Booking and paying safely

What we do and don’t check

We’re a directory, not an agent. You deal with the vendor directly, so it’s worth being clear about where our responsibility ends.

What we do: let vendors publish a profile, stop vendors reviewing themselves, limit each Google account to one review per vendor, and remove content that breaks our terms when it’s reported.

If you’re hiring

• Look at real work. Browse their photos and video, and ask for full galleries or past clients you can contact — not just a highlight reel.
• Read several reviews, not just the average, and notice whether they sound specific. A profile with one glowing review means little.
• Talk first. Call or meet before paying anything. Someone who only wants to chat on a messaging app and rushes you to pay is a warning sign.
• Compare quotes. A price far below everyone else’s is usually a reason to ask why, not a bargain.
• Get it in writing: date, time, venue, exactly what’s included, the total price, what you pay and when, and the cancellation and refund terms.

Paying a vendor safely

Payments to vendors happen between you and them, so these habits matter more than anything we can offer:

• Pay a reasonable deposit, not the full amount, and the balance after or on the day. Be cautious of anyone insisting on 100% upfront.
• Pay into an account in the vendor’s or their business’s name, and check the name matches before you confirm. Be wary of a personal account in a different name.
• Use a traceable method — bank transfer or card — and keep the slip or receipt. Avoid cash handed to a stranger, gift cards, or crypto.
• Ask for a receipt for every payment, and keep your messages.
• Be suspicious of pressure: “only one slot left, pay now” and sudden changes of bank details are classic scam patterns.

If you’re a vendor

• Take a deposit to secure a date, and put your terms in writing — including what happens if the customer cancels.
• Confirm money has actually arrived in your account before you hold a date or hand anything over. A screenshot of a transfer isn’t proof.
• Beware overpayment scams: a “customer” who sends too much and asks you to refund the difference, or pays with a cheque or transfer that later bounces.
• You choose what to publish. Only add contact details you’re happy to have public, and leave the rest blank.
• Don’t give out your password or sign-in codes to anyone, including people claiming to be from Crew Ceylon. We’ll never ask for them.

Paying us for a boost

The only money that passes through Crew Ceylon is vendors buying boosts. For that:

• You pay on PayHere’s secure checkout, a Sri Lankan payment gateway. Your card details go to PayHere, not to us, and we never see or store your card number.
• The price is set by our server, not your browser, so it can’t be altered in transit. You see the exact amount before you pay.
• Credits are added only after PayHere confirms the payment, and each confirmation is verified before we act on it.
• Keep your transaction ID. It’s on the confirmation page and in Dashboard → Payments, and it’s the reference we need if anything goes wrong.
• Boosts are non-refundable, and they buy visibility rather than a promise of enquiries — full detail in section 6 of the Terms. If you were charged but didn’t receive your credits, or were charged twice, email us.
• We’ll never ask for your card number, PIN or OTP by email, message or phone. If someone does in our name, it isn’t us.

Report a problem

If a profile looks fake, a review looks fraudulent, content is stolen or abusive, or you think you’ve been scammed, email hello@crewceylon.lk with the profile link and what happened. We’ll look into it and can unpublish listings or remove reviews that break our terms.

We can’t recover money paid to a vendor, but a report helps us protect the next person. If you’ve lost money, report it to the police as well, and tell your bank straight away — they’re often able to act on a recent transfer.