New UpWork changes: You can not share contact information before a contract is started

In an attempt to protect freelancer and buyer interest, Upwork – The world’s largest, probably the best freelance marketplace has brought new changes to its user agreement for professionals and clients.

Starting June 26, 2020, both professionals and clients will not be able to share contact information before a project is awarded, UpWork website has released the news in a community post.

The new updated user agreement says that the users must conduct all pre-contract conversations inside the Upwork platform.

Currently, all Upwork users can share contact information and communicate with one another outside Upwork. Professionals can share their phone numbers, and other contact information but that has raised the risk of ripping off freelancers from their hard-earned money as some clients try to cheat by taking the conversation outside the platform,

To protect the community, Upwork has introduced these new changes for pre-contract conversations that take place on Upwork. The website says, no contact information can be shared before a contract is awarded. This means before a contract starts and a project is awarded both professionals and clients can not share any contact information that may take them outside the Upwork environment.

The following information can not be exchanged on Upwork.

• Phone number
• Email address
• Physical address
• Link to a contact form or form requesting contact information
• Link to an applicant management system or means to submit a proposal or application outside of Upwork
• Any information that would enable contact through social media, another website, or applications such as Zoom, WhatsApp, Skype, or Google Meet.

The restriction, however – does not apply to awarded contracts. Both professionals and clients can share information (if necessary) or upload large files and give links, Sign NDA, etc but the company prefers to maintain the contact information inside the portal. Users can schedule meetings and interviews via a calendar, an Upwork feature to conduct interviews inside the website.