🛟 Help & Support

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.

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!

You can cancel your participation up to 24 hours before the competition starts for a full refund. Go to "My Competitions" and click "Cancel Participation." If you cancel less than 24 hours before or don't show up, the entry fee is forfeited to compensate other participants and the host. In case of emergencies or illness, contact our support team within 6 hours of the competition start for possible exceptions.

Each participant scores every dish (except their own) on three criteria: Taste (50%), Presentation (30%), and Creativity (20%). Scores are submitted anonymously through our app during the tasting phase. The system automatically calculates weighted averages and flags any suspicious voting patterns. Results are revealed once all participants have submitted their scores. The highest overall score wins the competition!

Absolutely! Once you've participated in at least 3 competitions and have a rating of 4.0+, you can host your own events. 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.

Entry fees are collected when you join a competition and held securely until completion. 85% of the total entry fees go to the winner, while 15% covers platform costs. Winners receive their prize money automatically within 24 hours via the same payment method used for entry. All payments are processed securely through Stripe with bank-level encryption.

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.

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 our top priority. All hosts must verify their identity and provide safe, clean cooking environments. We require hosts to disclose any allergens and maintain food safety standards. Participants can report safety concerns instantly through our app. We also provide safety guidelines, require emergency contact information, and have a 24/7 emergency support line for urgent situations.

If you feel unsafe at any time, leave immediately and contact our emergency support line at +1-800-DINE-911. Use the "Report Safety Issue" button in our app to alert our team instantly. We take all safety concerns seriously and will investigate immediately. Your safety is more important than any competition - never hesitate to remove yourself from an uncomfortable situation.