Check the vendor

Look at the vendor's profile and portfolio. Ask for examples similar to your event. Look for the Verified badge. It means the vendor has completed identity checks and their profile. It is not a promise about the quality of the work, and it does not mean SkillConnect has judged their skill.

Confirm what you need

Say it plainly: the service, the date, the place, the number of guests and the style. Share pictures if colours or looks matter. Vendors, ask the questions that help you price and plan the job properly.

Put it in writing

Written messages and a written agreement give both sides something to refer to. Voice notes and phone calls are easy to forget or dispute. If you agree something in a call, write down what was agreed and send it.

Agree dates and deadlines

Confirm arrival times, setup times and delivery dates for photographs, outfits or cakes. Ask what happens if there is a delay.

Understand deposits and payment requests

A deposit is part of the price paid in advance. Ask what it covers, when the balance is due and what happens if either side cancels. In the app, the vendor sends a payment request and you review it before you pay. Check the amounts, what will be delivered and the dates. You can ask for changes before paying. Be careful with any request to pay in full early, or to pay outside the app.

Confirm deliverables

For photography, ask how many edited photos, how soon and how they are backed up. For outfits, confirm fabric, colour and fittings. For catering, confirm the menu and portions per guest. For decoration, confirm what is included and who takes it down.

Handle changes

Changes happen. Record them, agree any extra cost, and confirm the new details before the event. On a bigger project, agree whether the change affects a milestone.

Review the work properly

When the vendor submits the work, check it against what was agreed. You have seven days to approve it or ask for changes. If you do not respond, SkillConnect reviews the case and may authorise release. Payment is not released automatically just because those seven days have passed. Do not ignore a notification to review work.

Spot suspicious requests

Be careful if someone:

  • Asks you to pay outside the app
  • Pushes you to pay right now
  • Refuses to show past work
  • Will not put details in writing
  • Gives a price far from every other quote with no explanation
  • Asks you to send money to a personal account for a business booking

Keep records and evidence

Save messages, agreements, payment requests, receipts and photographs of the finished work. If something goes wrong, these are the evidence you can share.

If you need to raise a dispute

Raise it as soon as you notice a problem, and keep to what you can show. Either side can raise a dispute in the app or by email. While a dispute is open, an amount that has not been released may be held back from release. SkillConnect reviews the agreement and the evidence, and tells both sides the outcome and the reasons.

SkillConnect cannot promise any particular result. Money that has already been paid out cannot always be recovered.

Short examples (illustrative, not real cases)

Illustrative example. Not a real customer or vendor.

Customer: A bride confirms the makeup start time in writing and asks about a backup plan. The morning runs smoothly.

Vendor: A photographer lists in the agreement how many photos she will deliver and by what date. The customer knows what to expect.

What SkillConnect cannot do

We cannot guarantee that any vendor will perform perfectly, that any dispute will end in a particular way, or that a payment can always be refunded. These tips help you make better choices.

Need help? Email support@myskillconnect.com.