Ask questions more before proceeding with work. Otherwise, completed as expected.

I will try to be as objective as possible with this review and also attempt to strip emotions from it:

I waited several (9) days to get feedback on a supposedly simple project only to be given an output that is of no use to me.

Let me highlight a very good quality the freelancer presented: Alaaf tried to salvage the situation when I mentioned that the job is off the requirements specified. He asked for an extra day; I gave three days; I took about two hours of my busy life to draft a success criteria document that spelled out the requirements once again.

Alaaf came back after two days with another outcome that is, AGAIN, off requirement!!

I went ahead to pay for the service on two accounts:
(a) At each submission instance, he keeps pressurizing me to pay for the work done; and, somehow, I reasoned he indeed must have labored to provide the outcomes he submitted.
(b.) I don't want it to appear as if I am whining because I do not want to pay for work done for me.

I believe the fault lines are fundamental:
(a). Alaaf presented no understanding of the basic requirement of the job, based on the outcome provided twice.
(b). He offered to render a paid service for what he has little or no experience, or again little understanding, on.

Before I wrote this review, I sent Alaaf a message and shared what my experience is working with him. I also signposted him on the fact the I will leave an objective review of this same experience with the PeoplePerHour community.
The hilarious thing is that, after my long message to him, before I wrapped up my review, Alaaf sent me this response "Hi, can you give me a 5-star feedback I will be very grateful" Having been in Client Service career for more than a decade, this looks to me like a classic case of poor customer experience and an almost irredeemable service failure.

It is my first time on PeoplePerHour and it is probably going to be the very last one. (I have often used Upwork and Fiver).

If you must hire Alaaf, please check his portfolio to be certain he has done similar projects in the past successfully.

Regards,