Ask What do you do when a client on Upwork files a dispute the day before payment clears?

[Brendan]

Waiting for your money to become available can be stressful, especially when you have already finished a very long project. It is very painful to see a client start a formal disagreement just when you are about to get paid. This often means the money is frozen until the platform staff can look into the situation and make a final decision. It makes me wonder about the best way to protect my earnings. What steps do you take when a client suddenly disputes a payment?