Exactly, and the same applies to all other "checkers." I'll also add that many universities use WriteCheck AND Turnitin where your submitted paper is assessed by both. A few use only Turnitin and students are encouraged to use WriteCheck on their own before turning in their assignment. Either way, @WriteReview is correct -- once the paper is submitted to either or both (like other programs), it is likely in the respective system and subsequent checks will flag it as plagiarized.

I wonder is she received her pay, if she's still working for them, or what.

The website is a one-pager with minimal links to apply and contact. There's no info about the company itself. A red flag, though, the info on what a writer can make states: "The sky is the limit. The more orders you complete the more you will earn. Our prices start upwards from $5/page. The more topics you can cover, the more orders you can take."

So, basically, like all others we're warned against... they pay next to nothing. I would also NOT be comfortable signing with a company before I know who/what that company really is.

Hmmm, I'd be leery of the "free" offer to grade it. At any rate, as @WriteReview said, you didn't specify who is requesting changes and what those changes are. Regardless of where the request comes from, the changes must be reasonable or they should be considered additional work. If the request is from the company, why? What made them think the customer will want the changes? If you've completed similar projects without issue, then there is no reason for the company to think this one is different.

If it's a matter of a possible error or two in the paper (it happens; we're human), then fix it quickly. If it's a request from the customer, the customer still has to explain why he/she is requesting the changes. If it is not an intentional error on your end, then they all need to get off the $$ and pay for your time.

As for the "grade," the company is not one to determine a grade. The only exception would be if the paper was so horrible that it was obvious it wouldn't pass. Either way, no one can (or should) guarantee a grade for anyone. What you should do: provide your best work every time; don't skimp; follow all instructions the customer provides; check and recheck. To say you will get an A is the same as saying I can read your professor's mind. It's unrealistic and dishonest to promise a grade. What I see as A work, someone else might see a B work. It all comes down to individual perceptions, ideals, and (yes, I'm being serious) the mood the grader is in at that given moment.

Good that you mention this as well. Phishing remains a common practice among these types of websites, but I don't see it discussed as much as it used to be. I think that some people, in general, don't think of essay service companies as being risky in terms of them inserting malware and tracking your actions and info.

If someone has started getting an unusual amount of spam/junk email, chances are they've visited one of these types of websites. Even a few seconds on a website is enough for these companies to gain a foothold. I'm not a techie by any means, but I do try to watch the types of websites I visit, which can be hard sometimes since researching is part of my daily work. ;)

Edited to add: Here's some interesting info on "phishing kits" and what unsuspecting victims can watch for: csoonline.com/article/3290417/security/csos-guide-to-phishing-and-phishing-kits.html. While this article also talks scammer trying to come off as being from a legit website such as Microsoft, etc., the same practices are used by scammers in the essay business.

No, it's not a qualification per se, and I don't think @WriteReview meant it in that way. The way I took the comment was that being native to the country was important for the best outcome. I'm a native English-speaking writer residing in the US. While I may know another language, I do not feel I would be the best writer for a paper in that language over a writer who speaks the client's native language. Even the best writers cannot fully present the written language the same way a native speaker will. That is not to say that a non-native speaking writer can't write a decent paper, but we all know the majority don't write well. As writers, we want (or at least should want) to provide the best quality papers possible. If the writer cannot do that, then using their contacts (i.e. network channel), is best.

Ditto (eyes blurring). I reads like the output of a bad Google translation, which is probably what it is. The company most likely took parts of another site (it's own or another company's) and translated to English, pasting exactly as translated without reviewing. As @WriteReview said, a company's marketing text is an indicator of what you can expect in the papers it provides.

I've said this several times in this forum but it needs reiterating due to the above. Payment after delivery is always a bad idea. By allowing the client to pay only if he/she is pleased is opening the door for issues. Established professional writers don't have time to provide work until payment (no less than 50% of whatever % of work is to be completed) without payment. I know my work is top notch, but that is not to say that everyone will always be 100% satisfied. Despite what some may claim, it is impossible to please everyone all the time. To offer to do the work upfront with pay later is bad business. The only (ONLY) time this would MAYBE be okay is if the client has been a client for a long time and you are at least 99.9% sure he/she will pay as agreed, and even then it's still risky.

I've worked with clients to split orders to make it more affordable (i.e. pay for first 10 of 20 pages, individual chapters of a thesis or dissertation, etc.), but for a client to pay nothing until the work is received... no way!

I am wondering if by stating "unplagiarized," the OP meant a version that would show as original in a checker such as Turnitin, since the original was already submitted. Maybe he/she was wanting to recycle the paper? Or they are wanting to purchase a pre-written paper and have another writer revise to make it more "original." It is really unclear exactly what they mean. Either scenario would be better handled by the individual versus having a writer "unplagiarize" it. If they are set on using a writer, an entirely new paper would be best. Often times, writers can produce a brand new paper quicker and cheaper.

I've done a lot of "revisions" on other peoples' work and it takes more time than if I'd researched and wrote a new paper on the topic myself. Since time is money, the OP would have to pay for the "complexities" and would be better off getting something fresh and new!

Among some companies that have several websites, their project pool is accessible to a large pool of writers, similar to what you see when looking at job sites. A company can post a job on one site and it will show on a dozen others. It's the same type of system. So, while a specific writer may contract with "A Company," they may be getting work from "B Company," "C Company," and "D Company" without even knowing it. That is a downside of automated systems where customers interact with a message board instead of person-to-person contact.

I'm not knocking an ESL writer who has worked to improve his/her skills and can now provide quality work, but an ESL writer simply cannot provide the same quality level that native English-speaking writers can. It would be no different that me trying to write for a French company. No matter how fluent, there would be noticeable differences. it's best for writers to write their native language or at least for the closely matched clients. A higher level ESL writer would do well writing for a lower level ESL writer. I know how that sounds, but it's the truth. :)

In terms of discriminating against writers from developing countries, I don't think it's as much discrimination as it is the quality of work many writers from developing countries provide. Now, don't get me wrong, I am NOT saying that it applies to all writers, but I AM saying that many low-paying companies outsource to under-educated writers and the quality is commensurate with type of writer they source. Then, of course, is the other side of the issue, which @WriteReview noted: what is considered a low wage in one country may be a good wage in another. It's really a matter of where you are, where the company is, and a million other factors in-between.

Sadly, many companies do pay a lower per page wage and the only way around it is to branch out on your own, setting your own rate. However, I don't recommend stopping your current work until you've build a strong clientele and reputation (i.e. consistent referrals, etc.). You want to avoid putting all your eggs in one basket. I makes better sense to stay with the company earning some income while working to earn MORE income on the side.

True. In my experience, I've seen very few "released." Most times, they just stop getting assignments. It's rare to get the "we no longer need your services" message. If you received that, then, yes, it was most likely related to your ranking, as @WriterReivew said. There's nothing that can or should be done on your end. The best move is to move on and seek work elsewhere, or branch out on your own. If you feel there are any weaknesses in your writing, take this as a time to learn and improve. And believe me, we all can always learn more. It's important to never stop learning and to always strive to be better than you were yesterday. That's what a true entrepreneur does. :)

With new 2018 US tax laws in effect, it is worth it to revive this thread. After all, the new tax season will be here in 4 months. I know, it seems like yesterday, we were finishing 2017 taxes, but these next 4 months will fly by and Uncle Sam will be wanting a cut! ;)

There's a lot of new perks for freelancers and small businesses, but there's also some changes that US-based writers will want to know about. BankTracker has a good article here: mybanktracker.com/news/top-tax-breaks-for-freelancers as does SmallBizDaily: smallbizdaily.com/new-tax-law-offers-many-perks-for-self-employed/

I'm still reading through everything and thankfully my tax software will handle most of the changes, but so far, I'm fairly pleased with the lower tax rates and higher standard deductions. Also, you know how you could claim a 50% depreciation on purchases (i.e. computers, etc.)? Well, now you can claim 100% depreciation.

How do you handle taxes? Prep yourself (pen to paper), software, or accountant/preparer?

I'd be very interested to know what @Tiffany_Case decided. Did she go on to write papers? Go back to grad school? Is she teaching again, and if so, if she still giving Bs to undeserving students?

She did have a great point about ethics. It's hypocritical to pressure instructors to give a B grade so a D or F level student can pass, while frowning upon a student getting assistance writing a freaking paper. As for someone finding out she's writing papers (if she is), just don't tell anyone. It's no one's business. You're a freelance writer. Period.

Most independent writers that I know work as much as a given project requires. Personally, some weeks I'm working morning to past midnight while others I may work a few hours a day. I just depends on what's on the schedule, deadlines, and other factors. I like to complete projects ahead of time so that also lets me be more flexible with my work schedule. I also know a few writers who literally work an 8 to 5 or a 9 to 5 schedule Monday - Friday. It really depends on the individual and what works best for them. The biggest things I'd be concerned about is always providing quality work and meeting deadlines. The rest will work itself out.

While we do often work a lot of hours, we can be more flexible, and receiving proper payment for the quality of work we provide generally evens out based on what one would make within a lower paying company. For example, if I can spend 5 hours and make $100 versus 30 hours for the same amount with a "company," you know which I'll choose.

I'm not saying that no one should write for a company because there are some great ones out there. You just have to be selective and make sure the company you join pays its writers decently (and on time!). Personally, for those who can juggle both sides of the coin (company and independent work), that's also a good way to go.

Exactly. I know I wouldn't pay hundreds or thousands for models. ;)

Honestly, what the student does with the paper after I hand it over to them is not my concern. My concern is that I have given them the best possible writing, backed by reputable sources, and all original writing. If they want to tweak, that's great. If they don't, they don't. They ordered a paper. I gave them a paper. End of story (most of the time). ;)

Sadly, the majority of non-US writing companies do this these days. In my early writing days, I worked for 2 non-US companies and my time with them was short. I won't work for pennies, and I won't be mistreated. I am fair in all my dealings and if I make a mistake, I own up to it and make it right. But, if a client errs when providing instructions and later wants me to amend a project, I charge for my time. The same is true for feedback a client receives. However, these "companies" promise unlimited revisions and the writers suffer.

I appreciate your feedback, and you are spot on. It's sad that we live in a world where we can't state our opinions without risk of being scrutinized. Still, regardless of what I believe, if a professor says an opinion can't be first person, we have to suck it up and amend in a way that best helps our clients.

I think that some students don't realize that writers can help in ways other than just writing. Many of us help by doing the research and providing a reference list and source copies so that you can create your own paper. Of course, we also do writing from start to finish, but it's important that students know there are many different options for getting help. While some writers prefer writing only, there are many that provide a variety of services from writing, to editing, to research only, and more. When in doubt, ask the company or writer. There is sure to be one who can and will meet your exact need. Just be careful when approaching unknown companies and writers. We all try to be as informative as possible in this forum and to point out scammers, but they tend to reappear as quickly as we out them. :)

Funny you say that. I did the same thing with a few relatives and locals who I knew were in school. Ironically, some of the locals later came to me to help with resumes and other projects like designing their business cards, wedding invitations, etc. I never imagined that my accidental introduction to academic writing would lead to where it has, but I love it. If you are willing to learn, take constructive criticism, and work to always better yourself, you can succeed. However, in response to the original poster's defense of her poor writing, just because you're posting in a forum doesn't give a license to write badly. What you write here is an indication of what you will write for someone else--at least it should be. A professional writer should write professionally at all times (excluding private texts between family/friends).

While this post is a year old, it's still relevant, especially since there are more writers moving to academic writing than ever before. I think that the economy and the need to bridge one's income plays a partial role, but another factor is that some freelance writers have recently realized how lucrative the business can be.

When I started as an academic writer over 20 years ago, I really had no idea that "academic writing" was a real business. I was an article writer for magazines and newspapers. I happened upon a posting for an academic writer by accident. It sounded like something I could do, I applied, and the rest is history.

Now, that is not to say that I was prepared because I was NOT! I had a college degree but very little experience in writing papers. I was arrogant enough to think that because I was a published journalist, that was enough experience. I learned by trial and error and was determined to become the best academic writer I could. Guess what? I am a darned good writer, but I am no longer arrogant. I learn something new every day, and I try to stay modest and know that I don't know everything!

Well, wouldn't we all fee "more better" about enlisting @Proofread to help?!

Seriously, there are several excellent proofreading services for dissertations and other projects, but you have to take the time to check them out. Asking forum members to recommend is like asking a car salesman which person in the dealership would be best to handle your car purchase. You're going to get "proofreaders" crawling out of the woodwork trying to get your business. And as @Proofread "proves," the legit are fewer than the qualified.

If you can show your original order instructions and the completed project, assuming they are as different as you stated, then you shouldn't have a problem getting your money back. However, if the paper appears to be what was requested, it will be more difficult as PayPal's investigative team is unlikely to read the paper in full. At most, they might skim it and if it is a clear difference, then you might get somewhere.

I'd be interested to know if you requested a correction versus simply jumping in a threatening to file a dispute? While it's not good, it may be possible that the writer mixed up your order with someone else's and inadvertently sent the wrong file to you. It sounds like that may be what happened given the stark and clear difference between the topics. Now, if you ordered a paper on WW2 but wanted a paper on the impact of WW2 on families, then that is a gray area and a refund is less likely.

If @Trackerone is still a member, I'd be interested in knowing the outcome and clarification on the issues that sparked his/her dispute.

The appearance of a website doesn't necessarily mean the service is good or bad, but in my experience and reading the experiences of some users in this forum, even the best designed websites can be run by unscrupulous people.

When considering using a writing service, I'd pay close attention to:

1. The knowledge and friendliness of the support staff when you are making contact.

2. Is the support staff easy to contact (during business hours, which should be posted somewhere on the respective website)?

3. Is the website free of grammar errors? (This is not to say that you won't find a single error anywhere on the website as designers are human and prone to err, but generally you can spot the difference if you take the time to review more than the main pages.)

4. If you placed and paid for your order, how is the responsiveness of the support staff and your writer, if you can contact the writer directly. If not, how is the writer's responsiveness through the company's system? (A good company is one that is attentive before, during, and even after the sale is complete. That is how a new client becomes a repeat client. Some companies stay in close contact while trying to obtain your business but once you make the payment, their attentiveness dwindles. Of course, during peak times, it may take longer to respond to clients, but generally a company's support staff should reply to clients within a few hours or at least the same day (when really swamped).)

5. What is the company's policy on difficult orders? I don't accept a project that I am not 100% confident I can complete, but many companies (and some indie writers will). If your project is more complex than originally thought, will the company let you know quickly and refund your money?

There are many other things to watch for and questions to ask, but this is a start.

Overall, the way a website looks is simply not enough to let you know how the company and its writers will treat you nor does it prove the quality of the work you will receive.

In fact, I have a former colleague who now operates her own writing company. Her website is simple. It's attractive enough but not "beautiful." It doesn't offer the option to pay for the order when submitting it. Clients must wait on the company to email the price and then they pay via the accepted methods. It works for her and she can better vet the projects that she may not have a qualified writer for. Now, that is not to say that companies that do have "pay now" options don't vet. I just used my friend as an example to illustrate that beauty does not equal quality and vice versa.

I'd be leery of any writer that offered to provide a few free pages so you can see their quality. Offering a discount, yes, or suggesting that you start with the first few pages before proceeding with the full order, yes. But otherwise, we'd be risking that you'd take the free 2-3 pages and run and we'd be out time and NO income for our work.

As for writing samples in general, I don't provide them because that would mean taking part of another client's work to show a prospective client. That would be a confidentiality breach and would risk the prospective client using my client's work as his/her own.

The best route if you are in doubt is to start with a small order or request to see the first few pages before proceeding with the full project. As for getting those first few pages free, top writers won't do it. Those who do, beware.

In most cases, the only one notentitled to the ownership is the writer. Once the order is paid, complete, and accepted by the client, the writer has no further rights to the work. The company, however, may still hold ownership, depending on their policies. As @WriteReview said, it's important to read the company's TOS beforehand. As an independent writer, I don't reuse or recycle papers I write for students. Heck, many of my clients are referrals and the pool of friends are taking the same course (and often in the same class). I'd be stupid to reuse the paper, though I know some do. Overall, when a student purchases a paper, the moment the completed paper is sent to them, the paper becomes the student's property. A paper is not like a car or house where you're making payments and risk losing the rights to the car or home if payments are not made. Papers are more like toilet paper (pun intended). You buy toilet paper from Walmart. The moment you pay for it and take it home, it's yours. Walmart no longer owns the item in its inventory. How you use or misuse it is your business. Wipe your butt, take off your makeup, wipe your nose... it's yours to do with as you please!

In over 20 years, I've literally worked with only 3 students (that I know of) who actually correctly amended what I've written. They were legitimately seeking "help" and not wanting someone to do their work for them. Now, I'm not bashing the others. There are hidden reasons behind every order, whether it's poor time management, illness, family or work obligations, and so on. But, @WriteReview is correct. The majority take the paper and submit as their own without a single change. Whether or not they do that is their business. Once the order is complete and delivered to the client, it is out of the writer's hands. At the end of the day, though, I still feel we help more than we harm. The majority of clients I help are horrible writers. Not everyone has the talent to write and others simply hate it. In fact, most students hate writing! Even some of the most intelligent students are poor writers. They have brains overflowing with knowledge and can verbally discuss topics in great detail, but when it comes to putting that information on paper, the light goes out. I'm proud that we can help. As for those who "use" our services out of laziness, well, that's their business and they have to deal with the aftermath if they misuse or misrepresent what we provide.

I wonder where John K is now? He never replied to anyone, so I "suspect" he wasn't a legit student seeking help. His post read more like a bad personal statement responding to a mandatory essay explaining why the student should be given a second chance (i.e. academic probation versus failing). If he was for real, I'd like to know the outcome. Did he get it together and eventually graduate? Did he use an academic writer to help? What happened?

On the other side, sure, college can be fun and it should be an experience that leaves one with fond memories. However, students who party 24/7 and procrastinate are simply wasting their time and the time of everyone who is there to genuinely learn and to educate... not to mention the money wasted on fruitless semesters!

I'd be interested to know how the end result turned out. Did you complete the order and get paid? Have you picked up additional clients and now have a structure for at least half up front?

In my experience, no less than half upfront works and that also depends on the size of the project. For a thesis or dissertation, I am happy to let clients pay for each chapter along the way. That give them the chance to see the work without making the full (and often large) investment. Sure, that does leave the door open for revisions along the way, but (most of the time) I'd rather tweak as I go versus having them come back months later when my mind is not fresh on the subject.

Having said the above, though, some clients with large projects do not realize that future tweaks are part of the process. No one has or will ever turn in the perfect thesis or dissertation the first time. There will always be changes to be made and if the client wants the writer to make those, that's more work and time, and it will cost more. :)

Anyway, let us know how it all turned out and where you are now in your freelancing career.

I admire your morals, which mirror my own. Sure, we're in the business to earn a living, but I cannot, in good conscious, make a living scamming others. When I take an order, I price it fairly according to the work involved and the time it will take. Then I deliver the best end project possible.

On the flip side, when someone chooses to work with a company, they are agreeing to whatever terms that company imposes on its writers. What the company does or doesn't make above what it pays writers is, frankly, not the writer's concern (even if it sucks). The writer agrees to a per page rate or accepts an assignment that has the payment clearly noted. The writer has the option to decline if he/she feels the rate is not worth the work involved. So, in that sense, low-rate writers can be considered as much the problem. As long as there are writers willing to accept work for low rates, these low-paying (and questionable) companies will thrive.

If you're going with a company over an independent writer, I'd go with CustomPapers. I have a few friends who've written for them and they've had good things to say. I've never heard of the other two companies so I can't comments on those. However, I'd personally be cautious over a company website titled "thecommunication7". I'm not saying they're bad, just an odd name for an academic writing company.

I'm glad to hear it all worked out for you. I'm sorry you had to go through all of that to get your money back. It's sad that we all have to watch our backs when trying to conduct business these days. I'd like to say these creeps will eventually fade away, but that'd be wishful thinking. They're like bad pennies. ;)

Craigslist, like many other ad sites, has become notorious for scams and fraudsters. It will be hard to get anyone to take a listing seriously and those that do, beware. You are putting yourself at risk of being the one scammed. It would be better for you to network in your area. Reach out to students at nearby universities and possible some high schools as many juniors and seniors are prepping admissions essays and such. Otherwise, you can continue to apply with the online companies, but be forewarned that the majority pay poorly and have even worse scruples!

Edited to add: Craigslist has recently implemented pricing for many of the categories, including services which used to be 100% free to post. That has helped weed out some (not all) of the scammers.

Even as an indie writer, I get inquiries from Kenyan writers all the time. They want to work with me, take some of the load off me, or whatever reason they give for making contact. Why do I decline? First, I am happy working independently. Second, and more importantly, the inquiries I have received are generally filled with incorrect grammar and reek of inexperience. That is not to say that there are not capable Kenyan writers out there, but in my experience, they are rare. I'm not looking for partners, but if I were, I don't have the inclination or the time to take on a "partner" that I have to monitor and correct. Not to mention, of all writers, Kenyan writers are notorious for stealing clients. Sorry, but it's the truth!

Oh, I can't forget to mention those inquiries from John Smith (or other American-sounding name) residing in Kenya! At least be honest about who you are.

The rate you were paid is the rate you accepted. If you felt is wasn't enough, you could have said something before accepting the project or simply declined it. As for $400 for a 30-page project, that's actually on the low end. What the company does/does not charge is, quite honestly, not your concern and is outside what you signed on to do, which is to write and bid and/or accept projects. The only way to earn more is to either negotiate the rate with the company or branch out on your own. If the former isn't possible, then working for yourself is the only other option (apart from continuing as you are).

Demanding that someone not discuss one's website is grounds for immediate concern. Even the best and most reputable companies (in all industries) have complaints from time to time. It is how a company handles complaints that defines their character and whether one should considering doing business with them. This "don't mention my name or I will sue you" mess is just that... MESS! You don't threatened legal action against someone who "might" mention your name unless you are scared they have something seriously legit to complain about.

I feel that he was just blowing off steam, at best. Even still, if he managed to put one out of business, two more will pop up in its place. Revenge posts and "hacking" doesn't do anything to stop them. If a company is intent on scamming, they will operate under as many names and businesses as necessary to achieve their means. If they're serious about want to do something, then first-hand knowledge (inside knowledge) would be an option, but even then he would not have access to what he really needs to expose them in a way that would make a difference.

Still negotiating? 8 message in 8 days and not one reply, and the student/client is still negotiating? Either they are lying or not the smartest tool in the shed. I can see waiting MAYBE 2 days for a reply, assuming the writer is just very busy, but longer than that with no reply from the writer or the company?? It speaks poorly for the writer AND the company. In 8 days, someone had to know that the client had not had contact with the writer. I'd like to think it was an unintentional oversight by the company, but if the student did email 8 times over 8 days it was seen by someone and that someonechose to ignore.

Anyone who hasn't dug into rewriting someone else's work will not understand that concept. I'd rather write from scratch over rewriting any day. There are simply too many ways that rewriting can run into complications. Even the best writers cannot read someone else's mind and essentially that is what rewriting is (reading the professor's mind and the mind of the one who wrote the original paper), sprinkled with a few comments or suggestions. Now, don't' get me wrong, a paying job is a paying job (for the most part), but I've taken on rewrites for theses and dissertations and though I successfully complete the order, I wanted to pull my hair out along the way!

When I was writing with a company years back, there was direct contact. However, we did use company emails and not our personal. Still, we had direct access to the clients. It's risky, though. While integrity is important to me, it's not to everyone. Direct contact can be great for better communication but it also opens the door for a dishonest writer to steal clients. And, I'm with you on the private writer avenue. That's my bread and butter! And while the industry and some clients (grin) can be fickle, those of us who've been blessed to have build a steady clientele tend to have better relationships with our clients.