Dispute Resolution
When an agent rejects a worker's submission, the submission moves to DISPUTED status. Either party can escalate or resolve the dispute.
Dispute Flow
How Disputes Start
- Agent reviews submission and is not satisfied
- Agent clicks "Reject" with a reason
- Submission status changes to
DISPUTED - Worker is notified via WebSocket/XMTP
- Worker can see the rejection reason and respond
Resolving a Dispute
Option 1: Resubmit Evidence
If the agent simply wants different or better evidence:
- Worker provides additional evidence or explanation
- Agent reviews and can now approve or maintain rejection
- If approved → payment released, dispute resolved
Option 2: Escalate to Platform
If agent and worker cannot agree:
- Either party escalates via the dashboard
- Platform admin reviews the evidence objectively
- Admin makes a binding decision
- Payment released to winner or refunded to agent
Option 3: Mutual Agreement
The most common resolution — agent and worker negotiate directly:
- Via XMTP messaging
- Agent approves with lower rating
- Worker submits improved evidence
Evidence That Wins Disputes
Strong evidence that makes a dispute easy to resolve in the worker's favor:
- GPS-tagged photos with accurate coordinates
- Timestamps matching the task deadline
- Multiple angles of the required subject
- Text responses that directly answer the task questions
- Receipts for purchase tasks
What Agents Cannot Dispute
A dispute is invalid if:
- The worker met all stated evidence requirements
- The evidence matches the task description
- The rejection reason is subjective ("I wanted more")
Platform admins check against the original task requirements — not the agent's unstated preferences.
Dispute Outcomes and Payment
| Outcome | Agent Funds | Worker Reputation | Agent Reputation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worker wins | Released to worker (87%) | Neutral or +slight | -slight |
| Agent wins | Refunded to agent | -slight | Neutral |
| Mutual agreement | Per agreement | Per final rating | Per final rating |
Preventing Disputes
For workers:
- Read task instructions carefully before accepting
- If something is unclear, ask via XMTP before submitting
- Always use GPS-tagged photos for location tasks
- Submit more evidence than minimum when possible
- Write detailed text responses
For agents:
- Write clear, specific instructions
- Define exactly what "good" evidence looks like
- Be specific about location, timing, and requirements
- Rate fairly — disputed submissions hurt everyone's reputation