a final time cancelling the order and requesting a refund. Often times, the cancel and refund request will spark action, unless the intent was to scam. However, since you did work with the writer before, a scam is unlikely (or at least I hope that's the case) and maybe something major did occur (illness, loss of internet service, etc.). Apart from serious illness or death, though, there is no real excuse for long bouts of no response. After all, there's free wi-fi everywhere these days!


This could be risky, too. What if the deadline comes and there's still no reply. The OP then has wasted valuable time that could have been spent either completing the project himself or finding another writer. We all know the closer the deadline, the higher the cost in may cases. The writer's unprofessionalism would then cost the OP even more!

I'd like to know the outcome. Did the writer ever reply? Did the OP get the paper? Did they get their money back?

There are pros and cons to both working for yourself and for a company, but the perks of being self-sufficient generally outweigh working for someone else.

I'm equally concerned at the low rates the OP said he/she charged. Why would you want to limit yourself to the same rate you'd get through a company? If you're okay working for that rate, then staying with the company makes more sense. Otherwise, you're not allowing yourself an overage for costs associated with working for yourself. If you're serious about being a indie writer and assuming your quality is worth the increase, you'd be better charging a higher rate so offset the costs of doing business.

Overall, if you have a decent head for business and have good time management skills, you can make a good living on your own. And like @WriteReview said, you will serving one "boss" (the client) instead of two. Unless you work for a company that allows writers to have direct contact with clients, being independent is typically best.

Otherwise, you run the risk of miscommunication as what is relayed from customer to company to writer can be distorted versus being able to discuss the project directly with the customer. As for how successful you will be working for yourself depends on the quality of your writing and how effectively you manage your client load, communication, and deadlines.

I love that suggestion. It's an excellent what to show (versus tell) you are what you claim. We see so many posts in the forum (and elsewhere) where writers and companies claim excellent quality, competitive prices, yada yada. A blog with frequent posts is a great way to show your writing is consistent over time versus being fluff ad text that's a static post or listing for your services.

I'd be interested to know who has used blogging to boost their writing careers. No blog links needed, just feedback that could benefit others who may be thinking about giving it a try.

I agree @WriteReview. The sites and freelancers listed here should be approached with the same caution one would give to a company not listed. Why would I say that when I am also listed as a freelancer? Because it's the truth. When I filled out my profile, I was able to include what I wanted or didn't want to include. My profile is accurate and true, but of course I would say that, right? So will any other writer or company for that matter. I would expect a prospective client to ask me a ton of questions and to want to proceed slowly to ascertain my work quality before diving in with anything major. For those seeking a reliable writing service or writer, there are so many things to look for and to watch out for. For me, though, I have several personal rules that I enforce upon myself.

Helping the prospective client feel comfortable

I understand clients want and need to feel comfortable and real comfort comes from more than just delivering what we promise to the best of our abilities. I think one reason (not all) I am able to gain a client's trust quicker than some is because I reiterate their order requirements (in writing and often verbally as well). That lets them know that I've actually paid attention to what they are asking and it gives them the chance to clarify anything they feel I may not understand. Now, that said, when we get past the reiteration stage (my part) and the reconfirmation stage (the client's part), if they later come back and say something wasn't done as requested (very rare as my process reduces many of the common issues that might arise later), I can literally show what they asked, what I understand they wanted, and that they reconfirmed my understanding. That's not to say that I never make a mistake. I do. I try not to, but we all do, and anyone (or company) who claims otherwise is the one to be wary of. ;)

Be honest if you can't do something

No one can do everything and among those who can do many things, no one does 100% of the things perfectly all the time. If a project seems too intense or complex, be honest. If you're willing to give it a shot, offer to start with a small portion to see if you can master it. If you aren't sure or prefer not to try, refer the project to a colleague. If you are opting to "give it a try," be honest with the client. Let them know it's not your area of "expertise" and explain that you are willing to try. I recommend that writers never take a project they aren't sure they can successfully complete simply for the sake of making a buck. That is a breeding ground for issues and a surefire way to get branded a "scammer." I can do many types of projects across multiple disciplines, but I can't do them all. Then, there are some I could do, but I don't want to. For example, I can do advanced accounting and related reports and spreadsheets, but I hate it!

When looking for a writer or company, it is wise to consider how they approach you and your project from start to finish. Also, noting that "approach" involves more than just the mechanics of writing. It involves how you are treated from the first introduction until the project is completed... and after, in many cases. It's also important to remember, if going with a company, that not all writers are the same. Talents vary and if you aren't pleased with one writer, it doesn't mean that writer is a "bad" writer or that the company is a scam.

Which brings me to the last point I want to add... the scam/scammer. The term is widely overused. It seems that nearly every issue that many members post about is generally called a "scam." Yeah, yeah, I get it... this is EssayScam. ;) However, a scam is an intentional action or lack thereof. There ARE a ton of scammers in this industry, no doubt, but just because a person has an issue with his/her writer or client doesn't mean the writer/company/client is a scammer. When looking for a writer or writing company, you have to look beyond forum posts and reviews (good or bad). Unfortunately, this means taking a time to research and many of the students seeking a writer/company wait until they need our help soon (rush jobs) and they end up going with the one who makes the most promises for the lowest price, then are upset when they get burned. Just remember, if it sounds to good to be true, most often it is. If a writer or company is promising the moon with a few stars to boot, be careful. None of us are that perfect. ;)

Sounds like the "retraction" may have been forced. Perhaps the writer decided he/she wanted to remain with the company and those were the terms of doing so. Who knows. It sounds a little too kiss-butt to be the full story. ;)


In response to @Nolan: part of the issues you've had probably are linked to your poor grammar (only one of many quoted above). If the papers you wrote contains even a fraction of the errors as contained in your post above, you'd be better off considering a different career choice.

There is a big difference between an issue that arises from miscommunication or an error versus an outright scam. To me, the scammers are those (companies and freelancers) who portray themselves as something they aren't. For instance, claiming to be a US-based company all the while using IP proxies to mask where they're really located. Some claim to have native English-speaking writers when 99% of their contracted writers are from Kenya (not bashing Kenya, just stating the facts).

It's sad that most comments and reviews about a company or writer come from angry clients, but that is a fact in all industries. Anger will spark action quickest. Sad, but true. When a client is happy, that is great, but very few take the time to share their good news.

Exactly! Too often clients want an excellent paper and then complain that their professor suspected they didn't write it. While you want to show improvement throughout a course, a drastic jump from poor to excellent writing is a bad move. It's an automatic red flag and professors see right through it. At the very least, revise the work to fit your verbal style (which you should be doing anyway).


Whew! He got off lucky! I've known a few students who encountered a similar issue and of those, only one got off lucky by being allowed to submit a new paper BUT they also lost points for the issue and for it then being submitted late.

To avoid these issues, as @FreelanceWriter said, don't order a service level above your own, and always review the paper and make it your own. This will also help as you are working to improve your writing skills.

Yes, but also don't take all reviews at face value. Unfortunately, many companies are notorious for posting fake reviews to boost their appearance as a recommended service. You also want to take negative reviews with a grain of salt. The majority of negative reviews come from clients who didn't give their writer/s all the info when placing an order or gave instructions contradicting what was actually needed OR the review was posted by a competitor. One of the bad things about using reviews... the majority of happy clients do not leave reviews. Human nature is to react when we are upset, and leaving a negative review is a reactionary method but it doesn't mean the review is an accurate picture of what did or didn't happen. I'd be very cautious of a company/service with all excellent reviews. There is not a single company in any industry that can or will please all clients all the time. A negative review will happen. How a company responds (or does not respond, in some instances) to such reviews speaks volumes.

This is true. The end result is what the client remembers most. The best customer service won't help a company if its writers produce crap. The writer's skills is what wins or loses business in most cases. I've worked with writers who hate communicating with clients and typically reply to customer with short, snarky sentences, but there writing it brilliant, always spot on, and original. Their skills is what kept the same customers coming back. That's not to say that a client will forgive any negative treatment simply because the end project is high quality, but it does make a difference. It's not that different from studying under the professor who is notorious a donkey's butt, but has a reputation for having taught students who left his/her class having really learned and to later succeed in their study field.

At the end of the day, flashy websites and guarantees out the wazoo do not equate to quality. Quality comes from the writer! Now, if you find a company with great customer service AND great writers, you've found a gem (a rarity in this industry).