Aibu to be fucked off about this?

[Cocklodger]

Ok so I've just started freelancing via a website. It's basically an online market place. People post their tasks/jobs, you bid for it. Simple.
Someone posted a task, can't be too specific but it's basically an edit. Spell check, perhaps add an extra page of content.
I've received these copies to edit and I'll have to fully rewrite them as they're no longer current or accurate, some sentences make no sense whatsoever and to top it all off it's literally impossible to edit it as it's a photograph/screen shot of said piece of work.
So I've quoted based on what is essentially a totally different job, which will require around 2-3hrs of my time as opposed to 30 minutes maximum. But as it's via this website I can't change how much I've quoted him or ask for more as he's accepted the quote and if I cancel the job this impacts my rating so will hinder my ability to get work.
Aibu to be so fucked off?

Yes you are BU.

Can you comment on the poster, like you can on EBay?

Or could you do a not perfect job, just provide your money's worth.

You can review them back, but it won't change that my "completed" jobs will be impacted and he may leave me a bad review/less than favourable.
I can't really do anything if not a full rewrite as the document he has sent me is uneditable as it's basically a photo rather than a word document.

Surely there must be an opt out for job not being as listed? So you quoted for ad edit, he has given you a re-write?

Does the site have a moderator?

Have you asked him to send you an editable version?

Send it back and say you need it in word. And in future make clear you need it in word or similar so there is no confusion

My partner used to work for what I presume is the same site. He always gave his price as per hour, and gave an estimate of overall costs to avoid being underpaid for a job. It is part of being freelance that you have to be responsible for your own pay, and estimate under the illusion that it may be a bigger job than what face value presents. It's your responsibility not the clients.

I would be inclined to do as is asked and next time price according to the risk. Or price it on a day rate, if it takes you half hour you're quids in, if it takes 2 days you will work faster next time

Can you ask him to send you an editable version, as the brief might allude?

Either that or I'd be tempted to reply with a list of the errors for him to make in his editable version.

Sounds like the site is flawed if there's no option for you to provide a quote based on anything other than the client's perception of what's required and the assets you need to complete the work.

This did make me think of clientsfromhell.net though

sorry meant to say fixed day rate

soupdragon I have but he's said "oh sorry I don't have one I only have this" (photo)
I'll email the site via their contact us and see what they say. I've not seen any moderators so it's all I can do. I'm quite miffed though
I quoted for something that'd take a maximum of 30 minutes spell check and extra writing up to a maximum of 1 page but only would've been around half a page based on the text he wanted
And now I'd need to do about 2-3hrs work (rewrite a full 7 page document correctly then do the original work I was supposed to do in additon)

Just saw the suggestions above about quoting with a buffer in there. V sensible and an approach we often use with new clients (I work in an agency and not freelance though).

If he only has the uneditable copy, does he have the relevant permissions to use it and edit it?

Tricky one. I'd email back and say you can't edit a a screenshot and could he please send you the original in word/pdf format. You bid for an edit not a transcript.

Or, if you feel you have to edit/rewrite, send it back as a screenshot.

surely your reply to his 'sorry I only have this' is to say, well I can't edit a photo???

I'm very new to freelancing this is just my 6th job. There is no option for a day rate but there is one for an hourly rate which in any case is a pointless feature due to the fact that even if it does take you more time the price doesn't change.
So say they pay $50ph and "estimate" that the job will take 3hrs, if it takes 6 there is no way for you to claim anymore money as that is what the "estimate" is for so it's literally no different to the normal rate, as you'd only walk away with 150 anyway (less the sites fees).
I know this as I provided a quote based on a 5hr job but as it only took me 3 I offered to drop the price in accordance with being paid hourly and there was no way to do so on either end, so I did some extra work for that customer to make up time. We were both happy with the outcome anyway but after this if the site doesn't fix it I'll be very tempted to try to find a similar site that works better.

I'd go back and explain that it isn't an edit as he can't provide an editable version of the work and he needs to repost the "job" appropriately.

Worth a shot to resolve amicably.

I will start over quoting though, tips like that are good, thank you. But a day rate just wouldn't work on this site (so may go elsewhere)
I haven't responded to him yet as I'm stuck between
A- do the job and work for a pittance.
B- refuse the job and take the rating hit on what has so far been a very good site for me to use (pretty lucrative too which is nice )
He does have the right to use this piece, it's something that he has very obviously written himself (sorry I can't say more than that)

If he only has the uneditable copy, does he have the relevant permissions to use it and edit it?

Good point. Just a screenshot seems a bit dodgy unless he has a bloody good explanation.

Something else that has just occurred to me. Do you think he could be subcontracting?

Yes, you can't edit a photo, tell him, if he gets arsey, say you're taking it up with the admin to prevent your reviews being slammed.

No way would I suck that up, cheeky sod.

Offer to mark up errors on paper - print out his photo - and send a photo of your mark-up back.

I edit freelance and would not do this job. I'd rather take the hit on the ratings.

When you quote, do you have the opportunity to ask questions that aren't in the "brief"? Make a list, including "how will you supply the material?" and try to get as much info as possible up front.

He needs to provide editable version at the very least. If he is not prepared to type it out again in Word why does he think that becomes your job?

I suspect plagiarism.

Me too RB68. All too iffy to only have images of the text.

Or reply to him with what you CAN do in the time you've quoted for.

Or say your quote will stand when he can provide an editable version, so suggest he sets up a bid for a typist to retype his photo, which you will bid on at £x cost. Then you can go the whole job for him, but you'll get paid properly.

Don't just do the work without getting paid properly, it really won't do you any favours in the long run.

Is this PPH? If not then ignore this message as it's all irrelevant!

I'd message the seller and be really clear that the job is not as described, and request additional deposit to cover for the extra
time it will take.

Be really clear in the workstream as PPH will use this info to resolve a dispute.

If he won't agree to provide the extra deposit, then you can refund, but make sure that it's a refund due to buyer fault. Just double check this with support before you refund. I have previously had this situation with a buyer, refunded and support were happy to remove the automatic negative feedback, but just double check with them that they will do this before you do anything.

Good luck.