Several months ago, in response to several experts posting personal contact information on client message boards (phone number, e-mail), EC posted a blog entry stating that we cannot do this anymore. One of the main reasons they sided this way is they feel experts are working off-site with the clients.
My argument is that it allows experts to speak with clients and have them elaborate while at the same time not share posed questions and explanations on the message board. Doing so gives other experts who don't have the sense to ask themselves free information about the project.
I've been told by some that this gives me a "leg-up" on the project. My response is well, wake up we are all bidding against one another! Everyone has the same opportunity to contact the client!
Ever since EC posted the blog, I have obliged them and followed suit. I reported another expert today (yes I feel shame) due to them posting personal contact information on a project.
I received a quick response today - basically added a note to the effect that "What happens when I report these occurrences?"
They responded that:
"Every time we come across the abuse we notify the provider of the breach. We apologize for the inconvenience."
Wow, that is brutal! Here was my response:
Can I suggest a better system? Perhaps you keep a tally on infractions and after 3 times their account is suspended?
It isn't fair I don't get to post my contact information as I'd like to. It allows for better communication with the client.
If the system does not work and people continue to post contact information, I think you should start allowing it again.
PS - another reason this restriction does not work is that many times clients will post their contact information on the project (e-mail or phone) and experts could contact clients directly to discuss.
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Josh, you've made some good points. I'm on the fence with this issue... I think it's a good thing to be able to email the client--in case their mail settings send the Ancestry notifications to a spam folder, and they wouldn't otherwise know about a provider asking a clarifying question. But on the other hand, I can see the other providers' questions on the project page. It is informative if I see that another provider who is better "equipped" as far as expertise has posted a message; that way I can go onto another client who might benefit from my specialty. On the other hand, it's sort of creepy to be able to see others vying for the same project, LOL!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I've posted my email; got a scolding from Ancestry, so I haven't posted my email again. But when a potential client leaves off-site contact info, what am I to do? It's really a grey area for me. I don't want to violate TOS, but if it helps to answer a clarifying question, what is the harm? Maybe the potential client doesn't get the notification from Ancestry, or is even aware that they should visit the project page and update the info?
I must have been bidding on EC for a month proudly displaying my contact information for everyone to see before I received a warning that I was violating procedure. I was sent an email from EC that said "You probably don't know this, but you are not supposed to display contact information."
ReplyDeleteWell, I didn't know it. That was the last time I posted my contact info. I honestly didn't know it was against policy. I started wondering what else was in that contract that we signed. I admit it, I skimmed over it and didn't read every word. I looked for a copy and couldn't find it.
I asked EC for a copy. They informed me it was under terms and conditions at the bottom of the page on the EC site. That thing reads like DVD programming instructions. I still haven't made it through the whole thing.
The bottom line is, EC does not want to enforce rules because if they kick anyone out that means less money in their pocket. I can't imagine them actually getting to the point of kicking a provider off for infractions. Maybe I'm wrong. We wouldn't know for sure if anyone was.
I found out from Josh on here we weren't supposed to have any contact with the client's until a year after the project was over. Client's have things come up they need extra work on.
Hi Todd.
ReplyDeleteActually, I think that you just can't do work outside of EC with the client...but I think it may be one year from when you first begin the project.
Read through the deadly verbage to find it:
Providers also agree that Expert Connect earns its Fee on all payments from a Client identified on this site in the first 12 months after identifying said Client, regardless whether the Provider received the payments though Expert Connect or not. Providers agree to not attempt, through any action whatsoever, to circumvent these fees. Failure to abide by this agreement may result in account suspension and or termination. After 12 months, our Fee for payments from the customer applies only if the payment is made through Expert Connects payment services.
So it sounds like you can find the earliest date you "found" the client through EC and use that date - not even the project start date. That means only around 6 months for my first client (who actually wanted to side-step EC hehe).
What are we to do if the client says they won't go through Ancestry? Because of bad administration! Am I to loose a client because of Ancestry's bad administration. I think this may fall under"restraint of trade" The other thing I hate is that Ancestry has a $5,000 limit. You can't bid more than this. If you do it would have to be another project. Same thing, what if a client wants a higher price for a 200 hour project? Restraint of trade again. I've called ancestry about this and Ya Dah Dah Dah Da, we'll pass it along. In regard to contact information. When you bid, you can ask to schedule a call. Ancestry's policy only covers the Public Message Boards, not the Bid part, because it is private. I believe we should be able to talk to the potential client. A telephone consultation will move things along ten times faster and clear up a lot of different parts of the research. However, I know that some people are abusing the system and taking clients outside of Ancestry and Ancestry knows this. I talked to one client who told me to move forward and he would immediately select me. I then found out that he talked with some lady in Texas, ??????? and told her my price and she undercut me by going outside of ancestry. There is one way for ancestry to fix this to everyones satisfaction. Three way calls! Expert, Potential Client and a silent Ancestry person who listens to the conversation. This way no shenanigans. No lost revenue to Ancestry and us Honest people won't be undercut. Anyone want to suggest this to ancestry, go ahead. I suggest you call them, ask them this, they will go ahead and say we will pass it along, then ask them several other questions for a few minutes, then at the end ask this question, What are you going to pass along to your supervisors? If they don't know, there busted! Because they never typed it or wrote it down.
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