Freelancer.com review: Purchasing skills

December 2024: I listed a project and found a designer who was willing to do the work. We agreed a price ($100) and I awarded the project to him. I then paid $130 to freelancer including the processing fees. I was then told by the website that I needed to complete the verification process - which is very difficult since I am a digital nomad, proof of address is rather difficult. However, after several days I managed to get official documentation and uploaded it all in their verification process. Shortly afterwards my account was suspended - I contacted support and eventually they unsuspended my account about 2 weeks later. I logged back in to find the designer still willing to do the work and so I just waited for him.

A day later my account was suspended again! I was informed that I had to complete their verification process - but they wouldn't explicitly say what it was I needed to do to complete this. As I had already given them the required information and couldn't give them any more. At this point I just started asking for a full refund - I gave them my banking details and a bank statement of proof of purchase and during many emails (20-30) I was told that it wasn't technically possible. I repeatedly asked for a refund and they kept refusing on the grounds of "not technically possible" despite me giving them all the information of proof of purchase.

During this time my account was again unsuspended and I tried to withdraw my funds from the site only to be told I had to be verified in order to do it. I cannot complete this process as they reject the information I had already given them. About a week ago I asked to speak to a supervisor and they simply ceased all communications with me. I have sent another 6 or so emails all without any response. To summarise - I paid without verification - they then demanded verification - when I couldn't complete their verification I was stopped from using their services. And subsequently they refused refunding because I wasn't verified.