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Chat and Calls

For Everyone

Every task on Sayzo has a conversation that connects the Task Giver and the Task Doer. This is where you discuss the work, agree on details, schedule meetings, fund and release escrow, and jump on a voice or video call when you need to talk it through.

This section covers how to find and use chat, what each message status means, how to share details safely, how the activity timeline tracks progress, and how to start, join and return to a call. Whether you post work or do it, keeping your conversation and your payment on Sayzo is what protects you, so this section also explains the rules that keep you covered.

For everything related to money, see Payments, Escrow and Payouts. For reporting, disputes and cancellations, see Help, Cancellations and Disputes.

Finding your conversations

Open Chats from the navigation to see all your conversations. Each conversation is one thread between a task and the person on the other side of it.

How the list is organised

  • Conversations are grouped by task. If several people are chatting about the same task, the group header shows the task title and a count such as {n} applicants.
  • Unread chats float to the top, and Closed conversations sink to the bottom and appear greyed out with a Closed tag.
  • Each row shows the other person's name or photo, how long ago they last messaged, a preview of the last message, and an unread count badge when you have new messages.

Search and filter

  • Use Search conversations to filter by name, task or message preview as you type.
  • Use Filters to narrow conversations by date, choosing a start and end day.
  • Inside an open thread, the Search messages option lets you filter the messages you are currently viewing. Clear it with the x.

If you have no conversations yet, you will see No conversations yet. Apply to a task to start chatting. On desktop, before you pick a thread you will see Select a conversation.

Sending a message

Open a conversation to load its thread. The conversation is automatically marked as read when you open it, and the header shows the other person's name, whether they are Online, and typing... when they are writing a reply.

To send a message

  1. Type into the Type a message... box.
  2. Press Enter to send, or use Shift+Enter to add a new line.
  3. You can also tap the round Send button.

What the ticks mean

Your own messages show a small status that updates as the message travels:

  • A clock means the message is still sending or queued.
  • A single check means it was sent.
  • A grey double check means it was delivered.
  • A coloured double check with the word Read means the other person has read it.
  • A red mark means the message failed or was blocked by moderation.

If the conversation has been closed, for example because an applicant was not chosen, the input is replaced by This conversation is closed. and you can no longer send messages.

Working offline and connection status

Sayzo keeps your chat reliable even when your connection drops, so you never have to wonder whether a message was lost.

  • If you send a message while offline, it is marked queued with a clock icon and saved on your device. It survives a page reload.
  • When you reconnect, queued messages are sent automatically, oldest first, and the status updates once each one goes through.
  • A small connection pill may appear showing Connecting..., Reconnecting... or Offline, sometimes with a count of how many messages are still queued. It only shows when you are not fully connected.

Sharing files and project details

Files and links that have already been shared in a conversation render inline. Images appear as a thumbnail you can tap to open the full file, and other files appear as a download chip showing the filename.

Note: at present you cannot attach a new file directly from the message box. The paperclip button does not yet add attachments.

Submitting a project (Task Doer)

When your work is ready, open Submit Project from the Task Info area or the menu. The form lets you enter:

  • A Title for the submission.
  • A Description of the work.
  • An optional Project Link.
  • Optional Project Files (PDF, JPG or PNG up to 10MB).

Note: today the submission posts a Project submitted message carrying the Title only. The description, link and selected files are not yet uploaded through this path, so do not rely on them being delivered here. When a project is submitted, the Task Giver sees a Project Submitted banner with a View button.

Scheduling a meeting and chat actions

The chat header and menu put the most common task actions one tap away. What you see depends on your role.

Schedule a meeting (Task Giver)

  1. In the chat header, tap the calendar button to open Schedule your Meet.
  2. Enter the Agenda. This is required.
  3. Tap Pick date & time... and choose a date and time. You cannot pick a time in the past.
  4. Tap Schedule. The button shows Scheduling... while it saves.

A Meeting Scheduled banner then appears in the thread with a Join button. The note Maximum meet time is 60 minutes applies to scheduled meetings.

Other actions in chat

  • Task Givers see an Approve button (with Approve & Release and Fund Escrow), the Schedule meeting button, and a menu with options like Add-ons, Report user, Raise a dispute, Cancel this task, Help and Support and Request Live Support.
  • Task Doers see an Add milestone option and Submit Project, plus the same support and safety menu items.
  • Both roles see the call button when calls are available.

Escrow and payment actions such as Fund Escrow and Approve & Release are summarised here but explained fully in Payments, Escrow and Payouts. The short version: funding holds the budget safely in Escrow, the Task Doer is never paid in advance, and money is released only when the Task Giver approves the delivered work.

The activity timeline

The Activity timeline in the Task Info area gives you an at-a-glance view of where the task stands. Each step is checked off as the task progresses:

  • Chat Started when the conversation was created.
  • Task Started once work is under way.
  • Work Submitted when the project has been submitted.
  • Task Completed when the task is finished.
  • Payment Released when escrow has been released to the Task Doer.
  • Messages Read, shown when the other person's last read time is known.

Voice and video calls

You can talk live with the other person using a voice or video call. Calls are tied to a single conversation, so only its participants can join.

Starting or joining a call

  1. Tap the call button in the chat header, or tap Join on a Meeting Scheduled banner.
  2. On the You're joining a call consent screen, review the notice and tap Join call, or Leave to go back.
  3. Allow microphone and camera access when asked. If you deny it, you can still join audio-only and turn your devices on later from the controls.

While you are on a call

  • The header shows a status dot and a line such as In call with the number of participants.
  • Use the bottom controls to toggle your Mic, your Camera, and Screen share.
  • Tap the red Leave call button to disconnect.
  • If recording is ever active, a Recording in progress banner stays visible to everyone. Recording is currently turned off.

Time limits during the proposal stage

While a proposal is still undecided, calls are time-limited. A countdown enforces the cap and the call ends automatically when it reaches zero, with a note such as Proposal calls are limited to {n} min. Once you accept the person and work begins, your calls together are unlimited.

Returning to an active call

If you leave a call but stay in the app, a floating Return to call pill appears on every page. Tap it to rejoin the call you stepped away from. The pill clears itself automatically once the call has actually ended.

Keeping conversation and payment on Sayzo

Sayzo only protects you when your conversation and your money stay on the platform. Chat messages are moderated, and sharing contact details or trying to take the deal off Sayzo is not allowed.

How moderation works

  • If your message contains contact or off-platform details, those details may be removed before it sends, with a caption such as Contact details were removed.
  • If a message breaks the rules more seriously, it is blocked and never delivered, with a caption that begins Not sent.
  • In both cases a strike is recorded on your account. Repeated strikes can affect your standing on the platform.

Why this protects you

  • When payment runs through Sayzo, the budget is held in Escrow. The Task Doer is not paid in advance, and funds are released only when the Task Giver approves the work.
  • Paying or arranging the deal outside Sayzo removes this escrow protection, so you would have no recourse if something went wrong.
  • Keep discussions, files, scheduling and payment inside the app so you stay covered.

For reporting someone, raising a dispute or cancelling a task, see Help, Cancellations and Disputes. For more on identity checks and safe offline meetings, see Trust, Safety and Verification.