Preparing for a dispute - what evidence to collect and how to present it

If a deal reaches a dispute, the guarantor decides on the basis of what they can see. Being right does not count on its own: whoever can show it wins. The good news is that evidence should be collected not after a quarrel but from the very start, and it is not hard. The guarantor's role is described in the article on arbitration.

The principle: what is not recorded does not exist

The guarantor was not present at the conversation and did not see you pack the parcel. They can rely only on documents, correspondence and blockchain data. So your task is to turn events into verifiable facts in advance.

What the guarantor can check on their own

• The blockchain. All actions in the deal are recorded: who did what and when (how to read it).
• The terms hash. Terms fixed when the deal was created cannot be changed retroactively (how it works).
• Public data. For example a parcel's tracking number, a WHOIS record for a domain, the state of a repository.

Everything else you must show yourself.

What to collect: the general list

1. The deal terms text - the one whose hash is recorded in the contract.
2. Correspondence with the other participant: the full conversation, not selected phrases.
3. Proof of handover: waybills, tracking numbers, receipts, acts, links to commits.
4. Screenshots and screen recordings with a visible date and page address.
5. Photos and video (for physical goods): packaging, the moment of opening, defects.
6. Transaction hashes of the actions in the deal.

For the buyer

• Film the unboxing in one unbroken shot from the packaging to the item.
• Record defects close up, with a wide shot, with serial numbers.
• Save the seller's promises (description, specifications, photos in the listing).
• Report a problem at once in writing: the faster, the more convincing.
• Do not confirm receipt until you have checked the item (why this matters).

For the seller

• Keep proof of shipping: the receipt, tracking number, a photo of the packaging with the label.
• Record the state of the item before shipping (a video with the device working).
• Perform what was promised literally and record exactly what was handed over.
• Keep the buyer's confirmations ("received, thanks") separately.
• For digital goods - the access handover log, screenshots, links.

For services and work

• Agree on stages and acceptance criteria in advance (good terms).
• Record every version of the result with a date.
• Keep a history of remarks and revisions. If the client changes requirements, ask them to confirm in writing.
• For code: a repository with commit history, screenshots of the work, a demo recording.

How to present your position to the guarantor

A good submission is short and structured:

1. The essence of the dispute in 2-3 sentences.
2. References to the deal terms (section, clause).
3. A timeline with dates.
4. Evidence with explanations: what each file shows.
5. What you ask for: what share of the amount and why.

Example.

Deal #142, 800 USDC, condition: a laptop in working order with no screen defects. On 12 March I received the parcel and filmed the unboxing (file 1). At 00:42 a cracked panel is visible. On 12 March at 18:40 I wrote to the seller, who replied that it "was like that" (screenshot 2). Photos from the listing show an intact screen (file 3). I ask for a 100% refund.

What to avoid

Time matters

A dispute can be opened while the deal is active. The guarantor is also limited by time: after 30 days of silence the 50/50 emergency exit triggers (details). Collect evidence in advance, not after the dispute is opened.

Privacy

Do not publish other people's personal data in a dispute without need. Hide card numbers, passwords, unrelated names. Remember: people read your evidence, and anything you send may be saved.

What to read next

Learn how to choose a guarantor capable of handling a review: how to choose a guarantor. Or see a worked example: physical goods with delivery.