Of course they can ask. They can even threaten to garnish your earnings through them, or stop you working in the platform but that only works if you agree. You

Of course they can ask. They can even threaten to garnish your earnings through them, or stop you working in the platform but that only works if you agree. You don't have to work for them to pay off this "debt". Put your tools down. You're not indentured. Don't work for nothing. The dispute is between them, their customer and a bank. The actions they're taking are just the easiest for them. In their eyes, you have a livelihood on the line. Of course your going to buckle first. Short of actual legal action, you could contact all your long term clients and tell them to seek alternative escrow arrangements if they want to keep working with you. That'll likely get you banned from Upwork, but freedom has value.