How does GAF's payment system work?

GetaFreelancer is a very popular site for freelancers and for clients. A lot of Projects for web designer, software programmer, writer, and IT services are available on GAF. For freelance writer, there is more than enough work for you to find. Anyone who wants to work from home, part or full time, have the opportunity here to find some good projects.

Before the actual articles starts, here another good source for information about gaf and other things regarding freelancing: Freelance Blog

There are many reasons why GAF is very popular among freelancer, one reason is the secure payment system. It protects the emplyer as well as the emplyee. No one needs to work for nothing, a payment is to 99% secured. A few things might confuse you when you are new to GetaFreelancer.

When you create your GAF account, whether as a freelance or an employer, you automatically get a GAF bank account for yourself. This account is linked to your profile and your password, but not to any external banking system. You begin to place bids on GAF and the time will come, that one of your bids is accepted. When this happens you will find your GAF account goes into minus if you haven't deposit money before. Because there are no membership fees at GetaFreelancer when you join it, the site makes their money by taking a commission from you for every job you get. However, if you upgrade your account to 'Gold Status', it costs you $20 monthly, but you will only pay a commision of 3%, which is very little compared to other sites.

You have to negotiate with the emplyer how he is going to pay you. Some will put the money into escrow account on their own. Other pay on a weekly or monthly basis. Another option is milestone payment, this works as followed: The payment is split into two or more parts. When reaching one level at the project, one payment part will be released into your account. If there are problems regarding the payment, you may contact the support team. The support is very quick and kind at the same time.

Whether or not you choose to use Milestone payments, when you have completed your project and submitted it to your employer, he or she will transfer money into your GAF account. At that time you will also receive an email that announces the transfer of money. The balance of your account will be the payment minus the initial GAF commission. For instance, a $90 bid on a project takes out a $9 commission, leaving you with a GAF bank balance of $81. This money will stay securely in your GAF account as long as you want it to. You can use this money to pay further commission fees or to pay others who are doing work contracted out by you.

When you are ready to withdraw money from GAF, there are many different options from which to choose. You may want to sign up for a GAF debit card, sponsored by Master Card, which lets you spend from your GAF account like a checking account. You can also choose to directly transfer money to your bank account, however that requires that you input your bank account and routing number into the GAF system. While Get a Freelancer is safe and secure, many people feel uncomfortable sharing their bank account information online. That is why GAF also offers transfers to PayPal and Moneybookers accounts, two ways for people to use their money online or transfer it to their bank accounts.

If you like to withdraw money from your GAF account, you have a few different options. One, which is rather new, you sign up for a GAF debit card. The card will be send to you within a week or so and you can withdraw your monet at any atm machine you find. Another option is direct tranfser into your bank account, and Paypal and Moneybookers. What ever option you choose - the fee is always small and a quick transfer ist guaranteed.