Effective Date: 07/01/2024

Last Updated: 09/01/2024

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If Client and Freelancer enter into an Hourly Contract, if Client makes a bonus or expense payment to Freelancer, this Hourly, Bonus, and Expense Payment Agreement with Escrow Instructions (“Agreement”) applies

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To the extent permitted by applicable law, we may modify this Agreement, and the Escrow Instructions it contains, without prior notice to you, and any revisions to the Agreement will take effect when posted on the Site unless otherwise stated. Please check the Site often for updates.

 

This Agreement hereby incorporates by reference the Terms of Service. Capitalized terms not defined in this Agreement are defined in the User Agreement, elsewhere in the Terms of Service, or have the meanings given such terms on the Site. The Escrow Instructions in this Agreement do not apply to Fixed-Price Escrow Accounts, except that they govern the making and receiving of bonus, expense and other miscellaneous payments for Fixed-Price Contracts. Escrow services are provided by Stripe Inc. (“Stripe”).

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1. DIGITAL SIGNATURE

By clicking to accept an Hourly Contract or make a bonus payment, Client and Freelancer are deemed to have executed this Agreement electronically, effective on the date Freelancer clicks to accept an Hourly Contract, pursuant to California Civil Code section 1633.8 and the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 7001, et seq., as amended from time to time (the "E-Sign Act"). Doing so constitutes an acknowledgement that Client and Freelancer agree to conduct the transaction electronically, and are able to electronically receive, download, and print this Agreement and the Escrow Instructions it contains.

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2. MAKING OR RECEIVING AN HOURLY PAYMENT

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2.1 WEEKLY HOURLY INVOICES

For Hourly Contracts, the weekly billing cycle starts Monday at 00:00 midnight UTC and ends Sunday at 23:59 UTC. Freelancer submits their time to Client in the Zalow Time Reporting function based on their agreed upon time reporting and billing cadence. Freelancer irrevocably authorizes and instructs Zalow, as its agent, to (i) create an invoice on behalf of Freelancer for payment due based upon the hours that the freelancer recorded in the Time Reporting (such invoice, the "Hourly Invoice"); and (ii) submit the Hourly Invoice on behalf of Freelancer to Freelancer's Client for payment. For the avoidance of doubt, the “Time Reporting” is the section of Zalow where hours can be recorded on an Hourly Contract.

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By recording time in the Time Reporting and allowing an Hourly Invoice to be created based on the time recorded, Freelancer represents and warrants that (y) Freelancer has completed the applicable Freelancer Services fully and satisfactorily; and (z) the hours Freelancer reports are true, accurate, and complete.

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2.2 HOURLY INVOICE REVIEW

Client must review and approve or dispute the Hourly Invoice within five business days following submission of the Hourly Invoice. Payments will be held in escrow during the Dispute Period (defined below), providing four additional days to review and dispute the invoice before funds are released. During the Dispute Period, Client may initiate a Dispute as to some or all the time invoiced on the Hourly Invoice.

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On the fifth business day following submission of the Hourly Invoice, Client will be deemed to have approved all undisputed amounts on the Hourly Invoice, and irrevocably instructed Zalow’s Partner, Stripe, Inc., to release escrow funds as described in this Agreement.

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3. MAKING OR RECEIVING A BONUS OR EXPENSE PAYMENT

Client may also make a bonus, tip, expense, or other miscellaneous payment to Freelancer using the Site. To make such a payment to a Freelancer, Client must follow the instructions and links on the Site and provide the information requested. If Client clicks to pay such a payment to Freelancer, Client irrevocably instructs Stripe to and Stripe will release escrow funds as described in this Agreement.

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4. INSTRUCTIONS TO PAY IRREVOCABLE

Client’s instruction to Stripe and its wholly owned subsidiaries to pay a Freelancer is irrevocable. Such instruction is Client’s authorization to transfer funds to Freelancer from the Client Escrow Account or authorization to charge Client’s Payment Method. Such instruction is also Client’s representation that Client has received, inspected, and accepted the subject work or expense. Client acknowledges and agrees that upon receipt of Client’s instruction to pay Freelancer, Stripe will transfer funds to the Freelancer and that Zalow, Stripe, and other Partners have no responsibility to and may not be able to recover such funds. Therefore, and in consideration of services described in this Agreement, Client agrees that once Stripe or its subsidiary has charged Client’s Payment Method, the charge is non-refundable.

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5. RELEASE AND DELIVERY OF AMOUNTS IN ESCROW

In addition, Stripe is authorized to and will release applicable portions of the Client Escrow Account (each portion, a “Release”) to the Freelancer Escrow Account, upon the occurrence of and in accordance with one or more Release Conditions provided below or as otherwise required by applicable law or the Terms of Service. The amount of the Release will be delivered to the Freelancer Escrow Account, in accordance with Freelancer’s and Client’s instructions, as applicable, these Escrow Instructions, and the other Terms of Service.

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5.1 RELEASE CONDITIONS

As used in these Escrow Instructions, “Release Condition” means any of the following:

1. Client and Freelancer have submitted joint written instructions for a Release.

2. Client has approved all or a portion of the Freelancer's Hourly Invoice. This Release Condition will only apply to amounts invoiced by the Freelancer that Client has approved. Client’s failure to dispute an Hourly Invoice, or a portion of an Hourly Invoice, within the Dispute Period pursuant to this Agreement, or as otherwise provided in the Escrow Instructions, constitutes approval by the Client for purposes of this Release Condition.

3. Zalow reviews Client's dispute of amounts invoiced on Freelancer's Hourly Invoice for an Hourly Contract with Time Reporting pursuant to this Agreement and determines that the time is related to the Hourly Contract requirements or Client's instructions.

4. Client initiates a Dispute with respect to Freelancer's Hourly Invoice for an Hourly Contract without Time Reporting pursuant to this Agreement and Client and Freelancer resolve the dispute without the assistance of Zalow.

5. Issuance of a final order of a court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction from which appeal is not taken, in which case the funds will be released in accordance with such order.

6. We believe, in our sole discretion, that fraud, an illegal act, or a violation of Zalow's Terms of Service has been committed or is being committed or attempted, in which case Client and Freelancer hereby irrevocably authorize and instruct Stripe to take such actions as we deem appropriate in our sole discretion and in accordance with applicable law, in order to prevent or remedy such acts, including without limitation to return the funds associated with such acts to their source of payment.

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6. PAYMENT PROTECTION

Zalow provides limited payment protection to Users as detailed in this Section 6 ("Hourly Payment Protection").

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6.1 FOR FREELANCERS

In the rare event that a Freelancer’s Client does not make payment for legitimate services performed by a Freelancer, Zalow will provide Hourly Payment Protection to the Freelancer as detailed in this Section 6.1 as a membership benefit to foster fairness, reward loyalty, and encourage the Freelancer to continue to use the Site Services for their business needs. Hourly Payment Protection will be offered to a Freelancer only if all of the following criteria are met in Zalow's sole discretion:

1. Both Client and Freelancer must have agreed to use Time Reporting upon acceptance of the Hourly Contract, as part of the terms.

2. Client must have an Account in good standing and a valid and verified Payment Method at the start of the Hourly Contract, and must agree to automatically pay for hours billed by Freelancer through Time Reporting.

3. Freelancer's Account must be in good standing at the time of the payment at issue, including, for example, completion of the identity verification process, tax information, and any other similar requests or requirements.

4. Freelancer must have enabled and used Time Reporting to document any and all hours covered by the Hourly Payment Protection for Freelancers.

5. Prior to any Hourly Invoice being submitted, Freelancer must have annotated the screenshots documented in Time Reporting sufficient to demonstrate the work relates to the Hourly Contract.

6. The screenshots documented by Time Reporting must be clearly related to the applicable Hourly Contract requirements or Client instructions.

7. The number of hours billed in the Time Reporting must be within the hours authorized in the Hourly Contract for the week.

8. Within five days after notification of rejected or unpaid time, Freelancer must submit a Dispute specifically identifying the documented work not otherwise paid for by their Client through the Escrow Services.

Zalow will investigate and determine in its sole discretion whether the above terms and conditions are met.
 

Hourly Payment Protection does not apply to: (a) hours invoiced for work not agreed to or authorized by Client; (b) bonus payments; (c) refunds; (d) manual time; (e) time added after Client has disputed a billing and before the resolution of that dispute; (f) Fixed-Price Contracts; (g) any payments on Hourly Contracts where the Hourly Contract or the services provided thereunder are prohibited by the Terms of Service; (h) hours billed by Freelancers whom Zalow believes, in its sole discretion, to be aware of or complicit in another User’s violation of this Agreement or the other Terms of Service; or (i) Freelancers whom Zalow believes, in its sole discretion, to be involved in actual fraudulent activities or abuse of this Payment Protection.

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The maximum rate per hour protected by Zalow to Freelancer under the Hourly Payment Protection for Freelancers is the lesser of: (i) the rate provided in the Hourly Contract terms; (ii) the usual hourly rate billed by Freelancer on the Site across all Clients; and (iii) the going rate for the same skills on the Site in Freelancer's area (such determination to be made in Zalow's sole discretion). The maximum amount of coverage under the Hourly Payment Protection for Freelancers for the life of a relationship between the same Client and Freelancer is $2,500 or 50 hours logged in Time Reporting at Freelancer's average hourly rate billed to Client, based on whichever is less.

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6.2 FOR CLIENTS

Freelancer authorizes and instructs Zalow to adjust the Hourly Invoice to remove invoiced hours that are not (a) clearly related to either the Hourly Contract terms or work agreed to by the Client, and (b) within the hours authorized in the Hourly Contract for the week, subject to and conditioned on the following terms:

• Both Client and Freelancer must agree to use Time Reporting as part of the Hourly Contract terms.

• Client must have an Account in good standing and a valid and verified default Payment Method, and Client must agree to automatically pay for hours billed by Freelancer in the Hourly Invoices. Within the Hourly Invoice Review Period, Client must submit a Dispute specifically identifying the time billed that is not clearly related to either the Hourly Contract requirements or Client instructions in the Time Reporting.

Zalow will investigate and determine in its sole discretion whether the above terms and conditions are met.

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Hourly Protection for Clients only protects Client from the obligation to pay for Freelancer’s work if the documented hours worked are not clearly related to the Hourly Contract requirements or Client instructions in the Time Reporting.

 

If Client has requested that the Freelancer use functionality of the Site or third-party software that hides, blurs, or distorts images in the Time Reporting, the screenshots will be deemed to be “clearly related” to the Hourly Contract requirements for purposes of the Client's eligibility for Hourly Payment Protection. Hourly Payment Protection for Clients does not create any warranties, express or implied, beyond those expressly stated in the User Agreement.

Hourly Protection for Clients does not apply to: (1) Fixed-Price Contracts; or (2) hours billed by Freelancers who are aware of or complicit in another User's violation of this Agreement or the Terms of Service.

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7. DISPUTES BETWEEN CLIENT AND FREELANCER

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7.1 DISPUTES INITIATED VIA THE PLATFORM

For Hourly Contracts, Client may dispute Freelancer’s hours invoiced on the Hourly Invoice for the prior week (Sunday 12:00 a.m. midnight UTC to Sunday 11:59 p.m. UTC) during the five days following the close of the weekly invoice period (Monday 12:00 a.m. midnight UTC to Friday 11:59 p.m. UTC) (the “Dispute Period“). It is Client’s responsibility to review the Hourly Invoice of every Hourly Contract on a weekly basis and to file any disputes during the Dispute Period. Once the Dispute Period expires, Client will be deemed to have accepted the Freelancer Services and Freelancer Fees and can no longer dispute them. Disputes handled by Zalow can only address the hours billed, not the quality of the Freelancer Services or the Work Product provided under Hourly Contracts. If Client disputes Freelancer’s hours invoiced in the Hourly Invoice under an Hourly Contract during the Dispute Period, Client and Freelancer are encouraged to resolve the dispute between themselves. If Client and Freelancer fail to come to a resolution, Zalow will promptly investigate the Hourly Invoice and determine, in our sole discretion, whether an adjustment is appropriate consistent with Client’s and Freelancer’s instructions in these Escrow Instructions. Zalow's determination of such dispute shall be final.
 

If Client’s payment is unsuccessful, Zalow will review the Weekly Invoice to determine if it qualifies for Hourly Payment Protection. If Zalow, in its sole discretion, determines that the Weekly Invoice qualifies for Hourly Payment Protection, it will make payment to the Freelancer to cover the Hourly Invoice on behalf of the Client. In the event that Zalow makes payment on behalf of the Client, Freelancer hereby irrevocably assigns any right, title or interest in any payment from Client to Zalow for the amount paid by Zalow.
 

Client may choose to approve Freelancer’s Weekly Invoice prior to the end of the Dispute Period thereby releasing payment for the Weekly Invoice. If Client releases payment to Freelancer prior to the end of the Dispute Period, Client certifies that it approves the Weekly Invoice, accepts the work, and waives any further right to dispute the work or Weekly Invoice through Zalow's Dispute Assistance (defined below).

You acknowledge and agree that Stripe or its Partners may, at its sole discretion, withhold or delay payment in the event of dispute between a Client and a Freelancer. You further acknowledge and agree that Zalow and Partners are not and will not be a party to any dispute between a Client and Freelancer over an Hourly Invoice or Hourly Contract.
 

7.2 ZALOW DISPUTE ASSISTANCE

Non-binding dispute assistance (“Dispute Assistance”) is available within 30 days of the date of the last release of funds from Client to Freelancer.

 

If Client or Freelancer contacts Zalow via support ticket within 30 days of the date of the last payment from Client to Freelancer and requests non-binding dispute assistance for any dispute among them (a “Dispute”), Zalow will attempt to assist Client and Freelancer by reviewing the Dispute and proposing a mutual, non-binding resolution. Zalow will only review the 30 days of work performed prior to the date a User requests Dispute Assistance.

• The Zalow Disputes team will notify Client and Freelancer via ticket by providing a notice of dispute along with a request for information and supporting documentation.

• If both Client and Freelancer respond to the notice and request for information, then the Disputes team will review the documentation submitted and any information available on the Site that pertains to the Dispute. After review, the Disputes team will propose a mutual, non-binding resolution based on the results of the review.

• The proposed resolution is non-binding; Client and Freelancer can choose whether or not to agree to it. If Client and Freelancer agree in writing to the proposed resolution, Client and Freelancer agree that Stripe is authorized and irrevocably instructed to immediately release Escrow funds in accordance with the proposed resolution.

• If Client or Freelancer rejects Zalow’s proposed, non-binding resolution then Client and/or Freelancer must pursue the Dispute independently.

• Zalow reserves the right to review the Freelancer’s work for 30 days prior to the date of the request for Dispute Assistance for compliance with Hourly Payment Protection requirements, and in its sole discretion, to make adjustments to invoices, and to direct Stripe to make appropriate releases to Client if it finds work that clearly does not relate Hourly Contract requirements or Client instructions in the Time Reporting or violations of the Terms of Service during its review of the work.

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8. REFUNDS AND CANCELLATIONS

Client and Freelancer are encouraged to come to a mutual agreement if refunds or cancellations are necessary. If there are no funds in escrow, Freelancer may issue a refund via the Zalow platform up to the full amount paid on the Hourly Contract.

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9. SERVICE FEES FOR ESCROW FUNDS RELEASED FOLLOWING DISPUTE ASSISTANCE

All Escrow funds released under Section 7.2 of these Escrow Instructions are subject to the normal Service Fees associated with Escrow Accounts, as detailed in the User Agreement and these Escrow Instructions.

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10. NOTICES

All notices to a User required by these Escrow Instructions will be made via email sent by Zalow to the User’s registered email address. Users are solely responsible for maintaining a current, active email address registered with Zalow, for checking their registered email address and for responding to notices sent by Zalow to the User’s registered email address.

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11. COOPERATION WITH THE DISPUTE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

All claims, disputes or other disagreements between you and another User that are covered by the Dispute Assistance program must be resolved in accordance with the terms in the Dispute Assistance program. All claims filed or brought contrary to the Dispute Assistance program will be considered improperly filed, unless otherwise required by law, and Zalow will have the right to take any other action, including suspension or termination of your User Account, as defined in Section 1.4 of the User Agreement, which may impact your ability to withdraw funds, and any other legal action as Zalow deems appropriate in its sole discretion.

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12. ABUSE

Zalow, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to suspend or terminate your User Account, as defined in Section 1.4 of the User Agreement, immediately upon giving notice to you if Zalow believes you may be abusing the Dispute Assistance program or as otherwise permitted by the Terms of Service, which may impact your ability to withdraw funds. However, any disputes for any contracts that existed prior to termination will be subject to the Terms of Service.

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13. NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR SERVICES OR PAYMENTS

Zalow and Partners merely provide a platform for Internet payment services. Zalow and Partners do not have any responsibility or control over the Freelancer Services that Client purchases. Nothing in this Agreement deems or will be interpreted to deem Zalow or any Partner as Client’s or Freelancer’s agent with respect to any Freelancer Services, or expand or modify any warranty, liability or indemnity stated in the Terms of Service. For example, Zalow does not guarantee the performance, functionality, quality, or timeliness of Freelancer Services or that a Client can or will make payments.