• I can't connect my bank account - help!

  If you (or your client) is having trouble paying an invoice - perhaps getting an error message along the lines of "couldn't connect to your institution" - this is happening at the "bank authentication" step of our payment process, which is handled by Plaid. We use Plaid because it's a best-in-class financial technology provider, and the experience is intended to feel seamless for clients. Rather than entering accounting and routing numbers for your bank, you instead enter the login informatioSome readers

• Is Ditto's payment processing safe?

  We use Plaid and Stripe to facilitate online payments. Plaid verifies the bank institution credentials, then Stripe processes the payment. Both providers are industry-leading financial technology companies, and we've chosen them for their stability and commitment to security. That being said, we know many people are hesitant to enter online banking credentials anywhere outside a bank's own site. We understand; it's smart to learn more about the security of a platform before sharing financialFew readers

• Can I send other invoices through Ditto?

  Ditto is purpose-built for project based work. That's really the best way to use it, and it's what we recommend, in part because we're really big believers in value-based pricing. That being said, if you prefer to bill hourly and still want to use Ditto, there are a couple of ways to approach this. Option 1: Create a phase as though it is an invoice line item, complete with information about the number of hours you've worked and the total cost. Send it through to your client for payment. OFew readers

• How does Ditto pricing work?

  Ditto charges a small percentage per transaction (2%) to cover the costs of holding funds in escrow, processing payments, and developing and maintaining the Ditto product. We understand that freelance work is by nature a little up-and-down, so we’ve tried to make our pricing scale alongside your needs. You never pay out of pocket for Ditto - we simply withhold 2% to pay Ditto from your client's payment. We don't want you to pay if you're not using the platform, especially if it's a sloFew readers

• Can my client get a refund?

  Ditto is designed to minimize the risks associated with project-based work. If you're concerned that a project may not work out, we recommend keeping the phases small. This reduces the amount of money on the line at any given time and keeps feedback loops tight. That being said, if both client and contractor agree that a refund is in order, we're happy to help make that happen. Note that this must be a mutual request, as outlined in the Ditto Master Services Agreement (part of the Ditto Terms &Few readers

• Can clients pay by credit card?

  At present, Ditto only accepts ACH payments made via bank transfer (with help from Plaid, so that there are no pesky routing or account numbers involved.) We do have "accept credit cards" in our backlog of upcoming features. Please let us know if this is something that is important to you or your clients, and we will prioritize it!Few readers

• When and how do I get paid?

  Ditto eliminates the need to chase down invoice payments and allows contractors to experience more frequent, predictable payments, kind of like a salaried employee. Ditto asks the contractor to break their projects up into “Phases” and then asks the client to fund each Phase before work begins. Notifications keep both sides informed and/or prompt for action (such as making a payment) every step of the way. The project dashboard is an up-to-date representation of which phases have been funded, aFew readers