Ouch! I think I got a nose-bleed from that one. ;)

I believe that award belongs to me. Only unqualified ESL writers deserve that award. The only one more unqualified than me is my mentor, supawriter! The best there was; the best there is; the best there ever will be! So there!

Wait! I should say something worthy of my mentor's tutelage...

My Englis is so berry handsome today... do you not think? I know dat my mentos, supa-dupa-writer is so berry proud op me. Is you not?

Ouch!

Wow! Indeed... you are the "best". It is so obvious! Don't you guys think so? ;)


Yes! That is the real issue, dear. However, your version of "quality" is quite questionable.


Absolutely! :)

Hey! Maybe EW can hire this "gem" as my replacement.

To the EW agents monitoring this forum: Are you getting any of this?

Yes dear. I am out of the homework writing business. I write articles (like trivia and cooking), speeches, web content (Sigh! It's a living.) and I even do some (emotionless) technical writing now. I admit that I miss the challenge of writing dissertations; but, I don't want to find out that my children hired someone like me for their college term papers. It's a "mommy" thing.

Ah... Now I see your point. But, you may have misread my post. I was simply thinking out loud. It was more like question, really. I wasn't trying to make a call to action. If it came out that way, I am sorry.

Oops! I stand corrected. :)

Hi OB,

I agree. Some writers are quite passive. It is usually inherent in Asians. But, I am making my move. Those guys operate in my country. I don't have to deal with them online now.

I consulted my lawyer yesterday and he told me that I have a shot at getting my money back if we can prove that EW and Uniwork are one and the same. I copied all the evidences I could from this forum (thank you to all that have provided such info) and gave them to my lawyer. I may get a recommendation from him on Tuesday.

That's about all I can share about this since I have a feeling EW monitors this forum. I mean, I would too if I was EW. There are other more damaging angles we can approach but that'll be my secret for now. I hope you guys understand.

Boom


Honey, I am in no way offended by your replies. I simply choose not to engage in an endless tirade of replies to try to defend my position. It is my position and that's all it is. If you think that I am being a hypocrite, then you have every right to your opinion. I will not ask you why nor will I try to defend myself. :)

By the way, I'm not a "dude"; I'm a "dudette". But that's okay. Some say that I could pass for a man. LOL!

Hey! I'm learning to use this "quote" thing! Cool! ;)

So does not paying.

But alas, WB... I'm afraid I deserve it... Sigh! ;)

To EW_writer,

Dear, thank you for your inputs. I really appreciate them. Your wisdom is truly amazing. ^_^ (I'm sorry. I forgot that that "symbolic smile" was patented to you... Ha-ha-ha)

As far as payment goes, dear... I was talking about money I will never get from EW. They sent me a message stating that they will no longer be giving me my pay because I terminated my account with them. I told you that I wasn't holding my breath (It's quite difficult holding your breath when you have asthma).

Thank you so much for your words of wisdom. I will always cherish them. ^_^ (Oops! Did it again!)

Boom

Hi EW_writer,

Why so serious? Have the years of doing battle in this forum affected you? Lighten up a bit.

By "screwed", I was referring to my story. My gripe is both personal and moral; and since my values differ from yours, I don't think there is any point in "butting heads" over this. Besides, butting heads hurts. Ow!

And.. yes, they still owe me. I'm not holding my breath, dear.

Hi EW_writer,

I didn't say "scammed". I said "screwed". There is a difference. And you have to admit that they did "screw me over". If someone screws you over, is that considered "rape"? LOL!

Boom

Fer cryin' out loud!!!

I'll have to admit... when it comes to cheats, this Yuri fella is a genius.

I hate him!

Hi OB!

I agree with you 100%!

Just a thought...

Maybe we can have some sort of INTERNATIONAL WRITERS' UNION (or something to that effect). That way, we can standardize pay rates and create fair competition amongst companies. Instead of competing on the basis of price, companies will have to create systems to accurately monitor quality. In so doing, competition shifts to quality.

Just thinking out loud (like you could hear the words I'm typing... LOL) again as usual.

Boom

Hi WB,

I don't know if I am a qualified ESL writer; but I'd like to think I am. If I'm not, I hope someone will tell me so that I don't waste my clients' time and money anymore. However, I'm 100% sure that I do not plagiarize! Even EW would admit as much.

But... If anybody calls me a "dmb-as", I'll... uhh... I may have to think about that. ;)

Boom

To all,

I would lie to point out that I am not taking sides. My position is mine alone. If this position of mine happens to be the same as any other person's position, then that's all it is.

I agree with many of the points raised by WB and she has also given me very good advice. However, I would like to stress that I have not taken sides. Actually, there are so many sides in this forum that choosing one will give me a migraine... Hahaha! I welcome constructive conversation from anyone in this forum; and if anyone tries to "pick a fight" with me, I will simply ignore that person.

My fight is with EW! That's all!

So... cheers! ;)

Boom

Okay... Here's what I've got...

Apparently, their operations over here are bigger than I had expected. Uniwork does more that service writing sites and writers. They employ nearly 300 Filipinos as call center agents or for other BPO functions. Uniwork only allocates 30 to 40 agents to service their "paper mills". They have other "legitimate" clients and they operate from 2 offices (as far as I know). In fact, they actually occupy an entire floor in Burgundy Building.

Even if I prove that their "paper mill" activities are illegal (which will take some doing), the local government unit won't lift a finger to stop them. Why? Because they are providing jobs for Filipinos. Yuri's crimes mean nothing here. For as long as he gives jobs and (possibly) bribes government officials, then we can't touch him. He has found a "safe haven" in my country. Damn it!

I'll keep digging; but I'm not too optimistic. I mean, even if I could shut them down, I'd feel guilty about causing 300 of my countrymen to lose their jobs. I don't think I could stomach that. I know what it's like having to eat only one meal a day; and if these people lose their jobs, I could be condemning them to this ordeal again... or worse.

I hate to say it; but it looks bleak on my end.

Hi EW_writer,

My gripe with EW isn't about fines. Actually, I've never been fined. It's really my guilt that has driven me to leave them. I really don't like the way they do their business. I don't like the way they "casually" lie to everyone. Add this to the numerous times they have delayed my payments, and it was simply inevitable.

One time, I had to bring my son to the hospital because he was hit by a van while crossing the street. It was a hit and run. I asked EW for my money during a regularly scheduled pay-out period. They had already delayed my previous pay at that time, so I was expecting them to pay me a sizable amount this particular pay-out period. They paid me nothing! I practically begged them to pay me for my son's sake, but they gave all kinds of excuses.

They really didn't care whether my son would live or die. I mean, it would've been understandable if I was asking for an advance; but no. I was simply asking what was due! It is this attitude that tells me that Yuri is a callous-hearted individual who will have no regrets committing a crime (maybe even murder) to get his way. I cannot, in conscience, work a person like him.

I hope this explains things.

All the best!

Boom

WritersBeware posted: "OK, you guys want the scoop on EssayWriters.net's (Universal Research) outsourcing to the Philippines in the guise of "Uniwork Inc"?"

Hey WB!

Yes! That's the company. I was in Pacific Star Building the other day and overheard two people in the Starbucks coffee shop, located in the building itself, talking about the complaints they got while answering calls for EW. I started a conversation with them, pretending that I was looking for a job, and they pointed me to Uniwork.

Hmmm... I'm thinking it's payback time!

Boom

pheelyks said: "But then he'd have to do his own work!"

And... that ain't good for us! ;)

Okay! Enough posts for me today. I've exceeded my quota.

Hi Yoge,

I don't know if this will help.

The other day, purely by accident, I discovered EW's office here in the Philippines. I am not sure if they own it or if they are just outsourcing their customer service or writer service work here. At any rate, I'll try to find out what I can and see if we can make them pay.

They've screwed me over too; but I never got $600 in penalties. They ripped you off, buddy! I'm glad I no longer work for them.

Boom

Hi OR,

I remember, in your last reply to me, you said, "Research work provided is supposed to be used as a model. Students can use the same sources we have, the same argument and structure. They, however, have to rewrite it in theor own words and, importantly, add their voice to it ... include class lecture material, etc. We do not sell homework - we provide academic research assistancy services."

I was just thinking... If this is the case, maybe writing companies should take out the "revision request" option from their sites. Since our work should only be used as a "model" for our clients to follow, revising our work upon their request defeats the purpose of, simply, providing a model for them to follow.

Again, just another opinion from my feeble little mind. Uh oh! This is dangerous! Thinking is never a good thing for me. ;)

Cheers!

Boom

To OxbridgeResearchers and EW_writer,

I like your point. Perhaps I was too hasty in judging the kind of service we provide. In my judgement, I may have "thrown the baby out with the bathwater".

However, I don't regret leaving EW. They just didn't feel right to me.

Thank you...

Boom

I would just like to get something off my chest. I hope you guys don't mind. This is, indeed, an amusing and informative forum. I'm sure that someone can relate to what I have to say.

I believe that, in the "Constitutions" of countries like the USA and the Philippines, proper education is a basic human right. Depriving students of this is actually a human rights violation. When we do students' homeworks or exams for them, we deprive them of the ability to learn properly. This, to me, is tantamount to depriving them of their education. It seems to me that by doing this, we have not only broken the law, but we have also committed crime against the "Constitution".

EW operates in the USA, Ukraine and the Philippines. All these countries contain this basic right in their "Constitutions" (I am not sure about the other countries). To me, this says that EW is committing a crime; and if I knowingly participate in it, I am a criminal too.

Guys, this is simply my opinion. I am no expert. However, I live by my conscience. My dad once told me that if it smells like a duck, moves like a duck and looks like a duck, it probably is a duck. I could be wrong. Maybe EW is actually legit. I don't know. Still... I don't feel right about it. So, it would be better for me to leave before I find out that I'm right. In fact, thanks to WritersBeware, I have already taken the first step towards that direction.

Thank you again for allowing me to air my views.

Good day to all!

Hi WritersBeware,

Thank you so much for pointing me in the right direction. I certainly hope I can find a good company to work for from the search-link you provided.

All the best to you, Madame!

Boom

Hello EW_writer,

I am quite sure that your question was meant to engage me in some sort of debate. I'm really sorry; but I have chosen not to take part in the debates taking place in this forum. I posted my message simply to seek for help. I am quite sure there are others in this forum who would enjoy some "witty exchange of ideas" with you.

At any rate, thank you for replying to my message and have a great day!

Cheers!

Boom

Hi!

It seems we're all enjoying ourselves here. It's a little scary to post here considering all the "extreme" exchanges I've seen so far. Anyway, here goes nothing...

I have been working as a writer with EW for some months now. At first, I really didn't consider it a scam; but when I noticed that I was actually doing student's homeworks, I started to worry. However, the desire to put food on the table proved stronger than my conscience and I continued to write for them.

Right now, I am at a crossroad. I read everything you guys had to say and I believe that EW isn't right. But, since I can't get any other job (in the Philippines) because of my age and my health, I'm still afraid to let go. I have 5 children that rely on me to feed them and send them to school. In fact, because I haven't had any regular income during the past 4 years, my children were forced to stop studying for 2 years. They were only able to enroll again after I got my first payment from EW. My stay in EW has been bumpy, at best; but I have still managed to earn a decent living from it.

WritersBeware, you're absolutely right! I am a criminal. I don't want to be, but I am. EW_Writer, I also understand where you are coming from. I'm in the same boat and I don't want to abandon ship for fear of drowning in the life that awaits me. But, I don't want to do this anymore! I want out! Is there any legitimate site I can write for? Can anyone help me?

I am truly sorry for unloading my feelings here; but I figure that if anyone can help me, he or she is in this forum.

All the best to you guys!

Boom