Both · Dispute resolution

Disputed $4,200 invoice resolved in 10 minutes

The situation

A mid-sized chemical terminal runs a monthly 400-bbl solids-sludge removal. Last month, the hauler invoiced $9,200. The terminal's AP team remembered agreeing to $5,000 and flagged the invoice as in dispute. The hauler's ops manager was certain the rate had been $115/hr (not the $90/hr the terminal assumed) and the job had run long because of equipment on-site delays. Both sides had screenshots of different text threads as “proof.”

Under the old process, this would be a 2-week back-and-forth, possibly escalating to leadership on both sides, potentially souring a multi-year relationship.

What Dispo's Terms Record said

The terminal opened the Dispo job and clicked “View Terms Record.” The Terms Record showed — unambiguously, time-stamped at the moment of bid acceptance:

  • Transport: $115/hr, up to 8 hours ($920 cap)
  • Disposal: $0.35/gal, estimated 400 bbls (~$5,880)
  • Standby after 30 min: $65/hr
  • Total estimate: $6,800
  • Free items: Disping included.

The actual invoice at $9,200 was $2,400 over the estimate. But the Terms Record had allowed up to 8 hours of transport (which was used) and included standby — which the hauler had correctly billed for 2.5 extra hours due to an on-site incident. Total correct: ~$9,200.

The resolution

  1. The terminal's AP team saw the Terms Record and realized the hauler was right about the rate.
  2. The hauler's ops manager saw the Terms Record and confirmed the standby line was justified.
  3. The terminal paid, flagged standby-hour documentation as a process improvement, and scheduled the next month's job the same day.

No phone tag. No “let me check with my director.” No lawyer. Just the written record.

What the Terms Record actually captured

This is the entire reason Dispo exists. Every element of the disputed invoice was present on the Terms Record at the moment of acceptance:

  • The rate (not guessed from text messages)
  • The estimated duration + explicit cap
  • The disposal per-unit price
  • The standby policy
  • What was included vs. extra

Dispse of disputes before they dispose of relationships.

Every accepted bid becomes a Terms Record. Free forever for generators.

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