FAQ

mapfreelance.COM FAQ's
Important Notice: Password Password: After registred do not forget that you must always add the suffix "INT-" to your nickname otherwise not be able to access the site. Your nickname on our site will always "INT-Nickname". Responsibility mapfreelance is not responsible for any action, Consultation, activities to be carried through the site mapfreelance operating as a pure intermediary between demand and supply of security services without exercising any control over the Consultations, activities, actions on your site Buyers FAQ After signing up for FREE, you can post a Consultation by providing all necessary information: the Consultation details, the budget you want to invest, etc. You can post as many Consultations as you want for FREE. In order to prevent posting of fake Consultations, mapfreelance takes a refundable fee of 5 $ for each posted Consultation. You will be returned such fee once the bidding period is over, provided that you do not cancel the Consultation before bidding period ends : fee will not be reimbursed if you do. No fee is taken for the first month after registration. mapfreelance is very similar to an auction. Once your Consultation is posted, you will start getting bids from providers within a few minutes. After selecting a provider, you will be provided with his contact information, such as email address or IM account. Then you will finally be able to start working on your Consultation with him. It's easy, isn't it? Stop spending time and money trying to find a professional: let professionals from around the world find you for a change mapfreelance saves your time and money. There is no point in searching the web and the classifieds for professionals when they can find you on mapfreelance. What does mapfreelance cost to use for Buyers? The 5$ fee will be fully refunded once the bidding period is over, whether you have selected a provider or not. However mapfreelance will not reimburse it if you cancel your Consultation before the bidding period ends. Remember you must have enough funds in your mapfreelance's wallet to post a Consultation. Before posting a Consultation you should deposit almost 5$ in your wallet. It is not possible to post Consultations with no funds in your wallet. The first month after registration is possibile to post Consultations although you have 0$ in your pocket. But only until the first 30 days after your registration. How much will you charge Service Buyers? First month is all for Free. After the first 30 days the commission for a buyer is the 3% of the total Consultation value, with a minimum of $20. A Consultation will be featured for a fee of $15 up-front. A Consultation will be featured as URGENT for a fee of $1 up-front. How much does mapfreelance cost for a VIP Buyer? For only $ 15/month VIP Members have VIP icon displayed next to your nickname to indicate their status as a VIP Member. This way, everybody will know immediately that you are a VIP Member. A VIP user does not pay any commissions. How can I communicate with the mapfreelance? You can send 'private messages' (PM) to a specific provider. When posting a private message, the intended Provider and you are the only ones who can read it. You shall never give a provider your contact information in privates messages: your account will be closed and your funds frozen by mapfreelance. How can I send a private message? From the Consultation page, click on the 'Send a Message' button next to the username of the provider you want to communicate with. A new window will open from which you will be able to send a message to the provider. Where can I find the message board? Click on the 'Message Board' link above the list of bids on the Consultation page. A new window will open from which you will be able to post a public message that anybody can read. How can I change my account password ? After logging in, click on the 'Modify Login Info' link. This will take you to a separate screen where you will enter your new password. Make sure you retype the password correctly in the appropriate box and then click the 'Save new password' key at the bottom of the screen. How do I rate another user? You are able to rate any Consultant that you have concluded a Consultation with. To do so, log into your account through the 'Manage Account' menu option, following which your account page will contain a list of the members which you may rate. Click on the relevant user's name to reach the rating page, where you may enter a mark out of 10 plus a comment. Please ensure that your ratings are accurate How do 'Escrow' payments work? By paying all or part of the agreed fees via an escrow account for the Consultant, the money is held securely and independently by mapfreelance until all parties are satisfied that the Consultation has been completed, at which time the Buyer releases the funds. Should any dispute or problem arise, either mapfreelance or the Consultant can release the funds back to the Buyer, and in the event of a disagreement mapfreelance will mediate. By using escrow, the Consultant knows that funds have been commited for his benefit, but he/she doesn't have access to the money until the completion of the Consultation. So all parties to the agreement can be confident that payment will be made and the Consultation will be completed to everyone's satisfaction. The escrow payment functionality can be accessed via the "Manage My Account" section. How should I make payment to my chosen Consultant? Buyers do also have the option to easily pay their Consultant through the site. Each user on mapfreelance maintains a running balance of funds which can be added to using either a Credit card or a PayPal account. Funds may then be transfered either directly to the account of the chosen Consultant, or via an escrow account which holds the funds securely whilst the Consultation is completed to both parties satisfaction. What if my chosen consultant does not complete the Consultation to my satisfaction? As in any cases when you enter a new contractual relationship with a service provider, you can never be sure that the service you will receive is exactly what your looking for. We therefore encourage you to the check the Consultant ratings and references available at mapfreelance Security. However should your chosen Consultant not live up to expectations, please remember that mapfreelance Security is not a party to the contract reached and only acts as a facilitator. Any action to enforce your contractual rights should be with the Consultant directly. For further information please refer to the Terms and Conditions. Are all mapfreelance Security Consultants licensed to conduct my Consultation? mapfreelance Security cannot check the licensing requirements for all types of security and investigation activity around the world, and therefore makes no assertions as to the licensing status of any member. We request that all Buyers check for the identity details of the winning bidder as well as the appropriate licensing for their Consultation and the location of work and only proceed with a Consultation once they are satisfied that the work required is covered by necessary licenses or registrations. Note that registraton requirements vary considerably between countries and even between different states, and that a license is not always required depending on the type of service being provided. Can't I contact the Consultant directly? Once bidding has been concluded and you have chosen a Consultant and he/she has accepted the Consultation, you will be put in touch with your Consultant directly. During the bidding, you may use the message board and private messaging functions on the site to discuss the Consultation and provide any further details or clarification that is required. Any attempts to bypass this and allow contact with the Consultant directly by posting phone numbers, web site addresses or other contact information may result in the suspension of your account. Please help support the concept behind mapfreelance Security to ensure it remains a worthwhile and productive venture for all involved by respecting the Terms and Conditions. When posting a Consultation, how much detail should I provide? We encourage you to post as much detail on your proposed Consultation as you can, to ensure that the full scope and detail of the Consultation is understood by both parties. Details can be entered directly into mapfreelance Security when entering the Consultation, or by attaching a file, such as a Word document, to the Consultation for potential bidders to download. However please do not post any personal information in the Consultation description as such will be public to other users and search engines. Keep personal information for your selected consultant only. Are all Consultants appropriately licensed? mapfreelance Security is an internet marketplace for Buyers of security and investigation services to meet providers of such. The types of services provided by Consultants on mapfreelance Security vary greatly, and the site features Consultants from around the globe. Due to the differing nature of licensing requirements around the world, and even in the U.S., for private investigators, bodyguards and security consultants, it is not possible for mapfreelance Security to confirm the type of license required for each Consultation and then verify that all bidders are qualified. Therefore it is up to the Buyer to confirm that a Consultant is, where necessary, licensed according to the location and nature of the service required, before using the Consultant's services. Who's behind mapfreelance Security? mapfreelance Security was created by Kintu Designs Pvt. Ltd. , an internet services company, and a number of people with bags of experience in the investigations and security industry. Kintu Designs Pvt. Ltd. is not affiliated with any current security consultants or vendors and as such is able to provide a completely unbiased, independent service. As a buyer of security services, why should I use mapfreelance Security? mapfreelance Security simplifies the process of finding and selecting security professionals who are able to complete your Consultation, saving you time, effort and money. It enables you to receive competitive bids for your Consultation from a large number of consultants meaning you can make sure you get the best combination of quality and value from a single source. It provides a means of checking other buyers' feedback on consultants giving you an easy source of references, meaning that by simply posting your Consultation online you'll be obtaining all the details you need without hours of telephone or e-mail communication. Payments FAQ When you have to pay a provider your best choice is to take advantage of our safe Escrow payment system which protects both buyers and provider and is FREE of charge. To send a payment, all you have to do is log in, click on the Escrow payment link (in the payments area, near the Balance), enter the provider's username and the amount you wish to put in the Escrow account. Once the Consultation is completed to your full satisfaction you can release the funds by going to the 'Payment Transaction' area and cliking on the 'Finish Payment' link in the 'Outgoing Escrow Payments' table. What should I do if I am asked an advance payment on a big Consultation? We recommend that you divide the Consultation in several milestones, with partial payments connected to reaching every milestone. The Escrow payment system works also for partial payments. Should I deposit money if I have none in my wallet ? Money should be deposited as soon as possible in order to start working with mapfreelance. You cannot post a Consultation if your account is zero or under 5$. For your and our security, mapfreelance doesn't accept balances below 0$ (debts). If you need to make a payment through mapfreelance you must deposit enough money in your wallet first. How do I add money to my account? To add money, log in, click on 'Payment Transactions' and then 'Deposit Money'. You can deposit money from Paypal. You can also use your credit card through Paypal. Can I withdraw money from my account? Yes, money can be withdrawn whenever you want as long as you are logged in. Click on 'Payment Transactions' and then 'Withdraw Money' to withdraw money from your PayPal account. You must withdraw a minimum amount of 10$ for each withdrawal. All withdrawals are processed manually in 2 to 3 days from day of request for Paypal, and 4 to 7 days for Moneybookers. Can money be transferred between users not involved in any Consultation or to another one of my accounts? No. Money can only be transferred from one account to another to pay for a Consultation once it is completed. Is any fee applied for transferring money to another mapfreelance account? No, there is no transfer fee when sending payment to another mapfreelance account. Buyers - Consultations FAQ How do I open a new Consultation? Click on the 'Post Consultation' link on the header to land on the New Consultation page. Select up to three job types and then give a description of the Consultation. You may attach a file if you want (2,5 mb max uploading). Fill in the rest of the fields and then click on 'Submit Consultation'. How do I close, cancel or extend my Consultation? Log in to your account, click on the 'Buyer Activity' link and choose the applicable option. A menu will be displayed for you to make changes or close a Consultation by selecting a provider. You are also given the possibility to extend your Consultation duration up to 7 days more. Why must I fill the 'Days open for bidding' field in? Providers need to know how much time is available for bidding before Consultation ends. This gives everyone a guideline to work within. However, you can extend the bidding time of your Consultation any time. What is a budget range? The budget range is an approximate estimate of how much you are willing to pay for a specific Consultation. You definite your budget range by choosing a minimum and a maximum spending limits. This is necessary because it helps providers deciding on how much to bid. Can I re-open a closed Consultation ? No. You need to post a new Consultation. What does it mean that a Consultation is frozen? A Consultation is frozen when the bidding period expires. When the Consultation is frozen, it's your time to either select a provider or extend the bidding time. Consultation will continue to be frozen until the selected provider accepts (or rejects) your Consultation. What would happen if for any reason the Consultation failed? mapfreelance only gets you in touch with outsourcers from all over the world. It is not responsible for any Consultation's failure. mapfreelance will not provide for arbitration between the parts, who should find a solution by themselves. Providers FAQ How does mapfreelance work for providers? Providers can view posted Consultations and choose which one(s) to bid on according to their qualifications. A provider can also give buyers information about the type of work he can do. When the bidding period ends the buyer selects the winning provider, who can begin to work, complete the job, and get paid! What benefit do I get from using mapfreelance? Finding clients can sometimes be difficult, especially if you are just starting out or in traditionally slow times of the year. mapfreelance is advertised all over the Internet, attracting many potential clients who may require your services. You have nothing to lose and and everything to gain by joining mapfreelance. What are the Seller Profiles and the Sample Portfolio Area? The Seller Profile and the Sample Portfolio are two free services mapfreelance offers you after registering. You can use them to publish a presentation of your company, samples of your work, your experience. It's a great opportunity to show what you can do to buyers all over the world. How much does it cost to join mapfreelance ? Signing up is free. You will only be charged a small commission for every Consultation that you win. We only charge a small commission on closed regular Consultations: 7% or $20 (whichever is greater). The Service Provider don't have to pay commissions on featured Consultations. VIP Members don't pay any commissions on any Consultations. How much does it cost to become a VIP Provider? VIP Providers pay a $ 15 monthly fee. Upgrading to VIP membership gets you some exclusive benefits: * No commission charged for winning Consultations: a VIP provider saves money! * More Exposure: as a VIP Provider your bids will be displayed on top of the Consultations' bid list. This way, buyers immediately see your bid. Your bid will also be highlighted in a special color and a VIP symbol will be displayed next to your nickname. How can I communicate with a buyer? You can send the buyer a private message. Privates messages are meant to be read only by the buyer and you. How can I stop receiving e-mail notifications of new Consultations? Log in to your account and click on the 'Edit Account Info' link. If the e-mail notification box is ticked off, uncheck it to stop receiving e-mail notifications. Can I be refunded the Consultation fee if the Consultation fails? mapfreelance is only in charge for getting you in touch with buyers from all over the world. It is not responsible for any Consultation failure. What is a private message and how can I send one? Private messages are a direct line between a buyer and a provider to discuss the details of a Consultation. Private messages cannot be seen by other providers. You can send a private message by clicking on 'Private message to (buyer username)' on the Consultation page. Can I change my account password? Yes, you can change your password at any time. Log in to your account and go to the 'Modify Login Info': you will be given the option to change your password immediately. Providers - Receiving Payment FAQ How does the Escrow system for payments work? The Escrow system is a great way to ensure safe payments for the work you provide a buyer with. How much is the commission for each Consultation? The commission is 7% of the bid amount. VIP Providers pay no commissions.Fist Month is all for Free! Should I have money in my account? Once you have been selected as the winning provider of a Consultation by the buyer, you will need to have money in your account to pay the commission. How can I add money to my account? Go to the 'My Account' area, click on the 'Payment Transactions' link where you will be given the option of depositing money. Money can be deposited via Credit Card, PayPal and MoneyBookers. Can I withdraw money from my account? Of course. In the 'My Account' area, click on the 'withdraw money' link in the "Payment Transactions" section and money will be deposited into your PayPal account. Please note you cannot withdraw less than $10 at a time. Can money be transferred between users not involved in any Consultation or to another one of my accounts? No. Money can only be transferred from one account to another to pay for a Consultation once it is completed. If I don't invoice the buyer for the total bid amount, can I receive a partial refund of the commission charge? No. mapfreelance stores a Consultation as soon as it is closed by the buyer, therefore you will be charged according to the bid amount. When do you collect the Consultation fee? Consultation fees are automatically taken from your account, however taking such fees must not result in a negative balance, so you should make sure you have enough money in your account wallet or deposit some in advance if you don't. You can not have a negative balance (below zero).You can not obtain contact information about the selected provider and you can not start working with him until your fee is paid. Providers - Bidding on Consultations FAQ How do I place a bid on a Consultation? Click the 'Place Bid' link on the Consultation page. You will be redirected to the bid page, where you can enter the bid amount, provide an estimated time for the Consultation completion and add details of your bid (optional). When placing a bid, you can choose to be notified via e-mail when lower bids are placed on the same Consultation by checking the corresponding box. All bids are reviewed manually, they will appear to be delayed as it takes time to do this review. The reviewing staff will check for contact information, any information of this kind will be edited out. Can I change a bid I have already placed on a Consultation? Yes, you can change your bid by clicking the place bid button again. The buyer will see your latest bid. Can I cancel a bid I have already placed? Yes, you can cancel your bid by going to the 'My Account' area, clicking the 'provider activity' link and then the 'Retract your bid' button. Can I ask a question about a posted Consultation? If you need to ask a buyer a question to get any details about the Consultation, you can post a message either on the public or the private message board. You can access these boards by clicking on one of the corresponding text links on the Consultation page. Can I estimate the cost of a Consultation when bidding? You shouldn't estimate the cost of a Consultation and post it as a bid.You could end up bidding yourself too high, or on the other end, you could put in a lot of work and not be receiving adequate compensation. When you place a bid, you enter into a legal binding contract and you would be required to perform the work for the amount you have bid. If you require more information to make an accurate bid, you can use the public and private message boards. Return to mapfreelance.com

mapfreelance.COM FAQ's

Password: After registred do not forget that you must always add the suffix "INT-" to your nickname otherwise not be able to access the site.

Your nickname on our site will always "INT-Nickname".

Responsibility
mapfreelance is not responsible for any action, Consultation, activities to be carried through the site mapfreelance operating as a pure intermediary between demand and supply of security services without exercising any control over the Consultations, activities, actions on your site

Buyers FAQ

After signing up for FREE, you can post a Consultation by providing all necessary information: the Consultation details, the budget you want to invest, etc. You can post as many Consultations as you want for FREE. In order to prevent posting of fake Consultations, mapfreelance takes a refundable fee of 5 $ for each posted Consultation. You will be returned such fee once the bidding period is over, provided that you do not cancel the Consultation before bidding period ends : fee will not be reimbursed if you do.

No fee is taken for the first month after registration. mapfreelance is very similar to an auction. Once your Consultation is posted, you will start getting bids from providers within a few minutes. After selecting a provider, you will be provided with his contact information, such as email address or IM account. Then you will finally be able to start working on your Consultation with him. It's easy, isn't it?

Stop spending time and money trying to find a professional: let professionals from around the world find you for a change mapfreelance saves your time and money. There is no point in searching the web and the classifieds for professionals when they can find you on mapfreelance.

What does mapfreelance cost to use for Buyers?

The 5$ fee will be fully refunded once the bidding period is over, whether you have selected a provider or not. However mapfreelance will not reimburse it if you cancel your Consultation before the bidding period ends. Remember you must have enough funds in your mapfreelance's wallet to post a Consultation. Before posting a Consultation you should deposit almost 5$ in your wallet. It is not possible to post Consultations with no funds in your wallet. The first month after registration is possibile to post Consultations although you have 0$ in your pocket. But only until the first 30 days after your registration.

How much will you charge Service Buyers?

First month is all for Free. After the first 30 days the commission for a buyer is the 3% of the total Consultation value, with a minimum of $20.

A Consultation will be featured for a fee of $15 up-front. A Consultation will be featured as URGENT for a fee of $1 up-front.

How much does mapfreelance cost for a VIP Buyer?

For only $ 15/month VIP Members have VIP icon displayed next to your nickname to indicate their status as a VIP Member. This way, everybody will know immediately that you are a VIP Member. A VIP user does not pay any commissions.

How can I communicate with the mapfreelance?

You can send 'private messages' (PM) to a specific provider. When posting a private message, the intended Provider and you are the only ones who can read it. You shall never give a provider your contact information in privates messages: your account will be closed and your funds frozen by mapfreelance.

How can I send a private message?

From the Consultation page, click on the 'Send a Message' button next to the username of the provider you want to communicate with. A new window will open from which you will be able to send a message to the provider.

Where can I find the message board?

Click on the 'Message Board' link above the list of bids on the Consultation page. A new window will open from which you will be able to post a public message that anybody can read.

How can I change my account password ?

After logging in, click on the 'Modify Login Info' link. This will take you to a separate screen where you will enter your new password. Make sure you retype the password correctly in the appropriate box and then click the 'Save new password' key at the bottom of the screen.

How do I rate another user?

You are able to rate any Consultant that you have concluded a Consultation with. To do so, log into your account through the 'Manage Account' menu option, following which your account page will contain a list of the members which you may rate. Click on the relevant user's name to reach the rating page, where you may enter a mark out of 10 plus a comment. Please ensure that your ratings are accurate

How do 'Escrow' payments work?

By paying all or part of the agreed fees via an escrow account for the Consultant, the money is held securely and independently by mapfreelance until all parties are satisfied that the Consultation has been completed, at which time the Buyer releases the funds. Should any dispute or problem arise, either mapfreelance or the Consultant can release the funds back to the Buyer, and in the event of a disagreement mapfreelance will mediate. By using escrow, the Consultant knows that funds have been commited for his benefit, but he/she doesn't have access to the money until the completion of the Consultation. So all parties to the agreement can be confident that payment will be made and the Consultation will be completed to everyone's satisfaction. The escrow payment functionality can be accessed via the "Manage My Account" section.

How should I make payment to my chosen Consultant?

Buyers do also have the option to easily pay their Consultant through the site. Each user on mapfreelance maintains a running balance of funds which can be added to using either a Credit card or a PayPal account. Funds may then be transfered either directly to the account of the chosen Consultant, or via an escrow account which holds the funds securely whilst the Consultation is completed to both parties satisfaction.

What if my chosen consultant does not complete the Consultation to my satisfaction?

As in any cases when you enter a new contractual relationship with a service provider, you can never be sure that the service you will receive is exactly what your looking for. We therefore encourage you to the check the Consultant ratings and references available at mapfreelance Security. However should your chosen Consultant not live up to expectations, please remember that mapfreelance Security is not a party to the contract reached and only acts as a facilitator. Any action to enforce your contractual rights should be with the Consultant directly. For further information please refer to the Terms and Conditions.

Are all mapfreelance Security Consultants licensed to conduct my Consultation?

mapfreelance Security cannot check the licensing requirements for all types of security and investigation activity around the world, and therefore makes no assertions as to the licensing status of any member. We request that all Buyers check for the identity details of the winning bidder as well as the appropriate licensing for their Consultation and the location of work and only proceed with a Consultation once they are satisfied that the work required is covered by necessary licenses or registrations. Note that registraton requirements vary considerably between countries and even between different states, and that a license is not always required depending on the type of service being provided.

Can't I contact the Consultant directly?

Once bidding has been concluded and you have chosen a Consultant and he/she has accepted the Consultation, you will be put in touch with your Consultant directly. During the bidding, you may use the message board and private messaging functions on the site to discuss the Consultation and provide any further details or clarification that is required. Any attempts to bypass this and allow contact with the Consultant directly by posting phone numbers, web site addresses or other contact information may result in the suspension of your account. Please help support the concept behind mapfreelance Security to ensure it remains a worthwhile and productive venture for all involved by respecting the Terms and Conditions.

When posting a Consultation, how much detail should I provide?

We encourage you to post as much detail on your proposed Consultation as you can, to ensure that the full scope and detail of the Consultation is understood by both parties. Details can be entered directly into mapfreelance Security when entering the Consultation, or by attaching a file, such as a Word document, to the Consultation for potential bidders to download. However please do not post any personal information in the Consultation description as such will be public to other users and search engines. Keep personal information for your selected consultant only.

Are all Consultants appropriately licensed?

mapfreelance Security is an internet marketplace for Buyers of security and investigation services to meet providers of such. The types of services provided by Consultants on mapfreelance Security vary greatly, and the site features Consultants from around the globe. Due to the differing nature of licensing requirements around the world, and even in the U.S., for private investigators, bodyguards and security consultants, it is not possible for mapfreelance Security to confirm the type of license required for each Consultation and then verify that all bidders are qualified. Therefore it is up to the Buyer to confirm that a Consultant is, where necessary, licensed according to the location and nature of the service required, before using the Consultant's services.

Who's behind mapfreelance Security?

mapfreelance Security was created by Kintu Designs Pvt. Ltd. , an internet services company, and a number of people with bags of experience in the investigations and security industry. Kintu Designs Pvt. Ltd. is not affiliated with any current security consultants or vendors and as such is able to provide a completely unbiased, independent service.

As a buyer of security services, why should I use mapfreelance Security?

mapfreelance Security simplifies the process of finding and selecting security professionals who are able to complete your Consultation, saving you time, effort and money. It enables you to receive competitive bids for your Consultation from a large number of consultants meaning you can make sure you get the best combination of quality and value from a single source. It provides a means of checking other buyers' feedback on consultants giving you an easy source of references, meaning that by simply posting your Consultation online you'll be obtaining all the details you need without hours of telephone or e-mail communication.

Payments FAQ

When you have to pay a provider your best choice is to take advantage of our safe Escrow payment system which protects both buyers and provider and is FREE of charge. To send a payment, all you have to do is log in, click on the Escrow payment link (in the payments area, near the Balance), enter the provider's username and the amount you wish to put in the Escrow account. Once the Consultation is completed to your full satisfaction you can release the funds by going to the 'Payment Transaction' area and cliking on the 'Finish Payment' link in the 'Outgoing Escrow Payments' table.

What should I do if I am asked an advance payment on a big Consultation?

We recommend that you divide the Consultation in several milestones, with partial payments connected to reaching every milestone. The Escrow payment system works also for partial payments.

Should I deposit money if I have none in my wallet ?

Money should be deposited as soon as possible in order to start working with mapfreelance. You cannot post a Consultation if your account is zero or under 5$. For your and our security, mapfreelance doesn't accept balances below 0$ (debts). If you need to make a payment through mapfreelance you must deposit enough money in your wallet first.

How do I add money to my account?

To add money, log in, click on 'Payment Transactions' and then 'Deposit Money'. You can deposit money from Paypal. You can also use your credit card through Paypal.

Can I withdraw money from my account?

Yes, money can be withdrawn whenever you want as long as you are logged in. Click on 'Payment Transactions' and then 'Withdraw Money' to withdraw money from your PayPal account. You must withdraw a minimum amount of 10$ for each withdrawal. All withdrawals are processed manually in 2 to 3 days from day of request for Paypal, and 4 to 7 days for Moneybookers.

Can money be transferred between users not involved in any Consultation or to another one of my accounts?

No. Money can only be transferred from one account to another to pay for a Consultation once it is completed.

Is any fee applied for transferring money to another mapfreelance account?

No, there is no transfer fee when sending payment to another mapfreelance account.

Buyers - Consultations FAQ

How do I open a new Consultation?

Click on the 'Post Consultation' link on the header to land on the New Consultation page. Select up to three job types and then give a description of the Consultation. You may attach a file if you want (2,5 mb max uploading). Fill in the rest of the fields and then click on 'Submit Consultation'.

How do I close, cancel or extend my Consultation?

Log in to your account, click on the 'Buyer Activity' link and choose the applicable option. A menu will be displayed for you to make changes or close a Consultation by selecting a provider. You are also given the possibility to extend your Consultation duration up to 7 days more.

Why must I fill the 'Days open for bidding' field in?

Providers need to know how much time is available for bidding before Consultation ends. This gives everyone a guideline to work within. However, you can extend the bidding time of your Consultation any time.

What is a budget range?

The budget range is an approximate estimate of how much you are willing to pay for a specific Consultation. You definite your budget range by choosing a minimum and a maximum spending limits. This is necessary because it helps providers deciding on how much to bid.

Can I re-open a closed Consultation ?

No. You need to post a new Consultation.

What does it mean that a Consultation is frozen?

A Consultation is frozen when the bidding period expires. When the Consultation is frozen, it's your time to either select a provider or extend the bidding time. Consultation will continue to be frozen until the selected provider accepts (or rejects) your Consultation.

What would happen if for any reason the Consultation failed?

mapfreelance only gets you in touch with outsourcers from all over the world. It is not responsible for any Consultation's failure. mapfreelance will not provide for arbitration between the parts, who should find a solution by themselves.

Providers FAQ

How does mapfreelance work for providers?

Providers can view posted Consultations and choose which one(s) to bid on according to their qualifications. A provider can also give buyers information about the type of work he can do. When the bidding period ends the buyer selects the winning provider, who can begin to work, complete the job, and get paid!

What benefit do I get from using mapfreelance?

Finding clients can sometimes be difficult, especially if you are just starting out or in traditionally slow times of the year. mapfreelance is advertised all over the Internet, attracting many potential clients who may require your services. You have nothing to lose and and everything to gain by joining mapfreelance.

What are the Seller Profiles and the Sample Portfolio Area?

The Seller Profile and the Sample Portfolio are two free services mapfreelance offers you after registering. You can use them to publish a presentation of your company, samples of your work, your experience. It's a great opportunity to show what you can do to buyers all over the world.

How much does it cost to join mapfreelance ?

Signing up is free. You will only be charged a small commission for every Consultation that you win. We only charge a small commission on closed regular Consultations: 7% or $20 (whichever is greater).

The Service Provider don't have to pay commissions on featured Consultations. VIP Members don't pay any commissions on any Consultations.

How much does it cost to become a VIP Provider?

VIP Providers pay a $ 15 monthly fee. Upgrading to VIP membership gets you some exclusive benefits:

* No commission charged for winning Consultations: a VIP provider saves money!
* More Exposure: as a VIP Provider your bids will be displayed on top of the Consultations' bid list. This way, buyers immediately see your bid. Your bid will also be highlighted in a special color and a VIP symbol will be displayed next to your nickname.

How can I communicate with a buyer?

You can send the buyer a private message. Privates messages are meant to be read only by the buyer and you.

How can I stop receiving e-mail notifications of new Consultations?

Log in to your account and click on the 'Edit Account Info' link. If the e-mail notification box is ticked off, uncheck it to stop receiving e-mail notifications.

Can I be refunded the Consultation fee if the Consultation fails?

mapfreelance is only in charge for getting you in touch with buyers from all over the world. It is not responsible for any Consultation failure.

What is a private message and how can I send one?

Private messages are a direct line between a buyer and a provider to discuss the details of a Consultation. Private messages cannot be seen by other providers. You can send a private message by clicking on 'Private message to (buyer username)' on the Consultation page.

Can I change my account password?

Yes, you can change your password at any time. Log in to your account and go to the 'Modify Login Info': you will be given the option to change your password immediately.

Providers - Receiving Payment FAQ

How does the Escrow system for payments work?

The Escrow system is a great way to ensure safe payments for the work you provide a buyer with.

How much is the commission for each Consultation?

The commission is 7% of the bid amount. VIP Providers pay no commissions.Fist Month is all for Free!

Should I have money in my account?

Once you have been selected as the winning provider of a Consultation by the buyer, you will need to have money in your account to pay the commission.

How can I add money to my account?

Go to the 'My Account' area, click on the 'Payment Transactions' link where you will be given the option of depositing money. Money can be deposited via Credit Card, PayPal and MoneyBookers.

Can I withdraw money from my account?

Of course. In the 'My Account' area, click on the 'withdraw money' link in the "Payment Transactions" section and money will be deposited into your PayPal account. Please note you cannot withdraw less than $10 at a time.

Can money be transferred between users not involved in any Consultation or to another one of my accounts?

No. Money can only be transferred from one account to another to pay for a Consultation once it is completed.

If I don't invoice the buyer for the total bid amount, can I receive a partial refund of the commission charge?

No. mapfreelance stores a Consultation as soon as it is closed by the buyer, therefore you will be charged according to the bid amount.

When do you collect the Consultation fee?

Consultation fees are automatically taken from your account, however taking such fees must not result in a negative balance, so you should make sure you have enough money in your account wallet or deposit some in advance if you don't. You can not have a negative balance (below zero).You can not obtain contact information about the selected provider and you can not start working with him until your fee is paid.

Providers - Bidding on Consultations FAQ

How do I place a bid on a Consultation?

Click the 'Place Bid' link on the Consultation page. You will be redirected to the bid page, where you can enter the bid amount, provide an estimated time for the Consultation completion and add details of your bid (optional). When placing a bid, you can choose to be notified via e-mail when lower bids are placed on the same Consultation by checking the corresponding box. All bids are reviewed manually, they will appear to be delayed as it takes time to do this review. The reviewing staff will check for contact information, any information of this kind will be edited out.

Can I change a bid I have already placed on a Consultation?

Yes, you can change your bid by clicking the place bid button again. The buyer will see your latest bid.

Can I cancel a bid I have already placed?

Yes, you can cancel your bid by going to the 'My Account' area, clicking the 'provider activity' link and then the 'Retract your bid' button.

Can I ask a question about a posted Consultation?

If you need to ask a buyer a question to get any details about the Consultation, you can post a message either on the public or the private message board. You can access these boards by clicking on one of the corresponding text links on the Consultation page.

Can I estimate the cost of a Consultation when bidding?

You shouldn't estimate the cost of a Consultation and post it as a bid.You could end up bidding yourself too high, or on the other end, you could put in a lot of work and not be receiving adequate compensation. When you place a bid, you enter into a legal binding contract and you would be required to perform the work for the amount you have bid. If you require more information to make an accurate bid, you can use the public and private message boards.

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