Frequently Asked Questions

Creating an account is simple and free! Click the "Sign Up" button on our homepage and provide your email, create a password, and verify your email address. You can also sign up using your Google or Facebook account for faster registration. Once verified, you'll be able to join competitions and connect with other food enthusiasts.

If you've forgotten your password, click "Forgot Password" on the login page. Enter your email address and we'll send you a secure reset link. Follow the instructions in the email to create a new password. The reset link expires after 24 hours for security reasons. If you don't see the email, check your spam folder.

Yes! You can change your username once every 30 days. Go to your Settings and click "Edit Username." Your new username must be unique and follow our community guidelines (3-20 characters, letters, numbers, and underscores only). Your competition history and reputation will remain linked to your account regardless of username changes.

The competition continues without you. Your entry fee remains in the prize pool and your profile is anonymized. Your scheduled dinners and votes are removed from the competition calculations. Other participants are not affected. Account deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed.

Browse available competitions on our homepage or use the search filter to find events near you. Click on a competition that interests you, read the details (theme, date, location, prize), and click "Request to Join." The host will review your request and either accept or decline. Once accepted, you'll need to pay the entry fee to secure your spot. Remember to check the competition rules and dietary requirements before joining!

Absolutely! Click "Create Competition" and set your theme, date, location, and entry fee. You'll need to provide adequate cooking space, basic kitchen equipment, and ingredients for all participants. As a host, you can participate in your own competition but cannot vote for your own dish.

Once you accept an invitation and complete payment, your participation is confirmed and cancellations are not possible. The entry fee becomes part of the prize pool. This is because other participants and the organizer plan based on confirmed (paid) participants. In exceptional circumstances (serious illness, emergency), you may contact our support team at support@dinewithme.org for case-by-case evaluation.

Each participant scores every dish (except their own) on the competition's rating categories (e.g., Taste, Presentation, Creativity) using 1–5 stars. Scores are submitted anonymously through our app. The system calculates the average for each category and sums them to produce a total score. The highest total score wins. If two participants tie, the system compares individual category scores in order, then checks who hosted their dinner first. There is always a clear winner — no ties!

If you accept an invitation but do not complete payment before the submission deadline, you will not be included in the competition. No penalty is applied, but you will miss your spot. Other participants who have paid will continue as normal.

The competition continues without them. If a participant fails to schedule or host their dinner by the deadline, their turn is skipped. Other participants' dinners and ratings proceed as normal. The non-participating user's entry fee remains in the prize pool.

The competition continues with the votes from other participants. Missing votes are excluded from the final scores — they do not count as zeros. The system uses the average of existing votes to calculate fair results. If you are in a couples competition and one partner doesn't vote, only the partner who voted will have their ratings counted.

Entry fees are collected at sign-up with a 25% platform service fee added at checkout. The winner receives 100% of the prize pool (the total of all entry fees). Prize money is transferred to the winner's wallet within 24 hours of competition completion. All payments are processed securely through Stripe.

We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Bank transfers are available for larger competitions. All payments are processed in your local currency, and we clearly display any conversion fees before you complete your transaction.

Prize money is automatically transferred to your original payment method within 24 hours of competition completion. Bank transfers may take 2-3 business days to appear in your account. You'll receive an email confirmation with transaction details. If you don't receive your prize within the expected timeframe, please contact our support team immediately.

Once you have paid to join a competition, refunds are not available. Your entry fee becomes part of the prize pool that the winner receives. If a competition is cancelled by the organizer before it begins, all participants receive a full refund including the platform fee. For exceptional circumstances, contact support@dinewithme.org.

First, try refreshing the page or restarting the app. Check your internet connection and ensure you're using the latest version of our app. Clear your browser cache or app cache if the problem persists. If you're still experiencing issues, contact our technical support team with details about your device, browser/app version, and the specific problem you're encountering.

Yes! Dine With Me works perfectly on mobile devices through your web browser, and we also have dedicated iOS and Android apps available for download. The mobile experience includes all features: joining competitions, scoring dishes, real-time notifications, and payment processing. Download our app from the App Store or Google Play for the best mobile experience.

Safety is important to us. We encourage all hosts to provide safe, clean cooking environments and to disclose any allergens. Participants can report safety concerns through our app using the Report Issue feature or by emailing support@dinewithme.org. We provide safety guidelines and take all reports seriously. Important: Dine With Me is a platform that connects people — we do not inspect venues or guarantee food safety. Always use your own judgment when attending events.

If you feel unsafe at any time, leave immediately and contact your local emergency services (112 in Europe, 911 in the US, 999 in the UK). Once safe, you can report the incident to Dine With Me using the Report Issue feature in the app or by emailing support@dinewithme.org. We take all safety reports seriously and will investigate. Important: Dine With Me is not an emergency service and does not operate a 24/7 hotline. In case of emergency, always contact your local authorities first.