Payment Terms
How money moves on a project: when it is due, what it is tied to, and what happens if the work does not land.
Last updated: 21 August 2026
These terms cover payment and refunds for engineering work. They apply from the point a scope is agreed in writing. Anything negotiated in a signed contract or a platform agreement takes precedence over this page.
How payment details reach you
Payment instructions are never published on this website. They are issued one of two ways, and only after a scope is agreed:
- On the invoice raised for your specific engagement, sent from [email protected]; or
- Inside the freelancing platform holding the contract, where the platform itself handles the transfer.
If you receive payment details for my work from any other source, a different email domain, a chat message, a changed account on a re-sent invoice, treat it as fraudulent and confirm with me directly at [email protected] before sending anything. Legitimate account details do not change mid-project.
New clients
- First engagements run through an established freelancing platform, Upwork or equivalent, so both sides have contract records, dispute resolution and escrow.
- A funded milestone is required before work starts. It confirms commitment on both sides and fixes the scope that milestone covers.
- Work is released against milestones, not hours, unless the engagement is explicitly hourly.
Returning clients
- Established clients can move to direct invoicing, with net terms agreed per engagement.
- Retainers and custom billing cycles are available for ongoing work.
- Payment methods by region are listed below. The account details for whichever method applies arrive with the invoice.
Accepted payment methods
Methods only, account details come with your invoice.
| Region | Accepted methods | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| India | Bank transfer (NEFT/IMPS/RTGS), UPI | INR |
| United States | ACH transfer, wire | USD |
| United Kingdom | Faster Payments (FPS), wire | GBP |
| European Union | SEPA transfer | EUR |
| Canada | EFT | CAD |
| Australia | Bank transfer | AUD |
| Elsewhere | SWIFT international wire | Most major currencies |
| Any region | Upwork (escrow and milestones) | Platform-handled |
Bank charges on international transfers are paid by the sender. Invoices are raised in the currency agreed at scoping; conversion is your bank's, at their rate.
Invoicing and late payment
- Invoices are issued on milestone completion, or monthly for retainers and hourly work.
- Unless agreed otherwise, invoices are due 14 days from issue.
- Work on an engagement may pause where an invoice is more than 14 days overdue. Scheduled time is not held open during a pause.
Refunds
- A refund applies where the deliverable was not provided, or where the fault is demonstrably mine and cannot reasonably be put right.
- The first remedy is always correction: if something I built does not work as scoped, I fix it at no cost.
- Refunds do not apply to work already delivered and accepted, to a change of mind, to cancellation from your side, or to failures caused by third-party apps, themes, platform changes or systems outside the agreed scope.
- For platform contracts, the platform's own dispute process applies and I will engage with it in full.
- Raise any dispute in writing to [email protected]. I will respond within five business days with a position and evidence.
Scope changes
Work outside the agreed scope is quoted separately before it starts. No additional work is billed without written agreement first.
Questions
Anything unclear about these terms:
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