PROFILE PICTURE
Graphex’s Terms of Use request that you accurately represent yourself.Your profile picture must be current and looks like you, no filters allowed.
What is a profile picture?
Your profile picture is the image of yourself that you share with potential clients, customers, and consumers through your Graphex profile.This picture is used to authenticate your identity. Your profile picture may not misrepresent your identity or represent you as someone else.
Approved profile pictures
Your profile picture should precisely reflect who you are, and it must look like you. It must be a close-up image of yourself with a focus on your head and shoulders, and clearly show your full face.PRO TIPS
Typically People want to feel they can trust a freelancer before engaging them for any type of project, big or small that they may need, and your profile photo is a significant part of the equation.Clients are also concerned about professionalism, so it is important to present yourself professionally.
Your photo should have clear lighting and a simple background, and focus on your face; Remember to smile and be friendly!
VIOLATIONS
Graphex’s Terms of Use prohibit the use of a profile picture that misrepresents your identity or represents you as someone else. Also, you cannot misrepresent your information, impersonate another person or entity, or falsely imply a relationship with Graphex or with another company with whom you do not have a relationship.Picture Quality
In order to ensure a quality experience for clients, your profile picture cannot:- Be blank
- Any portion of your face cannot be unclear
- Be blurry
- Be a group photo
- Include text
- Show you topless, naked, or sexually suggestive
Picture Subject
Your profile picture must look like you.It cannot be:
- Animals
- Another person or celebrity
- Architecture
- Avatars
- Sculptures or other artistic representations
- Baby/child
- Clip art
- Landscapes
- Logos
- Objects
- Stock image
- Graphex badge
- Graphex logo
GRAPHEX TECHNOLOGY PROHIBITS USERS OF GRAPHEX OF CIRCUMVENTION OF ANY SORT.
What is circumvention? Circumvention would be when a client and freelancer meet on Graphex but decided to conduct their relationship outside of Graphex, usually by sending payment through another means outside of the platform and or exchanging contact information in any form. Circumvention is a serious violation of the Terms of Service. If Clients, Freelancers and or both simultaneously has taken any step in order to take their relationship off our platform, he/she or they are committing circumvention, i.e. like asking to be paid or make a payment outside of our service.Violations
Violating the non-circumvention clause of the Terms of Service will result in account suspension and or termination; These users will lose the ability to use Graphex, potentially put their hard-earned reputation at risk, and will be charged a penalty of a $1,000 for breaching Graphex User agreement and Terms of Service that relationship.Is asking to be paid outside of Graphex a violation?
Yes, asking to carry out payments outside of Graphex is circumvention and a violation of the User Agreement and Terms of Service.When does a freelancer/ client relationship initially starts on Graphex?
Graphex relationship begins when the client and freelancer first “identify” each other on Graphex Technology. This could be when a freelancer sends their proposal for a specific posted project or job to a potential client or when a client post a job or is soliciting for a said project, and or a when client select a freelancer from viewing the freelancer’s portfolio.Note: Graphex’s User Agreement and Terms of Service prohibit the requesting or sharing of a means of direct contact (aka “contact information”) before a contract starts.
What is a “Means of Direct Contact”?
A means of direct contact is a little wider than just contact information because it includes information that enable a client or freelancer to be contacted outside of Graphex which is prohibited.Here are some examples:
- Phone number
- Email address
- Physical address
- Link to a contact form or form requesting contact information
- Link to an applicant management system or means to accept or submit a proposal or application outside of Graphex
- Any handles, usernames, or information that would allow a user to make contact with you on social media or another website, platform or application that includes a communications tool (Skype, Slack, or WeChat ID or any other social media platform not listed here)
All Users must conduct interviews and all associated Pre-contract communications must take place via Graphex Platform.
Can I share my name or my company’s name?
Yes, you can share your name and or company names. However, we urge you to be prudent with whom you share identifying information to prevent unwanted spam, fraud, or harassment.I worked on a website and want to share the link with a potential client, is that allowed?
Yes, If you worked on a website (design, writing, etc.) for a past client and want to share the link with a potential client as part of your portfolio, you also may do so yet you must ensure that the website does not contain any contact information, otherwise you’ll be in violation Graphex’s user agreement and Terms of Service. In these cases, please be sure to ask the client to only contact you through Graphex until a contract is started. Please note that sharing social media handles/IDs is strongly prohibited.I am a client who needs work done on my website and I want to share the link. Is that allowed?
Yes. You are free to share details of the work to be done, including links to your website(s). You may do this even if the website includes your contact information; in these cases, please be sure to ask the freelancer to only contact you through Graphex until a contract is started otherwise you’ll be in violation Graphex’s user agreement and Terms of Service. Please note that sharing social media handles/IDs is strongly prohibited.I need to share a portfolio that is not on Graphex. Can I do that?
Absolutely Not! We know sharing your past work is important, hence why all of your attractive, and professional work must be attached in your portfolio, remember your portfolio is your way of advertising your skills and your services. So always put your best work in your portfolio reflecting your professionalism and experiences.What are permitted examples of the for “legal purposes” exception?
Sometimes after the initial vetting process, a legal or formal process is necessary before final project scoping, negotiations, and/or a contract can start. Some examples include, but are not limited to:- A non-disclosure agreement also known as “NDA”
- A business License
- Identifying information to confirm the right to conduct business with local authorities
- Background checks
What are permitted examples of the for “systems access” exception?
Companies maintain information in various formats and systems that could be needed for project scoping and at times access to these systems are granted by using an email address. Some examples include, but are not limited to:- GitHub/Bitbucket/Gitlab or other code repositories
- Google/Facebook or other ad analytics programs
- QuickBooks or other bookkeeping/accounting programs
- Cloud drive folder
- Online e-signature
- Website host or builder
What is an interview?
After a freelancer submits a proposal to a job or answers to a direct inquiry from a client, the freelancer and client have entered the “interview” stage of a project. The interview stage of a project includes:- Project scoping
- Assessment of the freelancer’s skills and availability by the client
- Assessment of the client and project details by the freelancer
- Contract negotiations
Staying on Graphex and practicing these rules can also help keep you safe.
Common violations and ways to avoid them
- Identity Ambiguity and Account Sharing: Be truthful! by providing your correct and authentic information and use a clear-cut photo of yourself.
- Do not allow anyone else to use your account, in other words no account sharing, and do not ever log into one of your clients' accounts on their behalf. Instead, have them add you to their team with the appropriate permissions. Promptly respond to all requests to phone verify or ID verify by Graphex.
- Collecting Payments Outside of Graphex: Always collect payment through Graphex; If a client offers to pay you outside of Graphex, it is your responsibility to decline and you must inform us, if Not, you will be in breach of Graphex User agreement and Terms of Service and will be charged a penalty of a $1,000 per infraction. When Client submit their payment, it is being held in a designated Escrow Account, and payment will be released to the Freelancer when the completed work or project is submitted to the client and is satisfactory according to the client’s expectation.
- Failing to Execute on Your Contracts as outlined: When you agree to a project, you vow to complete the work and to produce high-quality service/ work. In addition, you must precisely and truthfully describe your business, your skills and qualifications, and the services you offer. Misrepresenting your abilities or failing to fulfill your contract responsibilities can result in low client satisfaction and payment disputes.
- Contact Information Sharing: Keep contact with potential clients only on Graphex. Your profile cannot contain your phone, email, or other direct contact information, for example Skype IDs etc....
- Spam and Harassment: Treat everyone with respect and professional courtesy in all types of communications; Customize your applications to the needs of each job and client. Do not send the same cover letter repeatedly, excessively and or message anyone.
- Feedback Abuse: Great feedback is earned, not forced! Do not pressure clients to give you good feedback, and do not withhold your client work and or project until feedback is left. It is OK to let clients know that you strive to provide high-quality work or services to earn a good rating and or to ask for feedback to be left.
- Account holds and suspension for any of these reasons will be counted on your Stats and disqualify you from Top Rated status. We strongly suggest you review the full Graphex User Agreement And Terms of Service.
- What is unsolicited contact?
Unsolicited contact is when an Graphex user finds information on the platform and uses it to contact another client and or a freelancer for their own purposes outside of Graphex’s platform. This contact can be to solicit circumvention or for another reason. Recipients of unsolicited contact have not requested or invited this contact from other users, and must report it directly to Graphex Trust and Safety management team. - How can I report if someone has contacted me outside of Graphex?
You can report any unsolicited off-platform contact by reaching out to Graphex “Report & Issue Page” located within Graphex; there are multiple options in reporting: a. You can call us directly using our contact number listed on Graphex. b. You can email us through the “Report & Issue Page”.