My Experience with Predicta Digital: Unpaid Freelance Work and Unprofessionalism

As a freelancer, timely and fair payment is critical to sustaining a professional career. Unfortunately, my experience with Predicta Digital, an Australian-based digital agency, highlights the risks many freelancers face when working without reliable payment structures.

I feel compelled to share my story so others can be informed and make well-considered decisions when engaging with businesses, especially when no official freelance platforms are involved.

Background

In September 2024, I entered into a contract with Predicta Digital to provide digital marketing services (SEO) for their clients. We agreed on a salary, and I completed my work professionally and within the agreed timeline. According to the terms of our contract, I was supposed to receive payment by October 10, 2024.

However, when the due date passed, no payment was made. I immediately reached out to the company through email, LinkedIn, and other channels. I initially thought it could be a minor delay due to administrative issues. Unfortunately, my follow-up attempts were ignored, and despite repeated communication over several days, Predicta Digital failed to address or resolve the issue.

Breach of Contract and Lack of Communication

By October 11, 2024, I had sent multiple emails, Skype, and LinkedIn messages, politely asking them to confirm when I would receive my payment. All these attempts were met with silence. In addition, they terminated my contract shortly after I started inquiring about the payment, which gave me the impression that they were evading their responsibilities.

This lack of communication and disregard for our agreed terms signaled a breach of contract and unprofessionalism. Not only did they fail to make the agreed-upon payment, but they also terminated the contract without a clear explanation.

The Impact on Freelancers

For freelancers, the failure of a company to fulfill its financial obligations can cause significant stress and financial hardship. This is especially true for those who rely on freelance work for their livelihood. Predicta Digital’s failure to honor their contractual obligations demonstrates a lack of respect for freelancers, who are often vulnerable to this kind of exploitation.

The time spent chasing payment, sending reminders, and being ignored has wasted my valuable time and effort. As freelancers, we already face challenges such as inconsistent work, no benefits, and fluctuating income. The least we expect is to be paid for the work we’ve done.

What I Plan to Do

I’ve exhausted my attempts to resolve this matter directly with Predicta Digital. My next steps include:

• Seeking legal advice and filing an official report through the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
• Sharing my experience publicly to inform other job seekers and freelancers about the company’s behavior.
• Reaching out to their clients to inform them of the unethical practices I’ve experienced in case they are unaware of how Predicta Digital treats freelancers.

If this issue isn’t resolved soon, I plan to make daily posts on LinkedIn and other platforms, warning potential job seekers and clients about Predicta Digital’s actions. It’s crucial to raise awareness about unethical companies that take advantage of freelancers.

My Advice to Freelancers

Here are a few things I would recommend to other freelancers based on my experience:

1. Always use a freelancing platform: When working with international clients, platforms like Upwork provide more security in terms of payment. These platforms offer mediation services and payment protection, which can save you from chasing unpaid invoices.
2. Clear contract terms: Make sure your contract includes penalties for late payments and outlines a payment structure (e.g., 50% upfront and 50% upon completion) to ensure you aren’t left unpaid after completing a project.
3. Keep thorough records: Save all emails, messages, contracts, and work deliverables. These can be crucial if you need to take legal action or file a complaint.
4. Trust your instincts: If a client shows red flags early in the relationship (like delayed communication or vague contract terms), reconsider the engagement.

Conclusion

Freelancing can be rewarding, but it also has risks when dealing with clients who don’t honor their commitments. I’m sharing my story to highlight these risks and prevent others from falling into the same situation. As I continue to pursue the payment I am owed, I hope to remind companies like Predicta Digital that freelancers deserve the same respect and professionalism as any other employee.