When you complete work on a paid Riipen project, your invoices are reviewed to confirm that you've met the requirements of your experience.
If an employer or program administrator raises concerns about an invoice, they may initiate a dispute. This does not automatically mean your payment will be rejected. It means additional review is needed before a payment decision can be made.
Invoice disputes are not a replacement for communication and problem-solving. Learners and employers are expected to work together to address concerns throughout the project.
Invoice disputes should only be used when unresolved concerns may affect invoice payment and require formal review.
Read Riipen's Dispute Resolution Policy for more information.
Why was my invoice disputed?
Every Riipen experience has its own requirements for work logs, project submissions, and payment eligibility. Completing your project hours alone may not be enough to qualify for payment.
Three common reasons for invoice disputes:
Your work log is incomplete or does not meet requirements. Your work log must accurately describe the work you completed and meet the requirements of your experience. Missing entries, work log violations, unclear descriptions, or insufficient documentation may result in a dispute. Learn more about Completing your work log: Requirements and best practices.
Your project submission is incomplete or does not meet expectations. Your submission must include the required deliverables and demonstrate that you've completed the expected work.
Your employer raises concerns about your participation or completed work. Your employer may dispute an invoice if they believe you did not complete the agreed-upon work, meet your commitments, or participate in the project as expected.
If you're unsure what is missing or what you need to do next, ask for clarification directly in the dispute comments.
What should I do if my invoice is disputed?
If your invoice is disputed, review the reason provided and respond with any requested information or supporting evidence.
To view and respond to a dispute:
Navigate to your project or team page.
Select the Invoices tab.
Click the disputed invoice.
Open the Dispute tab to review the reason and comments.
Enter your response, questions, or supporting information in the dispute comments. If you are asked to update your final deliverables, make these changes directly on the Final Submissions page.
What evidence should I provide?
Depending on the reason for the dispute, supporting evidence may include your work log, completed deliverables, project reflection, project communications or other documentation showing that you've met your experience requirements.
Evidence from outside the Riipen platform may also be considered. Riipen evaluates evidence based on its relevance, clarity, and alignment with the agreed-upon project requirements.
Important
Follow the instructions in your dispute and provide requested information or documentation within 7 days. Failure to respond may result in a decision against you. Evidence submitted after a dispute has been resolved will not be considered.
Keep all communication related to your dispute in the dispute comments on the Riipen platform. This includes questions, clarification requests, and supporting information. Keeping everything in one place ensures the reviewing team has access to the information needed to make a decision.
How does a dispute affect my invoice approval timeline?
When an invoice enters the Disputed state, its standard review timeline is paused until the dispute is resolved.
The time spent in dispute does not count toward the standard approval period. Once the dispute is resolved, the invoice may be approved for full payment, adjusted for partial payment where permitted, or cancelled if it is determined to be ineligible for payment.
This means your payment may take longer than the original estimated approval date.
For standard invoice approval and payment timelines, see Tracking invoices, payments and payouts for learners.
Who reviews invoice disputes?
A dedicated Riipen team reviews invoice disputes, including the reason for the dispute, supporting evidence, and comments provided by all parties.
The team evaluates the information against the agreed-upon project requirements and may request additional information or clarification before making a decision.
You'll receive a notification when your dispute is updated. Be sure to monitor your dispute comments and respond promptly to any requests.
What are the possible outcomes of a dispute?
Once a dispute is resolved, Riipen will determine the outcome of the invoice based on the available evidence and the requirements of your experience.
There are three possible outcomes:
Full payment: The invoice is approved for payment in full.
Partial payment: The invoice is adjusted to reflect the amount eligible for payment, where permitted by your experience.
No payment: The invoice is cancelled because it does not meet the requirements for payment.
Not all experiences permit partial payments. Payment eligibility depends on the requirements of your specific experience.
All dispute decisions made by Riipen are final and binding.
Who can see my dispute?
Invoice disputes are visible to all participating parties, including learners, employers, authorized experience administrators and Riipen reviewers. This includes the dispute details and comments shared throughout the review process.
You can review the concerns raised, ask questions, and provide supporting information directly in the dispute comments.