A warning on scam websites offering “proofreading services”

November 3, 2022 | Blog

We often have people coming to us for help after being either extremely disappointed with the service they received from—or outright scammed by—another proofreading and editing service provider.

Quite simply, there are a number of “proofreading service” websites online that are either outright stealing people’s money or are ripping them off by giving very poor quality service.

This is bad for everyone in the industry because it makes potential clients wary of ordering proofreading services online.

To help you make sure that you use a reputable service provider, we have drawn up a checklist of factors you should take into account before choosing a proofreading service. Keeping these considerations in mind will help you ensure that your service provider is both:

1) Safe, secure and reliable

2) Providing a quality service

Analyse any proofreading services you are thinking of using against the following considerations to avoid disappointment.

Consider cost

You want to find a service that is affordable for your budget, but be wary of any that appear a little too cheap. Remember, it should take between 30 minutes and 1 hour to complete 1,000 words of proofreading to a good standard.

This makes it easy to work out whether a price is too good to be true; ask yourself whether the rate quoted for 1,000 words would cover up to 60 minutes of a skilled professional’s time.

For example, if you’re a student, would the price you’re being quoted per 1,000 words be enough to pay a PhD holder in your field for up to an hour of their time?

If the price seems low, it almost certainly means that the editor who will review your writing is either inexperienced or under-qualified, or that they’ll rush through the document at the expense of its quality.

Look for independent reviews from previous clients

One of the best ways to evaluate whether a company is providing a good and honest service is to search for reviews from previous clients.

A Google search of ‘company name + reviews’ should provide some links to reviews. Look for externally hosted reviews—that is, reviews on websites that are not owned by the company.

If there are lots of positive reviews, that’s a good sign. If there are only a small number of reviews, or no reviews at all, that’s a sign to be cautious.

Search reputable review sites like TrustPilot for company names or service types.

Check for a company registration

Check that the website is owned by a registered and licensed company.

For US based companies, see this list of State registrars.

For UK companies, visit the official Companies House website and enter the name or registration number listed on the company’s website.

Check for confidentiality and security policies

Look for information on the company’s policies on document confidentiality and security.

• Who will have access to your document?
• Will it be deleted after it is returned?
• Is the company willing to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) if the information is sensitive?
• Do staff members have to sign confidentiality agreements?

Remember, by hiring a proofreading service, you’re trusting them with work that is important to you. Be sure you feel comfortable doing this with the company in question.

Consider the available payment options

Consider how the website takes payments. Does the company use reputable payment gateways, such as PayPal or Google Checkout?

PayPal, for example, offers buyer protection and is a safe and secure way to make payments. It accepts debit and credit cards and doesn’t require registration.

It is best practice to never give your card or bank details to a website directly. Make sure the website uses a secure payment gateway such as PayPal, Google Checkout or WorldPay.

Final comment

Use your wits and trust your instincts when choosing a proofreading service. There are a number of dishonest websites offering proofreading services, and it saddens us when we hear from distressed people who’ve fallen victim to their unscrupulous practices.

There are also good proofreading services out there. Whether you’re considering our service or another one, make sure that they meet these five safety checks to ensure you find a quality, honest service provider.