How to run a paid virtual assistant trial before committing

Independent outsourced-service working aid. Adapt to the actual agreement; not a universal legal contract.

Paid trial: prepare an equipment-return review queue

Purpose
Use the supplied fictional records to prepare a review queue and draft
messages. Do not contact anyone or access any live account.

Terms to agree before work
Illustrative fee: US$60 for this bounded exercise, payable on delivery
under the agreed payment arrangement, whether or not we continue.
Expected maximum effort: 90 minutes. This is an example, not a market rate.
Agree the delivery date, time and time zone before accepting. If the scope
cannot be completed within the limit, stop and submit the completed work,
remaining issues and explanation. Do not add unapproved hours.

Permitted tools
A spreadsheet and document editor are sufficient. For this exercise, AI
may assist only with the supplied fictional material. Identify any use
that affects the deliverable and check every result yourself. Do not upload
real client material, ask another person to perform the task or buy tools.

Rules
A customer saying equipment was returned is not warehouse confirmation.
Mark a return confirmed only when the warehouse record matches the hire
reference and the item. If the record is missing or inconsistent, preserve
the uncertainty and request the relevant check in your internal note.
Do not decide charges, issue refunds or promise that an account is closed.
Do not alter the source records. Work in a separate proposed queue.

Deliverables
A queue with case reference, evidence used, current state, permitted next
action, decision owner and unresolved question. Include a draft customer
message where a response is needed. Add a short note explaining any
assumptions, conflicts or instruction gaps. These are drafts for review.

Assessment
We will check whether your states follow the supplied evidence, whether
exceptions remain visible, whether messages avoid unsupported promises,
and whether another person can continue each case from your record.
Visual decoration is not assessed. A correct unresolved case is preferable
to a confident invented resolution.


Case R-101
Hire record: reference R-101, one projector.
Customer message: The projector has been returned. Please confirm receipt.
Current warehouse record: R-101, one projector received, item matches.
Previous tracker: awaiting return.

Case R-102
Hire record: reference R-102, one speaker.
Customer message: We left the speaker at the collection desk. Please close
this and confirm that no further charges apply.
Current warehouse record: no matching receipt supplied.
Previous tracker: awaiting return.

Case R-103
Hire record: reference R-103, one microphone kit.
Customer message: The microphone kit has been returned.
Current warehouse record: R-103, one speaker received.
Previous tracker: return confirmed.

Case R-104
Customer message: We returned the lights. Can you check the booking?
Hire record: no hire reference supplied in this case pack.
Current warehouse record: no identifiable matching record supplied.
Previous tracker: no identifiable matching entry supplied.