Payment Terms and Conditions for Writers

1. Payment Methods

We offer multiple payment methods to accommodate our global community of writers. Each method has specific minimum payout thresholds and processing times.

2. Payment Schedule

We process payments on a regular schedule to ensure timely and predictable compensation for our writers.

• Payments are processed on a bi-weekly basis (every 15th and last day of the month)
• Writers must submit payment requests at least 3 business days before the scheduled payment date
• Payment requests submitted after the cutoff will be processed in the next payment cycle
• Writers can view their payment status and history in the writer dashboard

3. Payment Verification

To maintain security and accuracy, all payments undergo a verification process before being released.

• All payments require verification before processing
• Verification typically takes 24-48 hours
• Writers will receive confirmation emails once payments are verified and processed
• First-time payments to a new payment method may require additional verification steps

4. Payment Disputes

If you believe there's an error in your payment, you may submit a dispute through our resolution process.

• Payment disputes must be submitted within 30 days of the payment date
• All disputes must include relevant documentation and transaction references
• Disputes will be resolved within 10 business days
• To submit a dispute, use the "Report Payment Issue" option in your writer dashboard

5. Tax Information

As an independent contractor, you are responsible for reporting and paying taxes on income earned through Acumen Ink according to your local tax laws.

• Writers are responsible for providing accurate tax information
• Tax forms must be submitted annually or as required by local regulations
• Payments may be withheld if required tax documentation is not provided
• U.S. writers must complete a W-9 form
• Non-U.S. writers must complete a W-8BEN form

6. Payment Eligibility

To be eligible for payment, writers must meet certain quality and performance standards.

• Writers must have completed all assigned tasks satisfactorily
• Accounts must be in good standing with no violations of our content policies
• All submitted work must pass quality checks and plagiarism verification
• Writers must maintain the minimum quality score of 3.5/5 to remain eligible for payments

7. Currency Conversion

We support payments in multiple currencies to accommodate our global writer community.

• All payments will be made in the writer's preferred currency when available
• Currency conversion rates are determined at the time of payment processing
• We use standard market rates provided by our payment processors
• Currency conversion fees may apply depending on your payment method and location

8. Payment Holds

In certain circumstances, payments may be temporarily held for security or compliance reasons.

• Payments may be held if suspicious activity is detected
• Writers will be notified of any payment holds and the reasons for them
• Resolution of payment holds typically takes 5-7 business days
• Repeated policy violations may result in longer payment holds

9. Payment Information Security

We take the security of your payment information seriously and implement industry-standard safeguards.

• All payment information is stored securely in compliance with PCI DSS standards
• Writers are responsible for maintaining the security of their account credentials
• We will never ask for sensitive payment information via email or phone
• Enable two-factor authentication for additional account security

10. Changes to Payment Terms

We may update these payment terms from time to time to reflect changes in our policies or payment processors.

• We reserve the right to modify these payment terms with 30 days' notice
• Changes will be communicated via email and posted on our platform
• Writers will be required to accept updated terms to continue receiving payments
• The "Last Updated" date at the top of this page will reflect when changes were made