ZARP Policies

Player Disputes

This policy outlines the official procedure for handling player disputes within SSRP, it provides a structured process for players to request compensation for in-game disputes, involving rulebreaks, scams, etc.

1. General Rules:

A. Only Administrators or higher may handle the dispute resolution process.

B. Staff members should not handle disputes involving someone of equal or higher rank.

C. R-1B - Does not apply to members of the Community Team.

D. Disputes must be submitted through the forums by creating a thread in the appropriate section (Report Abuse) - Refer to R-2A for the template.

E. Staff members involved in the dispute cannot participate in its resolution.

F. The ZARP Ethos and ToU apply to all decisions made throughout this process.

G. Evidence submitted must be clear, relevant, and unedited (if applicable) - Edited or cropped evidence may be disregarded. Staff may also request additional evidence if deemed necessary for a fair resolution.

H. Players wishing to appeal a decision must submit their appeal within 72 hours of the verdict being issued - Only new, compelling evidence or procedural errors will be considered during the appeal.

I. For disputes involving high-value items(>$5,000,000,000) or those with multiple parties and complex situations, multiple Community Team members may be assigned to review the case - Additional time may be allocated for investigation, and all relevant parties may be interviewed to provide a well-rounded resolution.

2. Filing a Dispute:

A. Players wishing to file a dispute must use the official template:

[b]Name[/b] - (Your name)
[b]Steam-ID[/b] - (Your Steam-ID)
[b]Accused's Name[/b] – (Name of player you're disputing)
[b]Accused's Steam-ID[/b] – (Accused person's Steam-ID)
[b]Evidence Of Steam-ID[/b] – (Screenshot or video proof)
[b]Time And Date (CET)[/b] – (When it happened)
[b]Requested Compensation[/b] – (Items/money being sought)
[b]Reason[/b] – (What rules were broken)
[b]Story[/b] – (Detailed description of events)
[b]Proof[/b] – (Video or screenshot evidence)

B. Disputes without proper evidence or using an incorrect template will be dismissed.

3. Reviewing the Dispute:

A. Verify all submitted evidence is valid and matches the claim(s).

B. Check server logs (if needed) to corroborate the story.

C. Interview involved parties if clarification is needed.

D. For staff-related disputes, notify the staff member and bring it to LT/CM attention.

4. Dispute Resolution Process:

A. Preliminary Review: The handling staff member verifies if the dispute meets all requirements (outlined in R-1G) and then states it is being handled within the specific dispute thread.

B. Handling: The handling staff member complies all relevant and verified specific evidence into a file for the attending Community Team member to review during the hearing.

C. Scheduling: Valid disputes are reviewed weekly during scheduled sessions (Saturday-Sunday evenings, non-meeting hours).

D. Hearing: A Community Owner (CO) or Community Manager (CM) act as magistrates, reviewing evidence and hearing arguments.

E. Settlement Option: Parties may negotiate a settlement before the hearing/final verdict.

F. Verdict: The attending Community Team member(s) delivers a final, binding decision that outlines any awarded compensation and applicable punishments.

5. Compensation Guidelines

A. Only disputes involving cash or items valued at $100,000,000 or higher are eligible for resolution under this policy.

B. Disputes made against players with the 'New Player' tag are treated with a greater degree of leniency.

C. Players retaining the 'New Player' tag are not subject to R-5A if they are the reporting party.

D. Newer players who have 'lost' the tag but have not accumulated enough time on the server to acquire sufficient funds/knowledge may be granted amnesty or the accuser may be strongly encouraged to go for a settlement, granted on a case-by-case basis.

E. Compensation may include in-game items, money, or both.

F. Incidents exceeding a two-week timeframe are ineligible for compensation.

G. The accused may offer alternative compensation if unable to meet the original request - this may result in a settlement (outlined in R-4E) - in which they may pay back items/cash within the estimated market value, or other agreement.

H. If the accused is unable to immediately pay the settlement, then the Community Team may grant them a specific period wherein they can accumulate the required amount owed.

I. False claims may result in penalties for the reporting party.

J. If the accused refuses to comply, the Community Team is at liberty to issue an inventory lock.

K. Repeat offenders may face temporary/permanent bans, inventory locks or other restrictions.

L. On a discretionary basis, the items in question may be refunded by the Community Team.

6. Disputes filed against players who retain the 'New Player' tag are:

A. Monitored closely for patterns of exploitation or repeated filing by the same individuals.

B. Subject to a higher standard of proof, requiring full video context and uncut footage to avoid exaggerated or baseless claims.

C. Eligible for dismissal if it is determined that the accuser is targeting inexperienced players for easy wins/compensation.

D. Rejected if the claim is below a certain threshold unless clear malicious intent is evident.

E. Considered for leniency in cases involving a first-time new player offense, where accidental behavior may warrant a warning instead of formal punishment.

F. Treated with escalating penalties for players who repeatedly exploit the system by filing unjust disputes against new players - These users are subject to warnings, bans, compensation reversals, and potential permanent removal from the dispute system.

7. Finalizing the Dispute - Once resolved:

A. Compensation Transfer: If compensation is awarded, the necessary transfer or reimbursement will be processed promptly.

B. Rule Violations: Any identified rule violations related to the dispute will be handled separately and according to the established server rules.

C. Formal Outcome Notification: A formal, written reply outlining the dispute's resolution will be posted on the relevant thread, ensuring transparency and clarity.

D. Case Documentation and Reference: The case will be documented for future reference, providing a precedent for similar disputes. This record may be consulted by staff when handling future cases involving comparable situations.

E. Appeals Process: If the outcome is disputed or deemed unsatisfactory, an appeal may be created, which will be directly reviewed by multiple members of the Community Team to ensure fairness and adherence to the guidelines.