OK - so I'm not going to venture far enough to call this work at home opportunity a scam, but I will say that it seems pretty shoddy at this point.
While I was accepted at higher than the standard $1/500 words, I was not given any assignments at that price as I was told those were very few and far between, and I could accept an assignment for $1.50/100 words. I offered to try this out, but did not receive an assignment until almost 10pm last Friday night, and did not check my mail until this morning... way past the deadline for acceptance. While I am curious to see what would have happened had I accepted, the guidelines were poor and I keep seeing their rules about 'rejected' articles. It is an insult enough to have submitted so many samples without pay, but if I actually accepted an assignment at such a low pay offering and then not gotten paid for it, I would have been ticked.
The message I then received Saturday afternoon stated that I had six hours to accept the assignment or I would not be offered anything further. I guess it's a one shot thing, and you cannot go more than six hours without staring at your computer waiting for an offer.
Anyway, I figure writing 5 400-500 word articles per day would take me at least 2 hours. That said, I would be making $7.50 for two hours work. Even then, I wonder - the criteria for the assignment I missed stated 430-470 words per article... so do they total up all the articles and base pay off of that, or would I not be paid at all since I'm paid per 500 words? That's a risk I certainly don't want to take.
At this point I feel I've wasted at least 4 hours of my life on this 'golden opportunity' and am choosing not to waste anything further. Scam or no scam, I did not spend any money investing in the possibility, nor did I make any money for my meager efforts...
On to the next opportunity... bring it on.
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- EmsLovingMother
- I'm a 30 year old mother of a beautiful little girl that is my saving grace and a brand new baby girl that I cherish beyond measure. I've been married once, divorced, and now married again.
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That was supposed to say $1.50/500 words, instead of the $1/100 words I accepted with the contract. Sorry for the confusion.
Last week, I excepted an assignment from them, through Freelancer.com. I completed my project, and I was supposed to have payment today. I asked Freelancer how I am supposed to get my $30 promised from Ozio Media, and the company did not sign a milestone contract for the payment. I do other things, such as I am a consultant, and create scrapbooks and greeting cards. I was just doing this to make a little extra money.
Did they pay you when promised?
Thanks, Tricia Logan
Email me at plogan@columbus.rr.com
Reply to Tricia (also sent via email) - I did not ever accept a paying assignment from Ozio. Unfortunately, for two weeks I was strung along with constant requests for sample articles of different natures. Then, in the end, I was offered a much lower paying assignment, and did not check my email in time to accept. I was sent a message at that point advising that I would receive no further job offers from Ozio. I was content to count my losses and walk away at that time.
I am curious to hear the results of your situation though... please keep me informed.
I'm actually quite relieved I was "let go."
I just lost a proofreading job with them, after less than one day, for never-specified "errors." I kept trying to ask what I did wrong, so I could correct them, and was then sacked for leaving comments. The pay rate is miserable for proofreaders: 30 cents for every 500 words, plus you have to pay up front to fund a plagiarism checker with credits. I think they are some kind of scam.
I had troubles with them too. While I did get steady work at a higher pay rate, they were too vague about their standards, and late with payments. When I discovered how much they charge their clients by doing a bit of detective work, it put me off of them for good. Now I run my own writing service, and I would never pay so little, or be so rude.
Thanks for your comments everyone. I tried once again, well after this post, to contact them to determine for what 'errors' I was let go, and received no further communication.
I have heard from three other people that this post has helped them decide not to do business with Ozio Media - so your comments are being put to good use. It's a waste of a lot of time, for little to no compensation.
I just tried Ozio Media this week. In an email from my *PM* I was told to NOT leave comments on the completed files, BUT to make sure I said whether the files passed the paid up front (you pay and have credits) plagiarism site. Within minutes I was told I was still leaving comments and was no longer needed and the file account closed. AND the PM blocked me from emailing him back. Sure, why not...18 articles proofread in under 24 hours...and not one word about paying my my measly $.30 per 500!!! I don't know who they are or what they do, but I'm certain they are getting work sent to them AND/OR done for them for FREE!!!! Lesson learned!
Sorry, I left out that I had NOT left any comments on the completed files. I believe I had done all the work they had wanted me to do for them and got rid of me!!!
For those of you wondering about this company; first they use a oerson named Sue who's e-mail is hr123@gmail.com to try to get writers for Ozio Media, Inc. The company is based out of an aprtment in Maryland. You can access through publis records the address of the corporation. The CEO is Liane Lee, who goes by the name Ann. I sent a lsit of questions as I am doing a research paper about online businesses and deceptive practices. I signed up with Ozio, went through their guidelines and submitted six stories to see how they operated. What you read about this type of company is true. It is eay to see that the people listed as project managers are not native English speakers and the company's CEO refused to answer questions as to whether they adhere to US tax laws in reporting income paid to independent contractors by using 1099 forms. Ozio Media, Inc does not appear to be a reliable company. Writers BEWARE.
I'm so mad at 1st myself and then this moron, that I have reported this Liane Lee/Sue/Ann to the Maryland BBB through their online link. Who knows what will happen if anything. They have they email addresses, and Ozio Media site link too. Who knows if anything will happen or not. [shrug] One slug salted at a time, I suppose!!!
I'm sorry you all had these experiences. I was just about to sign up with them and, thankfully, found your posts.
Needless to say, I will not be wasting my effort with this rip-off artists.
Ahhh..I was just hired by Ozio as an editor. I thought it would be a good way to compensate my income. I got hired and was told I would receive instructions within 72 hours via email. When I checked it 3 hrs later I had 5 emails, all full of instructions that were vague, complicated and not very professionally written (clue one being that they are a "writing company.) After I read all the emails and tried to decipher which task I should perfor first (set up gmail account, read through 30 "Box-in" documents, set up a copyscape account which I had to pay for but would be reimbursed for..uh huh.., sign on for an hour training) and a bunch of other things, I was too exhausted to do a training!Then I get another email stating "And we need to to start right now.." Umm..at 8:30 on a Friday night? With no notice? And then another stating I needed to send this "Ann" woman a gmail instant message so I could get my first assignments. So I thought I would research this golden opportunity because it seemed like there was a lot of propaganda..and I am so very glad I did before I started. At $.30/500 words I don't need what I can tell will be a whole lot of headaches and time wasted. I will stick with odesk and other outlets for extra cash. Thank you all for your helpful comments and saving me much time and wasted effort!
I am working as proofreader and I am curious what articles they asked you to submit as "samples" as they have a slew of articles that are slotted to be re-written and the originals pass copyscape so they have not been published online before and I am suspicious that a client would want someone to re-write their articles if they had not already been posted online. Can you tell me the subjects of the samples they asked you to submit?
I am curious if this company is a scam or not. I was hired as a writer, and my story is so different from everyone who has posted here. I have not had to speak/email an ANN, did not receive a ton of emails or telling me I needed to start now, etc. Instead I was given clear instructions, terms of service,etc. All I was asked was to provide my paypal account in order to be paid, and was given an attachment in one email that had all the instructions, clarifications what a writer was/was not to do. I have no been asked to pay for anything at all. They also have me a link to go to and my own password to access the Instructions for new writers. I would love to work from home, but after reading the comments I am still unsure what to do. Like I said my experience with them sounds nothing like what everyone else is saying... now what to do lol
tI got "hired" by Ozio Media at the rate of $3 per 100 words. I read their Training manual twice before asking for my first project. It was supposedly for a web-design site and I had to do a more than 300-word article for the site's About page. I waited for about 3 days since my PM said that she had to get the client's OK before I could write the 4 other articles. Only to be told that it was "very repetitive." I reread the article I submitted and told my PM that I disagreed with the client's assessment, asking her to point out the parts which the client said were repetitive. And why did they not ask my to rewrite? I got no reply. About a week later I got another project from another PM. I already sent her the article and she said she sent it to the client and is waiting for a comment. I didn't get paid for the first article and don't expect to get paid for the second one. Yes, Ozio Media does appear to be a scam and I got victimized. I wish I had read the above comments before doing work for Ozio Media.
freelancer.com is THE MOST exploitative freelance working environment on the internet. I started with them about two years ago and after being shafted by so-called employers I can't even TELL you how many times and getting NO help from their "support centre" I finally gave up. Where in the world is a freelance writer able to find bona fide work? There don't seem to be very many real opportunities. I think I'm going to give up and try to find a "real" job again.
freelancer.com is THE MOST exploitative freelance working environment on the internet. I started with them about two years ago and after being shafted by so-called employers I can't even TELL you how many times and getting NO help from their "support centre" I finally gave up. Where in the world is a freelance writer able to find bona fide work? There don't seem to be very many real opportunities. I think I'm going to give up and try to find a "real" job again.
Adding my name to the lineup of the scammed. Just wanted to make some extra money as a single parent to take my son and myself on a greatly required mini-vacation together. I wrote several original articles which are now proudly posted on client blog sites. I have not received payment for any of them. STAY CLEAR OF THIS COMPANY. WRITER BEWARE. My heart is saddened to know that there are individuals supporting this company. How do they sleep at night?
Unfortunately, I didn't read all the warnings on Ozio before I signed up. Here is my blog about them: How to Be a Freelance Writer: Writers Should Avoid Ozio Media
http://freelancewritingblogger.blogspot.com/2013/10/writers-should-avoid-ozio-media.html
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