Manage Upwork

How to cancel upwork and protect your payment in the philippines

What upwork is and why filipinos use it

Upwork is a global freelance marketplace where you connect with clients for remote work in writing, design, development, virtual assistance, marketing, and dozens of other specialities. The platform was created in 2015 through a merger of Elance and oDesk, and it serves millions of freelancers and employers worldwide, including thousands across the Philippines.

For Filipino freelancers, Upwork offers access to international clients and stable income opportunities without needing a physical office. For businesses and entrepreneurs, Upwork provides a vetted pool of remote talent you can hire on flexible terms. However, the platform operates on a freemium model with hidden costs that catch many users off guard.

Free vs. paid features on upwork

You can register for free, but serious activity on the platform almost always requires paid membership. As a freelancer, you start with limited "Connects" - the credits you spend to submit proposals to job postings. Once you run out, you either wait for monthly refreshes or purchase additional Connects. Clients face different costs: they pay upfront for features like advanced hiring tools, contract management, and milestone tracking.

The main paid plans are Freelancer Plus at $19.99 USD (approximately ₱1,129 PHP) per month for freelancers, and Business Plus at $500.00 USD (approximately ₱28,250 PHP) per month for clients seeking full-service hiring. These prices convert based on current exchange rates, so your actual PHP charge may vary slightly month to month. Stopee recommends taking a screenshot of your current plan, billing date, and next charge before you decide to cancel.

Why cancelling upwork matters in the philippines

Many Filipino users on Upwork feel trapped by surprise charges, unclear contract terms, or auto-renewal after a free trial they forgot about. Phone support is available only in English, making it harder to resolve billing disputes if you prefer Filipino-language assistance. Upwork's cancellation process is buried in account settings and not clearly marked, which means thousands of users cancel but still get charged because they skipped a critical step.

Stopee exists to guide you through exactly this kind of cancellation. The platform does not show a contractual minimum commitment period in its public Terms of Service, but it does charge automatically on your billing date every month unless you actively cancel beforehand. This guide walks you through every step so you can cancel with confidence and avoid phantom charges.

Your consumer rights when cancelling upwork

The Consumer Act of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 7394) protects you when you cancel digital services like Upwork. This law requires companies to clearly disclose subscription terms, billing dates, and cancellation methods before you pay, and it gives you the right to cancel without penalty if the service fails to meet disclosed standards.

What the consumer act of the philippines says about subscriptions

Under Republic Act No. 7394, any company collecting recurring payments from you must:

• Display the full cost, renewal date, and terms in plain language before you subscribe
• Send you a reminder before each automatic charge
• Provide an easy, transparent way to cancel at any time
• Process refunds for charges made after you cancel, if you cancel before the billing date

If Upwork charges you after you cancel, or if the cancellation interface is deliberately confusing, you have legal grounds to dispute the charge through your bank or credit card company. Stopee advises documenting everything: screenshot your cancellation confirmation, save the timestamp, and keep a copy of any confirmation email Upwork sends you.

How to escalate if upwork refuses to refund you

If Upwork charges you after cancellation and refuses to refund, you can file a complaint with the National Consumer Commission (NCC) in the Philippines or report the issue to your bank's dispute department. Provide your cancellation confirmation, billing records, and screenshots showing the unauthorized charge. The NCC accepts complaints from consumers who believe a company violated Republic Act No. 7394.

Most importantly, never assume a cancellation worked just because you clicked a button. Stopee always recommends verifying cancellation through two independent methods: the confirmation page immediately after you cancel, and a follow-up confirmation email from Upwork within 24 hours.

How to cancel upwork step-by-step

Upwork requires written cancellation notice, and the primary method is through your account dashboard on the website. Follow these steps to cancel safely and create a record you can reference later.

Cancel through your upwork account settings

1. Log into your Upwork account on your web browser (not the mobile app, as the mobile version often lacks full cancellation options)
   • Go to www.upwork.com and click "Log In" at the top right
   • Enter your email and password
2. Click your profile photo or initial in the top right corner and select "Settings"
   • This opens your account settings dashboard
3. In the left sidebar, click "Membership and Connects" (for freelancers) or "Billing" (for clients)
   • Freelancers will see their current plan name, next billing date, and Connects balance here
   • Clients will see active contracts, service fees, and payment methods
4. Look for "Cancel Membership" or "Cancel Plan" and click it
   • Upwork may ask why you are cancelling (optional field) - you can skip this
   • Upwork may offer a discount or downgrade option - ignore these if you want to cancel completely
5. Click "Cancel" or "Confirm Cancellation" on the final screen
   • Do not close your browser until you see a green confirmation message
   • Screenshot this confirmation page immediately with the date and time visible
6. Check your email for a confirmation message from Upwork within 24 hours
   • File this email in a folder labeled "Upwork Cancellation" for your records
   • If you do not receive a confirmation email after 24 hours, assume the cancellation did not go through and repeat steps 1-5

Pro tip: Upwork's cancellation confirmation sometimes goes to spam or promotions. Check all email folders, including spam, before assuming Upwork did not respond. Set a phone reminder for 5 days before your next billing date so you can verify the charge did not go through.

Cancel by sending a written notice to upwork legal

If the website cancellation does not work, or if you want a legal paper trail, you can send a formal cancellation letter directly to Upwork's legal team. This is the method mentioned in Upwork's Terms of Service and is binding under the law.

1. Write a clear, short email or letter with the following information:
   • Your full name (as it appears on your Upwork account)
   • Your Upwork username
   • Your email address registered with Upwork
   • Your account type (freelancer or client)
   • The date you want the cancellation to take effect (typically today's date)
   • A single sentence: "I request immediate cancellation of my Upwork account and membership, effective immediately."
2. Send this letter to Upwork's legal department:
   • Email: legalnotices@upwork.com
   • Mailing address: Upwork Global Inc., 530 Lytton Avenue, Suite 301, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA
3. Request a read receipt or delivery confirmation for email, or send the letter via registered mail if mailing a physical copy
   • Keep this confirmation for your records
4. Allow 5-10 business days for processing
   • Check your account 10 days after sending to confirm your membership is cancelled
5. If you sent the notice before your billing date, you should not be charged
   • If you are charged after sending a cancellation notice, contact your bank immediately and file a dispute

Warning: Mailing a letter from the Philippines to California can take 2-3 weeks, so email to legalnotices@upwork.com is faster and creates a timestamped record Upwork cannot dispute. Always send email cancellation notices at least 3 days before your billing date.

What happens to your money after you cancel

Once you cancel Upwork, your membership ends immediately, but money already in your account has different rules depending on whether you are a freelancer with earned funds or a client with prepaid credits.

If you are a freelancer with unpaid earnings

Cancelling your Upwork membership does not forfeit your earnings from completed work. You keep the right to withdraw money from your account balance, and Upwork must release it according to their payment schedule (typically weekly or on-demand for Premium withdrawals). However, once your account is fully closed, withdrawal options may become limited, so withdraw your balance before cancelling or immediately after.

Do not leave money in your Upwork account long-term. After cancellation, accessing your account to request a withdrawal becomes harder. Stopee recommends withdrawing all earnings to your registered bank account or PayPal before you submit your final cancellation.

If you are a client with prepaid credits or unused connects

Credits you prepaid (such as Connects or milestone escrow funds) are not automatically refunded when you cancel membership. Upwork's policy treats prepaid credits as non-refundable unless a contract dispute forces a refund through their resolution center. This is a dark pattern many clients miss.

Before you cancel, spend any remaining Connects on active job proposals or hire someone with the balance. If you cancel with unused prepaid credits, contact Upwork support through the Help Center and request a courtesy refund, citing that you cancelled before using the full prepaid amount. Some users report success with this approach if you respond quickly.

Refund timeline and what to expect

Upwork does not issue refunds for cancelled monthly memberships. Once you cancel, you simply stop being charged on your next billing date. If you were charged in the same month you cancelled, Upwork classifies this as a completed payment and does not reverse it under its standard policy. This is one of the biggest frustrations Filipino users face.

However, under the Consumer Act of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 7394), you may have grounds to request a refund if you cancelled before your next billing date. If Upwork charged you after you sent a cancellation notice, you can file a chargeback through your bank. Stopee advises gathering evidence: your cancellation confirmation, the date you cancelled, and the charge receipt showing a post-cancellation billing date.

Pricing and plan breakdown

Understanding what you are paying for helps you decide whether cancellation is right for you. Here is the current pricing structure for Upwork in the Philippines, converted to PHP.

Prices convert at the current PHP-USD exchange rate, so your actual charge may be slightly higher or lower depending on your bank and the conversion date. Stopee recommends checking your Upwork invoice to see the exact PHP amount charged to your account, as this is the real cost you will owe.

Common mistakes that cost you money

Cancelling Upwork seems simple but often goes wrong in ways that leave you exposed to unexpected charges. Here are the traps thousands of Filipino users fall into.

Thinking the mobile app cancellation works the same way as the website

The Upwork mobile app does not have a full cancellation option. Many users tap "Cancel" in the app and assume it worked, only to be charged again. The app may show a downgrade option or a pause button, but these are not the same as permanent cancellation. Always use the web version at www.upwork.com to cancel; never rely on the mobile app for this critical action.

Cancelling but not confirming the email

Upwork sends a cancellation confirmation email, and some users get it in spam or never check it. Without this confirmation, you have no proof of when you cancelled, making it harder to dispute a future charge. Set a phone reminder to check for this email within 24 hours of cancelling. If it does not arrive, log back into Upwork and check your account status-it may not have cancelled.

Cancelling after your billing date

If you cancel on the same day you are charged, the charge usually goes through because it was processed before your cancellation took effect. Always cancel at least 3 days before your next billing date. Log into your account settings to see your exact billing date, then set a calendar reminder 5 days before it to cancel in time.

Ignoring a "hold" or "pause" option in exchange for cancellation

Upwork sometimes offers to pause your membership instead of cancelling. While a pause stops charges for a month, it automatically resumes unless you cancel during the pause period. This is a trap: many users forget the pause expires and get charged again. Always choose complete cancellation unless you genuinely plan to return to Upwork within 30 days.

Not withdrawing earnings before cancellation

Freelancers often forget to withdraw their earned balance before cancelling. Once your account is closed, accessing your funds becomes a support ticket instead of a simple withdrawal. Upwork will eventually release your money, but it may take weeks. Withdraw all earnings first, confirm the money landed in your bank, and only then cancel your account.

After cancellation: what to do next

Cancelling Upwork is the start, not the end of your responsibility. Here are the steps you should take in the days and weeks after to protect yourself from hidden charges and billing surprises.

Verify the charge did not go through

Wait for your normal billing date (check your cancellation confirmation email for the exact date) and log into your bank account that morning. Confirm that no Upwork charge appears in your account. If you see a charge, contact your bank immediately and request a chargeback, citing your cancellation confirmation as proof.

Do not wait to see if the charge "reverses on its own." Banks require disputes within 60 days, so report it right away. Provide your cancellation confirmation, the billing date, and the charge receipt to your bank.

Request a refund if you are charged after cancelling

Contact Upwork support through the Help Center and explain that you cancelled before your billing date but were charged anyway. Include your cancellation confirmation email and the date you cancelled. Upwork support is not always responsive to these requests, but asking creates a paper trail that helps if you later file a dispute with your bank or the National Consumer Commission.

Stopee knows from experience that persistence works here. If the first support response denies your refund, reply again, cite the Consumer Act of the Philippines, and request escalation to a supervisor. Many companies refund when they see a consumer who knows their rights.

Archive your cancellation documents

Create a folder (digital or physical) labeled "Upwork Cancellation" and save everything: the cancellation confirmation page screenshot, the confirmation email from Upwork, the date and time you cancelled, and your bank statements showing no charge on the expected billing date. Keep these for at least 2 years in case a dispute arises.

Monitor your credit card statements for 90 days

Some companies attempt "zombie charges" months after cancellation. Set a recurring phone reminder to check your bank statement every month for 3 months after cancelling Upwork. If a surprise charge appears, you will catch it immediately and can dispute it while the evidence is fresh.

Refund policy and your rights under philippine law

Upwork's stated policy does not offer refunds for cancelled memberships, but Philippine consumer law is stronger than Upwork's policy. The Consumer Act of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 7394) overrides any company policy that violates consumer protection.

When you have a legal right to a refund

You can request a refund if:

• You cancelled before your next billing date but were charged anyway
• Upwork's cancellation process was deliberately unclear or hidden, preventing you from cancelling in time
• Upwork did not send a reminder notification before charging you (as required by law)
• The service failed to deliver what was promised (e.g., you could not access features you paid for)

In any of these cases, you can dispute the charge through your bank or file a complaint with the National Consumer Commission (NCC). The NCC accepts complaints online at www.ncc.gov.ph or by visiting a regional office.

How to file a complaint with the national consumer commission

If Upwork refuses to refund you after cancellation, you can escalate to the NCC:

1. Gather your evidence: cancellation confirmation, billing records, screenshots, and any correspondence with Upwork
2. Visit www.ncc.gov.ph or call your regional NCC office to file a formal complaint
3. Provide Upwork's contact information (see the address section below) and describe the charge and cancellation in detail
4. The NCC will send Upwork a notice and allow 10 business days for a response
5. If Upwork does not refund, the NCC may order a refund or refer you to mediation services

This process is free and does not require a lawyer. Stopee recommends doing this only after you have exhausted Upwork's support channels, as most companies comply once they receive an official government complaint.

Steps to take before you cancel

Do not hit the cancellation button without preparing first. These steps protect your data, earnings, and future disputes.

Checklist for safe cancellation

• Screenshot your account dashboard showing your current plan, billing date, and next charge amount
• Download your contract history by going to "My History" and saving PDFs of important contracts and invoices
• Message important clients if you are a freelancer - give them your direct contact info so they can rehire you after you leave Upwork
• Withdraw all earned funds to your bank account or PayPal before cancelling
• Spend or refund unused Connects if you are a client - use them on active proposals or request a refund before cancelling
• Check your billing date and ensure you cancel at least 3 days before it
• Take a screenshot of the cancellation confirmation page immediately after cancelling
• Save the confirmation email from Upwork and file it in a dedicated folder
• Set a phone reminder to check your bank account on your expected billing date to confirm no charge went through
• Keep all documents for 2 years in case you need to dispute a charge later

Contact information for upwork

If you need to reach Upwork for support or to submit a formal cancellation notice, use the following details.

Email and mailing address

For cancellation notices (legal):

• Email: legalnotices@upwork.com
• Mailing address: Upwork Global Inc., 530 Lytton Avenue, Suite 301, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA

For billing disputes and support:

• Contact Upwork Help Center at support.upwork.com
• English-language phone support: available through the Help Center (note: Upwork does not provide phone numbers in the Philippines, so email support is your primary option)

Stopee has helped thousands of consumers cancel recurring subscriptions safely and protect their money. Upwork cancellation is straightforward when you follow these steps, document everything, and know your rights under the Consumer Act of the Philippines. You are in control here-use that power to cancel with confidence and avoid phantom charges.

Remember: cancellation is not complete until you see a confirmation page, receive a confirmation email, and verify no charge goes through on your billing date. If Upwork charges you after cancellation, your bank and the National Consumer Commission are there to protect you. Stopee is here to guide you through every step of the way.