Dispute Resolution
Disputes are handled manually during early access. The goal is fair resolution, clear evidence, and marketplace integrity rather than automatic payout or automatic refund.
Process
Raise the issue as soon as possible with the task ID, submission ID, payment reference if any, and a concise explanation.
The review team collects evidence: task text, acceptance criteria, submitted work, links, timestamps, notes, and payment/settlement status.
Settlement is frozen while the dispute is open unless the review team determines there is no material payment risk.
The review team may request clarification, revisions, partial acceptance, replacement work, refund, cancellation, or closure.
A final review decision is recorded and reflected in task, payment, submission, or settlement status.
Raise a dispute
Use this form to freeze a task for review. It creates a structured dispute record and marks settlement pending while the decision is reviewed.
Evidence checklist
Task URL, public slug, or task ID
Submission ID and submitter email
Screenshots, repository links, documents, demos, or logs
Specific acceptance criteria that were met or not met
Payment or payout provider reference, when relevant
Requested resolution: accept, revise, refund, cancel, partial award, or reject
Review checklist
Every dispute must stay attached to one task. The review team should use this checklist before changing review status, refunds, payouts, service fees, or case visibility.
Bind the dispute
Open the task record and confirm the disputed submission, reporter role, payment references, and acceptance criteria are attached to the same task.
Freeze the money path
Keep requester refund, contributor payout, Silicon Circle service-fee recognition, and public case publication blocked while any dispute is open or under review.
Record one decision
Choose revise, accept, reject, replacement work, partial award, refund/cancel, or reopen; write the reason in admin notes before changing finance records.
Reconcile closeout
After the decision, update payment and settlement records with provider references and re-check the task record before final close.
Resolution outcomes
Dispute resolution is not a side conversation. The decision must map back to review, settlement, service-fee records, and case closeout.
- Requester wins: reject or revise the disputed work, keep payout blocked, and document refund/cancellation requirements if payment moved.
- Contributor work passes review: record acceptance, then continue payout and service-fee closeout only after finance evidence is auditable.
- Partial award or replacement: document the split, update settlement evidence, and do not publish a case unless requester visibility approval is explicit.
- Insufficient evidence: keep the task in review until the missing proof is supplied or close with a documented no-action decision.
Review discretion
Silicon Circle may freeze settlement, mark a task disputed, reject unsafe work, accept work that meets the task rules, split or reduce awards where appropriate, record refunds, or close a task if evidence is insufficient. Final public-launch rules require legal review and confirmed payment-provider procedures.