Provider guide · Payment disputes
How to deal with payment disputes and unpaid invoices.
If a completed job hasn't been paid, or was short-paid, the outcome usually depends on how well the record is kept. This guide gives a realistic timeline and the evidence to gather at each step. It is general information, not legal advice.
Timeline
What to do, and when.
Timeframes are typical, not deadlines. Check your contract for any shorter dispute windows.
- 01
Confirm the invoice is actually unpaid · Day 0
Check the work order status, the expected pay date, and your payout history. Note the exact amount you expected versus what arrived, if anything.
- 02
Save the record before anything changes · Days 1–3
Screenshot the work order, messages, check-in/out times, and completion photos. Platforms can edit or remove work orders, so capture them now with visible dates.
- 03
Send a written, dated payment request · Days 3–7
Use the platform's support or dispute channel and email the buyer if allowed. State the work order number, amount owed, completion date, and a reply deadline. Keep it factual.
- 04
Escalate inside the platform · Days 7–21
If there's no answer, open a formal dispute or ticket and ask for a written reason for any deduction or hold. Save every reply and ticket number.
- 05
Use outside channels · Days 21–45
File a complaint with your state attorney general and the BBB, and consider small-claims court or arbitration as your contract allows. Organize your record first so each filing tells the same story.
- 06
Add your record to the group claim · Any time
If the dispute is with Field Nation, submit a claim so your unpaid invoice is counted with other providers and buyers reporting the same pattern.
Evidence checklist
What to have before you escalate.
Gather these for each unpaid invoice. One dispute per work order keeps the record clear.
- ☐ Work order or project ID, with the posted pay rate and terms
- ☐ Proof of completion: check-in/out times, photos, signed sign-off sheets
- ☐ The outstanding invoice or payout statement showing the amount due
- ☐ Every message with the buyer and platform support, with dates
- ☐ Dispute or ticket numbers and the platform's written responses
- ☐ Any notice of fees, deductions, holds, or account changes
- ☐ Bank deposits showing what was actually paid, and when
- ☐ A one-page summary: what was owed, what was paid, the gap
Related: How to collect unpaid invoices · State AG complaint checklists