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Designers Withheld Payment by Crowdspring — Here’s How to Report and Push for Justice

If you’re a designer who’s completed work via Crowdspring and have had payment withheld, you’re far from alone. The platform consistently delays or blocks payouts, often silencing creatives who try to follow up. Many designers report account deletions, vague excuses, or non-responses once their project is finished.Here’s what you can do to help protect our community and push for accountability:1. File an FTC complaint (recommended for everyone): Crowdspring operates internationally and in the U.S. If you haven’t been paid, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC):• Go to: he Federal Trade Commission site and select “Report Fraud”• Click “Report Now.”• Choose “Consumer Products & Services” > “Other.”• In the description, state that Crowdspring withheld payment for completed freelance work, is retaining customer funds, or is committing unjust enrichment.• Attach all supporting screenshots: contracts, payment requests, correspondence, proof of completed work.• Submit. Save your confirmation/report number for reference.2. For designers who completed projects after July 2024: If you worked with Crowdspring after Illinois’ Freelance Worker Protection Act (FWPA) took effect (July 2024), you can also file with the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL):• Gather evidence: your signed contract, project approval, proof Crowdspring handles payment (not client), application/onboarding documentation, communication showing vetting or review.• Visit: Illinois Department of Labor site and search for “FLWPA Complaint Form”• Fill out the form with your details and upload supporting files.3. Illinois Attorney General reporting: Even if your complaint falls outside FWPA (pre-July 2024), reporting to Illinois’ AG can add pressure. Be aware you might be redirected to IDOL, but the volume of complaints helps signal a pattern.4. Why this matters: Crowdspring profits from “unjust enrichment”—accepting client funds, benefiting from designer labor, and refusing to pay the creatives who make their platform possible. Only collective, documented complaints may force regulators to investigate and hold Crowdspring accountable with fines, forced payouts, or public warnings—all without individual freelancers having to go to court.[trustpilot +1]5. What to document:• Contract copies and payment terms• Proof of completed work and client approval• Screenshots of payment requests and Crowdspring’s handling• Email or platform messages confirming account closure/payment holds• Application or vetting steps showing Crowdspring is effectively the hiring partyLet’s stand together: If you’ve had your payment withheld, don’t stay silent. Keep your documentation safe, file complaints as described, and encourage fellow designers to do the same. The more reports, the harder it is for Crowdspring to ignore and the likelier justice is done for our creative work.How to Report If Crowdspring Deleted Your Account or You Lack EvidenceIf Crowdspring deleted your account, locked you out, or you didn’t save screenshots, don’t let that stop you from reporting. Here’s what you and others in this situation should know:• You can still file a complaint: Agencies like the FTC, Illinois Department of Labor, and the Attorney General rely on patterns of complaints—not just on hard evidence. Your detailed account may be enough to trigger an investigation, especially if many people describe the same behavior.• Be as detailed as possible: In your complaint, include:• The approximate dates the work was completed and when payment was expected.• The title and description of the project(s).• What communications (if any) you had with Crowdspring or with your client.• Any deadlines, project approvals, or emails showing you should have been paid.• The date and circumstances of your account closure or loss of access (e.g., “Crowdspring deleted my profile immediately after I requested payment”).• Any partial evidence you might have: downloaded contracts, emails, payment notifications, or even calendar entries and invoices.• Mention the loss of access: Explicitly state in the complaint form that Crowdspring deleted your account or communications, and that you are no longer able to retrieve messages or records from the platform.• Use whatever you do have: Even if it’s just the contract, confirmation emails, or your own notes, include them.• Request agencies to subpoena records: In your description, you can request that investigators obtain records directly from Crowdspring, since the platform controls all the project, contract, and payment logs.

Date of experience: Feb 23, 2025