• Maintain open lines of communication. Be clear about your expectations and check in frequently with the other party. Do not leave anything to assumptions.
• Discuss project expectations, payment terms and work schedule before the project begins or payment is made. Make sure to explicitly state all assumptions for project requirements, such as delivery schedule, revisions, support and payment schedule.  Utilize the Business Terms and Change Order feature to add all milestones and payment schedules.
• Ask for full contact information of the other party once a bid has been selected.
• Get the agreement in a written document, attach it onto the Private Message Board. RapidLance offers a sample contract.
• Document any changes to scope, timing or payment in writing, either through a contract addendum and utilize the Business Terms and Change Order feature to add all milestones and payment schedules.
• Send/receive payment in installments, as key milestones are met. Have both parties sign-off on the milestones via the Private Message Board so that a record is maintained.

• Try to contact the other party again using the private message board.   They may not be responding for legitimate reasons or a problem may have risen due to miscommunication.
• Always add a contract, including payment methods and terms on your private message board.  For sample contracts, please click on the "Resources" tab at the top of "My RapidLance."
• If both of you cannot come to an agreement regarding how to resolve your dispute, use a certified dispute resolution service and involve a mediator to help you reach an agreement.  If there is a signed settlement reaced between you and the other party, and there are actions needed on RapidLance's part, send an email to RapidLance with the SquareTrade Case ID number, the name of the mediator, both parties' RapidLance usernames, and the name of the project.  RapidLance will then verify the settlement agreement with SquareTrade.
• If the other party does not respond to your private message board postings, email: investigations@Rapidlance.com and provide complete details about the project and the dispute, including: your username, the username of the other party and the project name. Please review the "NOTE:" item below regarding RapidLance's involvement after a project has been awarded.

  Our RapidLance Investigations Team will attempt to contact the other party to try to re-establish lines of communication and reach a quick resolution. As stated above, post your request to the other party on the private message board to allow the RapidLance Investigations Team to review the other party's response. If you have not previously done so, add a contract, including payment methods and terms on your private message board. For sample contracts, please click on the "Resources" tab at the top of "My RapidLance." If agreements were made via email/instant messages, post the as text or attachments onto your private message board to allow RapidLance Investigations Team to review the other party's response.

• If you are a service provider and dispute the transaction fee, go to your My RapidLance - Account page, and click on the link to fill out the Fee Adjustment Request Form.
  

If you are involved in a dispute involving feedback, please refer to RapidLance Feedback Removal Policy to find out in what circumstances RapidLance will consider removing feedback. If the feedback does not violate any of the stated policies, RapidLance will consider removing feedback if presented with a ruling or settlement from a certified dispute resolution service. Learn more

NOTE:

RapidLance is a Venue and a Finder
The Site functions as a venue to connect buyers and service providers in a virtual marketplace. As a neutral facilitator, RapidLance is not directly involved in the actual transactions between users of the Site. As a result, RapidLance has no control over the truth, accuracy, quality, legality, or safety of postings made by users. Because verifying the identity of a user on the Internet is difficult, RapidLance cannot and does not confirm the identity of users. RapidLance also does not confirm nor verify the qualifications, background, or abilities of users. Therefore, We recommend that You be careful and exercise common sense and good judgment when dealing with any User on the Site.

Always add a contract, including payment methods and terms on your private message board.  For sample contracts, please click on the "Resources" tab at the top of "My RapidLance."

Your Relationship with Merchants, Advertisers, and Users
Your correspondence with merchants, advertisers, or users on the Site, including the development and delivery of related goods or services, and any other terms, conditions, warranties or representations associated with such dealings, are solely between You and such merchant, advertiser, or user. You agree not to hold RapidLance liable for any loss or damage of any sort incurred as the result of any such dealings or as the result of the presence of such merchants, advertisers, or users on the Site.

Always add a contract, including payment methods and terms on your private message board.  For sample contracts, please click on the "Resources" tab at the top of "My RapidLance."