Payments and protection
How payment and protection work on ReadyHands.
This section explains the payment journey, the Work Agreement, completion confirmation and how problems are resolved, so you always know what to expect before you accept or post work. Some steps are being rolled out gradually and are marked as coming soon.
What ReadyHands is building
Payment confirmed before work begins
The assignment is intended to become active only once the required worker payment has been authorised or collected through the authorised payment provider.
Coming soonClear Work Agreement
One job-specific record of the duties, timing, payment, fees and conditions that both parties accepted.
Coming soonRecorded clock-in and clock-out
Important platform actions are recorded and time-stamped so the hours worked are clear to both sides.
Coming soonCompletion confirmation
Both parties review the completion summary and can confirm, propose an agreed adjustment or report a problem.
Coming soonFast worker payment
ReadyHands normally aims to initiate payment within a few hours after confirmed completion.
Coming soonEvidence-based dispute review
Completed work is payable unless a genuine, evidenced dispute is raised and reviewed fairly.
Coming soon
Everything in this area
For people posting work
What happens from describing the work to approving payment.
Read moreFor people finding work
What you see before applying and how payment is expected to reach you.
Read moreReadyHands fees
Fee levels, worked examples, optional Priority Matching and how a fee is chosen.
Read moreFees and refunds
The ReadyHands service fee, worked examples and refund situations.
Read moreWork Agreements
One clear record of the agreed work, payment and conditions.
Read moreClock-in and completion
How completed work is intended to be recorded and confirmed.
Read moreDisputes
Evidence-based review when part of the agreed work is disputed.
Read moreStaying protected on ReadyHands
Why the work, agreement, messages and payment should stay on the platform.
Read moreFrequently asked questions
Searchable answers for people posting work and people finding work.
Read moreVideo guides
Short guides explaining each part of the process. Coming soon.
Read more
The words we use
- Payment authorisation
- The payment provider checks the payment method and reserves the required amount, subject to the provider's rules and authorisation period.
- Payment capture
- The previously authorised payment is collected through the authorised payment provider.
- Worker payment reserved
- The payment allocated to the worker is connected to the specific ReadyHands assignment and is not yet released to the worker.
- Payment release
- ReadyHands instructs its authorised payment provider to transfer the agreed worker payment after the required completion process.
- ReadyHands service fee
- The fee paid by the person posting work for using the ReadyHands platform.
- Refund
- Money returned through the authorised payment provider according to the applicable refund and cancellation policy.
A payment authorisation is not a completed charge and is not a worker payout. ReadyHands is not an escrow service and does not hold your money in its own bank account — payments are handled by an authorised payment provider.
How the payment process is intended to work
Below is the full intended journey, from creating the work to releasing the worker payment. Each stage shows its current status.
Stage 1
Work is created
The person posting work enters the details needed for someone to decide whether the work suits them.
- Work title
- Description
- Category
- Location
- Date
- Start time
- Expected duration
- Number of people required
- Hourly or fixed payment
- Tools and materials
- Experience requirements
- Qualification requirements
- Health and safety information
- Cancellation information
Stage 2
Total cost is displayed
A transparent breakdown is shown before anything is authorised: the worker payment, the ReadyHands service fee and the total to be authorised. The worker will receive the advertised amount when the work is successfully completed and approved under the ReadyHands completion process.
Coming soonStage 3
Payment is authorised
When the work is submitted, the authorised payment provider may verify the payment method and reserve the required amount. Payment authorisation confirms that the required funds were available at the time of authorisation. An authorisation is not the same as a completed charge or a worker payout.
Coming soonStage 4
Work is published
The work becomes visible only after the required details are complete, payment authorisation succeeds, prohibited-work checks pass and any required verification conditions have been identified.
Coming soonStage 5
People apply
People finding work may review the work required, the general location, date and time, expected duration, the payment they will receive, required experience and qualifications, tools or clothing needed and the cancellation conditions. Applying does not automatically create a Work Agreement.
Available nowStage 6
A person is selected
The person posting work chooses an applicant and ReadyHands prepares a job-specific Work Agreement. Both parties review the work, duties, location, timing, payment, fees, expenses, requirements, cancellation conditions, completion process and dispute process.
Coming soonStage 7
Payment is captured or reconfirmed
Depending on the assignment date and the payment provider's authorisation rules, ReadyHands may capture the authorised payment or request a new payment authorisation before the work begins. The assignment does not become active unless the required worker payment has been successfully authorised or collected.
Coming soonStage 8
Agreement is accepted
Both parties actively accept the same Work Agreement version. Confirmation boxes are never preselected. The agreement reference, version, user, acceptance time, security information, document record and audit event are stored.
Coming soonStage 9
Work begins
The worker clocks in using the future ReadyHands clocking system. Possible methods include a one-time PIN, a QR confirmation, confirmation from both parties, or location-supported confirmation where consent applies. Clocking will not rely on location alone.
Coming soonStage 10
Work ends
The worker clocks out and a summary shows the start time, finish time, total recorded time, agreed hourly rate or fixed payment, the calculated worker payment, approved expenses and the completion status.
Coming soonStage 11
Completion is reviewed
Both parties can confirm completion, propose an agreed adjustment or report a problem. If both confirm completion, the payment is prepared for release. If nobody raises a dispute within the displayed review period, the payment is prepared for release according to the final ReadyHands policy.
Coming soonStage 12
Worker payment is released
After confirmed completion, ReadyHands instructs its authorised payment provider to release the worker's agreed payment. ReadyHands normally aims to initiate payment within a few hours after confirmed completion. The time the payment reaches the worker's bank may depend on the payment provider, payout method, bank checks and any active dispute.
Coming soonStage 13
ReadyHands retains its fee
ReadyHands retains only the service fee disclosed to the person posting work. The worker continues to see the amount they are expected to receive before applying and before accepting.
Coming soon
An example of the cost breakdown
Example only — actual fees will be displayed before payment.
- Worker payment
- £80.00
- ReadyHands service fee
- £6.00
- Total authorised
- £86.00
The worker will receive £80.00 when the work is successfully completed and approved under the ReadyHands completion process.
The ReadyHands service fee is paid by the person posting work. There is no separate charge for choosing to pay by card. The fee shown here is an example — the actual fee will be displayed before payment.
See fees and refundsPayment status directory
These are the payment statuses ReadyHands intends to use. They are explained here for information and are not live transaction statuses.
Coming soonPayment details required
A payment method has not been added for this work request yet.
Who needs to act: Person posting work
Next expected action: Add a payment method to continue.
Payment authorisation pending
The authorised payment provider is checking the payment method.
Who needs to act: Nobody — the provider is checking
Next expected action: Wait for the provider's response.
Payment authorised
The provider reserved the required amount at the time of authorisation. This is not a completed charge or a worker payout.
Who needs to act: Nobody
Next expected action: The work request can be published.
Payment authorisation failed
The provider could not authorise the payment method.
Who needs to act: Person posting work
Next expected action: Try a different payment method.
New authorisation required
The earlier authorisation is no longer valid under the provider's rules.
Who needs to act: Person posting work
Next expected action: Authorise the payment again before the work begins.
Payment captured
The previously authorised payment has been collected through the authorised payment provider.
Who needs to act: Nobody
Next expected action: The worker payment is connected to the assignment.
Worker payment reserved
The worker's payment is connected to this assignment and is not yet released to the worker.
Who needs to act: Nobody
Next expected action: Complete the work and confirm completion.
Applications open
The work request is published and people nearby can apply.
Who needs to act: People finding work
Next expected action: Review applications and select someone.
Worker selected
An applicant has been chosen for the assignment.
Who needs to act: Both parties
Next expected action: Review the Work Agreement.
Agreement awaiting acceptance
The Work Agreement has been prepared and is waiting to be accepted.
Who needs to act: Both parties
Next expected action: Read and accept the same agreement version.
Agreement accepted
Both parties accepted the same Work Agreement version.
Who needs to act: Nobody
Next expected action: The worker clocks in on the day.
Work in progress
The worker has clocked in and the work has started.
Who needs to act: Worker
Next expected action: Clock out when the work is finished.
Completion awaiting confirmation
The worker has clocked out and the completion summary is ready to review.
Who needs to act: Both parties
Next expected action: Confirm completion, propose an adjustment or report a problem.
Payment scheduled for release
Completion has been confirmed and the payment is prepared for release.
Who needs to act: Nobody
Next expected action: ReadyHands instructs the payment provider.
Payment release initiated
ReadyHands has instructed the authorised payment provider to transfer the worker payment.
Who needs to act: Nobody
Next expected action: The provider processes the transfer.
Worker paid
The payment provider reports the worker payment as sent.
Who needs to act: Nobody
Next expected action: Arrival in the bank depends on the provider, payout method and bank checks.
Payment paused for review
A dispute or review is active on part or all of the payment.
Who needs to act: Both parties
Next expected action: Provide the requested information.
Refund pending
A refund has been requested through the authorised payment provider.
Who needs to act: Nobody
Next expected action: Wait for the provider to process the refund.
Refund completed
The provider reports the refund as processed.
Who needs to act: Nobody
Next expected action: The refund statement explains any deduction.
Partial refund completed
Part of the payment has been refunded following an agreed adjustment or a dispute outcome.
Who needs to act: Nobody
Next expected action: Review the refund statement.
Payment failed
A payment step could not be completed by the provider.
Who needs to act: Person posting work
Next expected action: Review the payment method and try again.
Final payment, cancellation, refund and dispute terms will be confirmed before live payments are activated.