💬 View Messages with Recipient
Learn how to communicate with recipients about your incentive offers.
Accessing Messages
URL: /provider/incentive-offers/message/[incentive_offer_id]
Navigation:
- Go to Incentive Offers in your dashboard
- Find the offer
- Click the three-dot menu (⋮)
- Select View Messages with Recipient
Alternative: Click on the Message column in the offers table to go directly to the conversation.
Understanding the Message Interface
Page Header
The header displays:
- Back Button - Return to the offers list
- Message Count - Total messages in the conversation
- Refresh Button - Reload the conversation
Message Feed
Messages are displayed in a chat-like interface:
- Your messages (Vendor) - Appear on the right with an orange background
- Recipient messages (Referent) - Appear on the left with a blue background
- System messages - Appear with a yellow background
Message Bubbles
Each message shows:
- Sender name - Who sent the message
- Time - When it was sent
- Content - The message text
- Status badge - The status when the message was sent
- Edited indicator - Shows "(edited)" if message was modified
- Deleted indicator - Shows "This message has been deleted" if removed
Compose Area
At the bottom of the page:
- Status selector - Choose the offer status for your message
- Available statuses - Quick-select badges for valid status transitions
- Text area - Write your message (max 1024 characters)
- Attachment buttons - Attach files to your message
- Send button - Send your reply
Sending Messages
Step 1: Select a Status
Important: You must select a status before sending a message.
Available statuses depend on the current offer status. Common options include:
| Status | When to Use |
|---|---|
| Needs Info | You need more information from the recipient |
| Approved Confirmed | You confirm the incentive is available |
| Partial Granted | You're offering a partial amount |
| Requires Revision | You need the recipient to revise something |
| Completed | The incentive process is finished |
| Cancelled | You're cancelling the offer |
Step 2: Write Your Message
- Click in the text area
- Type your message (max 1024 characters)
- Character count displays at the bottom
- Use Shift+Enter for new lines
Step 3: Attach Files (Optional)
Click the Attach button to add files:
- Supported formats: Images, documents, PDFs
- Max files: 3 per message
- Max size: 10 MB per file
Files upload automatically and show status:
- 🔄 Uploading - File is being uploaded
- ✅ Ready - File is ready to send
- ❌ Failed - Upload failed, try again
Step 4: Send the Message
- Click Send Reply or press Enter
- Wait for confirmation
- Your message appears in the feed
Status Descriptions
When hovering over status badges, you'll see descriptions:
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Needs Info | Request additional information from the recipient |
| Approved Confirmed | Confirm the incentive is available to the recipient |
| Partial Granted | Offer a partial incentive amount |
| Requires Revision | Request revisions to the offer terms |
| Counter | Propose alternative terms |
| Completed | Mark the incentive as fully completed |
| Cancelled | Cancel the offer |
Managing Messages
Editing Messages
You can edit your own messages within 15 minutes of sending:
- Click the three-dot menu on your message
- Select Edit
- Modify the text in the text area
- Click Save or press Ctrl+Enter
- Press Escape or click Cancel to discard changes
Note: The "(edited)" indicator will appear on edited messages.
Deleting Messages
You can delete your own messages within 15 minutes of sending:
- Click the three-dot menu on your message
- Select Delete
- The message will be marked as deleted
Note: Deleted messages show "This message has been deleted" to all parties.
Loading Previous Messages
If there are older messages:
- Scroll to the top of the conversation
- Click Load previous messages
- Older messages will be loaded above
Message Features
Clickable Links
- User profiles - Click sender names to view profiles
- Attached files - Click to download or view
- Images - Click to open full-size
Message Types
| Type | Display |
|---|---|
| Text | Plain text message |
| Image | Inline image preview with download link |
| File | File icon with name and size |
| System | Yellow notification box |
Acknowledgement Replies
When a message has "Acknowledged" status:
- Additional acknowledgement replies may appear below the message
- These are view-only for providers
Interactive Tour
A guided tour is available:
- Click the Take Tour button in the top-right corner
- Follow the highlighted areas and tooltips
- The tour automatically starts on your first visit
Best Practices
Communication Tips
✅ Do:
- Respond within 24-48 hours
- Be clear and professional
- Always select the appropriate status
- Provide specific information when requesting details
❌ Don't:
- Leave messages unanswered for long periods
- Change status without explanation
- Send multiple rapid messages (wait for responses)
Status Updates
- Always choose a status that accurately reflects the situation
- Use "Needs Info" when you need clarification
- Use "Approved Confirmed" when ready to proceed
- Use "Completed" only when everything is finalized
Troubleshooting
Can't Send Message
Causes:
- No status selected
- Message is empty
- Network issues
- Rate limit exceeded
Solutions:
- Select a status from the dropdown
- Add text to your message
- Check your internet connection
- Wait a moment if rate limited
Messages Not Loading
Causes:
- Network connection issue
- Server error
- Session expired
Solutions:
- Click the refresh button
- Check your internet connection
- Log in again if session expired
File Upload Failed
Causes:
- File too large
- Unsupported format
- Network issue
Solutions:
- Ensure file is under 10 MB
- Use supported formats (images, documents, PDFs)
- Try uploading again
Upgrade Modal Appears
Cause: You've reached your message limit for the current plan.
Solutions:
- Upgrade to a higher plan for more messages
- Wait until next billing cycle if on free plan
- Contact support for assistance
Floating Action Button (FAB)
The blue button in the bottom-right corner provides quick navigation:
- View Incentive Offer Details - See full offer information
- View Incentive Distribution - See distribution records
- View Group Members - (Group offers) See participants
- Embed Acknowledgement Widget - (Acknowledged status) Generate embed code
- View Incentive Program - Open the associated program
Current page is highlighted in the menu.