Anyone on here use People Per Hour? I need some advice.

[MyRealNamesBernard]

I have joined PPH recently and after just a couple of weeks have managed to get quite a bit of work, for which I have started getting paid. In order to transfer the money from my PPH wallet to my bank account I apparently need to send PPH some ID documents - drivers licence, bank statement, bill etc. Is this normal procedure? Has anyone else done this? I don't really like the idea of sending this sort of info through the interweb to a faceless person in an unknown location (yes, I know I sound like a utterly technophobic dinosaur). Can anyone reassure me.....?

I registered a few years ago and don't believe they needed any of that but that sounds a bit OTT to me. Not sure why they care who you are?

I have used PPH a number of times (as a buyer mainly) and have never had any issues with them.

I've been paid via that a while back but cannot remember what they needed for payment. It sounds very unlikely. I just had a quick look on the site and it seems you just click on withdraw funds once someone has paid you but it is a bit long agao for me to remember if I had to send ID.

If you are hiring a solicitor though you will need to submit ID documents - could it be because of that?

My guess it is to do with money laundering. They may be covered by the money laundering regulations and by requesting ID they are trying to reduce the chance that money launderers set up fake accounts and use them to hide the origin of ill gotten gains.

I hope they are not asking you to email these documents though as that is not a secure way to transfer information and, if they are covered by the data protection act which they probably are, they could be in breach. I'd suggest using something like sharefile or box to transfer the documents securely.

I hear it's a new thing, probably for anti-laundering money measures. I've earnt £7.6K on PPH this last year, given out work as well, and not been asked for any ID, but I think new members have.

I've had to do that for a couple sites I use, can't remember if I did it for PPH or not. It's an anti-money laundering measure (or should be) as companies making international bank transfers are required to be able to identify their account holders and check they're not on major crimes / terrorism lists. Even #'d Swiss accounts do this now!

Does PPH pay decent rates? I mean, the equivalent of your own my rates for work which might be a minimum of £40 an hour- or do they pay peanuts?

PPH don't set the rates Supersusie. It's either set by freelancers or you bid according to what you think it's worth or you could get. There are a few gems but on the whole I'd say it's on the low side.

Thanks!

Thank you for all your replies. I bit the bullet and sent my ID and have now been paid so - fingers crossed - all will be well. I am uncomfortable sending personal info online, I still have a mild panic each time I go internet shopping.

Supersusie - agree with gunnsgirl that PPH is not the best for rates. I have had three years out of my profession due to commitments at home and I am using PPH, at the moment, to refresh my portfolio and rebuild my confidence.

Careful not to get sucked in tho. I started with pph five years ago and still use it daily. My intention was to move on to finding my own clients. Never really did and now feel like I don't want to not use pph because I have built a great reputation. It is a vicious circle.

Interesting whatdoesittake48, what do you think you're missing out on or not doing by using PPH rather than finding own clients?

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Celeria - it is money mostly. PPH pays much less than direct clients and you pay fees. It is a good filler for days when there is not much else happening - but you can get stuck doing PPH work for less money and not have time to do or find more lucrative work.

I am focusing on finding direct clients now that I have such a good portfolio and it is working for me - but it is nerve wracking and not easy.

whatdoesittake48 I think you should really go for it. You give excellent advice on here and you have obviously built up a really good portfolio. Lack of experience and a limited portfolio is the only reason I am not pushing it to find direct clients. I think you would have a great deal of success. Good luck :-).