How to make changes or updates to my registration information?

Go to "Manage Your Account" page. select "Edit Info" and you can change your information here.

How does 1st choice freelancer work?

You can register for free and post projects in specific categories. Freelancer's can then bid on your project. Once the project creator finds the right Freelancer with the appropriate skill set for their project, and you and the Freelancer agree upon a price, You can then choose the winning bidder and exchanges contact information with the Freelancer via email in order to begin the project.

What is "Manage Account?"

Your "Manage Account" page gives you access to all of your activities in one place and allows you to manage your account. You can edit your personal user information, view your Buying Activities (If Registered as Client), manage your Selling Activities (If registered as Freelancer), or see all trnasactions that you have conducted at 1st choice freelancer .

Do I have to add money to my account?

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Not right away, but eventually you will when paying a Freelancer the agreed upon fees or if the Freelancer requests that the project fees are placed into "Escrow".

Do I have to pay for services through my 1st choice freelancer account?

Yes, you must pay through 1st choice freelancer 's payment system. Please Note: you will be required to have suffiecient funds in your account in order to cover any fees that 1st choice freelancer may charge when awarding a project.

How do I communicate with a Freelancer?

You may post messages on the message private boards. If you post a private message, only the Freelancer it is addressed to will be able to see it. That Freelancer will also be notified by e-mail that you posted a message to him.

How do I sign up as a Client?

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click the link at the top of the page "sign up as" and follow the instructions.

How does it work?

After signing up, you may "Post a Project" and provide all the details of the service you want. Freelancer's will then be able to view your project and bid on it. This is similar to an auction, with an expiration date whereby you communicate with the Freelancer and negotiate terms on a private message board.

Once negotiated, you choose the winning bidder yourself. The chosen Freelancer will then have the option of accepting your agreed upon terms or declining them within a specified time frame.

If he/she doesn't not respond within the specified time frame (ususally 24 hrs) the Webmaster then has the option of extending his/her project. If the Freelancer responds within the said time frame, he/she will then begin to work on your project.

How much does this cost?

It's FREE to post a project. Once you have selected a freelancer to complete your job, you will be charged $5. That's it!!

How Escrow Works?

1st choice freelancer provides Webmasters and Freelancers with an escrow payment option to help projects get completed smoothly.
The Webmaster can set aside a specific amount of money into an escrow account located within your account management page, for a specific Freelancer. Both the Webmaster and the Freelancer can then view the payment sitting in the escrow account, but only the Webmaster can complete the payment to the Freelancer.
The Freelancer is the only person (other than 1st choice freelancer ) who can cancel this payment and the funds are returned to the Webmaster's account. This process gives each party half of the control over the money held in the escrow account.
Once the project gets completed, the Webmaster can then transfer the funds from the escrow account to the Freelancer.
If the project is cancelled mutually, the Freelancer can then cancel the escrow payment, which will then return to funds back to the Webmaster's account.
If there are any disputes over a project, 1st choice freelancer must be contacted before any funds can be moved from the escrow account.
1st choice freelancer encourages its Webmasters and Freelancers to send and receive money with the escrow system to ensure project satisfaction amongst all parties.
To manage your funds that are held in escrow, login to your account management page.

Selling services on 1st choice freelancer as a Freelancer:

Can I just estimate how much I will charge for a project?

You should NEVER make any estimates. The information provided should be enough to decide how long it will take you to finish the project. If there is not enough info in the Project Description don't be afraid to make use of the message board to ask additional questions to the Webmaster before placing your bid.

Remember, by placing a bid you enter into a legally binding contract. If you abuse this system you risk receiving poor reviews by others, infuriating Webmasters and possibly being banned from 1st choice freelancer .

How do I cancel a bid that I placed on a project?

Log in to your "Manage Account" area, select the project, and click on the "Retract Your Bid" link.

How do I communicate with a Freelancer?

You may post messages on the message boards. If you post a private message, only the Freelancer it is addressed to will be able to see it. That Freelancer will also be notified by e-mail that you posted a message for them.

How do I place a bid on a project?

Click on the "Place Bid" link which you can find on the project page".

How do I sell services as a Freelancer?

If you are new to 1st choice freelancer , click the Programmer link at the top of any page and you will be guided through the registration process.

How do I update a bid I already placed on a project?

Just submit a new bid and your old one will automatically be removed.

How much does this cost?

You will be charged a small percentage of the amount of your winning bid.

What if I have a question about a project?

At the bottom of each project (just above the bids) there is a hyperlink (View Message Board) which will take you to the project's message board. You can then either post a public question or a private question directly to the Webmaster. He/She in turn will receive an email notifying him that you are requesting a response.

What is meant by "Your bid for the total project"?

This is the amount that you will charge the project creator if you are chosen. It's is the TOTAL fee that you will charge for the "entire" project. It is NOT an hourly fee but rather a sum total that you have calculated based on probable hours that it may take you to complete the project.

When do you charge fees?

As soon as you have elected to accept a project as the Freelancer for a project you have bid on. The project will then be closed and archived.

Why can't I find the "Place Bid" link on some project pages?

If the project is closed the link will not show up, because the Webmaster has selected a winning bidder and the project is closed. The "Place Bid" link will also not show up if a project is frozen, which means bidding has temporarily been stopped by the Webmaster.

How is my personal information and email used?

1st choice freelancer treats your personal information with the strictest confidence. Personal information and email will NEVER be sold or traded. All contact information will be shared between Webmaster and Freelancer ONLY. 1st choice freelancer will use email addresses for email notifications, and billing information ONLY. 1st choice freelancer respects your privacy and goes to great lengths to ensure that it stays secure and safe.