I was contacted by Jagadish from Adith Multilingual to write articles for them. I was assigned the job of writing articles from June 10. They were very clear about the terms of payment and the deadline for writing the articles. In fact they even extended the deadline by a day if I was not able to complete the assignment. I wrote a total of 28 articles comprising of mainly 400 - 600 words. All the articles were duly completed by June 23, upon which the company sent me a P.O. on the same day for 28 articles wherein a payment of Rs.3, 997.90 was detailed.
Thereafter I waited for many days to have details on my payment. Finally on July 2, I sent an email to Selvi with whom I had corresponded for the assignment, questioning about the payment. The reply came on July 11 stating that payment will be made once the articles were approved by their clients and I am asked to raise an invoice.
Please note that nowhere in their previous correspondence i.e. when writing the articles had they mentioned the fact that the articles would be approved by their clients. They had only mentioned that the payment will be made within 30 days of raising an invoice. The P.O. was sent by them on June 23 on completion of the assignment. So there was no way I would have known the facts before I started on my assignment.
However after much follow up I was informed on August 7 that only 10 articles were accepted from the 28 articles written by me and a invoice should be raised for only 10 articles for which I would be paid only Rs.1, 500.00. I still raised an invoice of 28 articles as I had spent time and effort on writing the articles and wanted to be paid for the full effort. But they did not agree to it and finally on August 22 I raised an invoice for 10 articles.
As per their terms they were to have made the payment within 30 days, so I should have received the payment by end of September. But it has been 5 months since I have completed the work assignment and am still following up for my payment. They have been only been shirking me from one department to another and making false promises of making the payment. On so much delay I sent an email to the company asking for a late payment charges of Rs.500.00 alongwith my payment for the assignment. They have been absolutely silent on the matter and not even bothered to reply. They are in fact so shameless that they have not sent me the payment inspite of me sending them sarcastic emails.
I have many international clients who have sent me payment even before I inquire about the approval of the articles. I have never had to follow up twice with any of my clients before, but Adith Multilingual has surpassed all limits of my patience. It is indeed a shame that an Indian Company boasting of being one of the best in Asia is a cheat and they have not just cheated me but a number of other freelance writers. I was shocked to see so many complaints filed against them and people suffering at their hands.
Thankfully my earnings as a freelancer is not bread and butter for my family. But what about people who have made freelancing their profession and depend on its income. So for me it is no longer a question of money, but I do want the company to be punished for cheating people and causing them so much pain and anguish.
I hope that the Indian Consumer Complaints Forum will make note of my complaint and help me in getting not just my payment but also justice for me and other freelancers in my position.
Thanking you,
Armin Sodawaterwala
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