• From funds in your Rapidlance Account. You can manually pay the fee before 30 days has passed from invoice date if you have sufficient funds in your Account. After 30 days, when the fee becomes due, the amount will automatically be deducted from your Rapidlance account.
  
• From an existing credit card. If you have a credit card on file, you can use it to pay the fee before 30 days has passed from invoice date. (If you are using a credit card to pay subscription or transaction fees, you do NOT need a PIN.)
  
• A buyer can send payment through the Billing and Payment System. The Transaction Fee will be automatically deducted from the payment before the remaining funds are deposited into your Rapidlance Account.

• From funds in your Rapidlance Account. You can manually pay the fee before 30 days has passed from invoice date if you have sufficient funds in your Account. After 30 days, when the fee becomes due, the amount will automatically be deducted from your Rapidlance account.
  
• From an existing credit card. If you have a credit card on file, you can use it to pay the fee before 30 days has passed from invoice date. (If you are using a credit card to pay subscription or transaction fees, you do NOT need a PIN.)
  
• A buyer can send payment through the Billing and Payment System. The Transaction Fee will be automatically deducted from the payment before the remaining funds are deposited into your Rapidlance Account.

• Project Scope . Document the work that needs to be completed, what you will deliver during and at the end of the project. Specify all details, i.e., system requirements, additional services or materials not included in original bid, materials or information you will need from the buyer.
• Buyer Expectations . Discuss what performance criteria is most important to the buyer, i.e., deadlines, frequent communication, as well as how the buyer will evaluate your performance and deliverable.
• Milestones and Payment . Schedule the key deliverables, payment expected at each deliverable and feedback or materials you will need from the buyer before beginning each phase of the project
• Delivery Schedule . Define expected dates of delivery for each milestone and the final project. Factor in additional time to allow for unexpected changes or circumstances.
• Payment Terms . Specify how payment should be made. If you want to be paid through Rapidlance, make sure the buyer has authenticated his credit card through Rapidlance.
• Dependencies . Indicate up-front any dependencies that will affect your delivery schedule or price. These may include receipt of payment, holidays, speed of feedback from the buyer.

Having a positive feedback record is crucial for success in the Rapidlance marketplace. Buyers use feedback ratings to help them select service providers.

Feedback also determines how a service provider is featured in the Rapidlance marketplace. Each service provider has a cumulative rating -- 1 to 5 stars. Buyers are not rated with stars, although service providers can leave comments after the transaction. A service provider's overall rating is based on a weighted average of all feedback ever given, adjusted to count higher value projects more toward the overall rating.

Service providers are featured in the marketplace according to their recent (last 6 months) feedback reviews from Rapidlance projects. The higher the total value of recent projects, the more prominently the provider is featured. Recent overall feedback rating and earnings are also displayed.

New providers - those that have become Rapidlance subscribers in the last 90 days - are identified with a "New Provider" icon, displayed in the feedback column.

Feedback statistics will reflect projects for which the service provider has paid Rapidlance the transaction fee. For more information, see Feedback Help.

What is the "New Provider" icon?
The New Provider icon helps buyers identify service providers who recently became subscribers on Rapidlance and therefore may not have feedback. The icon appears for the first 90 days of the service provider's membership and automatically disappears after this time period.

• Use service provider Profile Pages to read about experience, certifications, and work samples.
  
  
• The Rapidlance Feedback system shows past performance, with an easy-to-read star rating system and comments from previous buyers.
  
  
• Rapidlance Trust Partnerships with US Search and SquareTrade also help ensure quality of service providers. US Search verifies the credentials of a service provider in the form of a verification icon in the service provider's profile. SquareTrade membership represents the service provider's commitment to customer satisfaction, professional standards and using a mediator to resolve any disputes. Service providers who are members of SquareTrade display the SquareTrade seal in their profile, while those who have verified credentials display the US Search icon.
  
  
• Communication via the private message board will help you evaluate the qualifications of a service provider. The private boards are available when you post a project and receive bids and are located next to each bid.

• 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.
• Ask for full contact information of the other party once a bid has been selected.
• Get the agreement in a written document or on the Private Message Board. Rapidlance offers a sample contract.
• Document any changes to scope, timing or payment in writing, either through a contract addendum or on the private message board.
• 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. They may not be responding for legitimate reasons or a problem may have risen due to miscommunication.
• If this approach is not effective, contact investigations@Rapidlance.com and provide complete details about the project and the dispute. Our Rapidlance Investigations Team will contact the other party to try to re-establish lines of communication and reach a quick resolution.
• Rapidlance will also refer you to a certified dispute resolution service and recommend that you involve a mediator to help you reach an agreement.

1. Go to your RapidLance Account page and click Enter New Credit Card. Enter your credit card information and check the "Authentication" checkbox.
   
2. Your card will be charged two separate amounts, each less than $2.00. THIS IS NOT A FEE. Once your card is authenticated, these amounts will be credited to your RapidLance Account.
   
3. Contact the bank that issues your card. Tell them that you are authenticating your credit card with RapidLance, and that RapidLance has billed your card two separate amounts of less than $2.00 each. Tell them you need these amounts to complete the authentication process. Ask them to give you the two amounts billed. Save these numbers; you will need to enter them on the RapidLance site.
   
4. Log on to My RapidLance and go to your Account page. Click the Confirm Authentication link next to the credit card icon. Enter the amounts you were given from the bank that issues your card. Your card is now authenticated.