Ask how payment is earned, when it is issued, what happens after missed visits, and whether travel costs are reimbursed separately.
The advertised amount may be the maximum possible payment, not the amount a person receives after one visit. It may include screening, all visits, diary tasks, follow-up calls, completion bonuses, and travel reimbursement. Ask for the payment schedule before you screen so you can see how the total is divided.
For longer studies, ask whether payment is issued after each visit or held until the end. Delayed payment matters when visits require fuel, parking, childcare, meals, hotel stays, or missed work. A completion bonus can make the headline amount look better while leaving smaller payments during the study.
Reimbursement is separate from compensation when the site pays back specific costs such as mileage, parking, meals, lodging, or ride-share. Ask whether receipts are required, whether there are caps, whether reimbursement is paid on the same schedule as compensation, and whether travel costs are still reimbursed if you screen out.
Keep copies of receipts and take photos before handing anything over. If a site uses a payment card, ask how to check the balance, how fees work, and who to contact if a payment is missing.
Make a simple table with visit date, amount expected, reimbursement submitted, receipt status, payment method, date paid, and remaining balance. Keep emails about payment and take screenshots of payment-card balances when money arrives. If a payment is missing, send the coordinator the visit date, expected amount, and any receipt copies instead of relying on memory.
