App stuck after 3.1.1 rejection, replied 8 days ago with no response

App Store Distribution & Marketing App Review
TaskOpp OP
Created
Replies 1
Boosts 0
Views 36
Participants 2

Hello App Review team,

My app TaskOpp (Apple ID 6803605733) was rejected on October 19 under Guideline 3.1.1, regarding credits purchased outside of In App Purchase.

I replied in App Store Connect the same day. TaskOpp is a local marketplace where neighbors pay each other for in person tasks like yard work and moving help. Credits are used only to pay for those real world services, which are performed outside the app, and they do not unlock any digital content or app features. Checkout happens on a Stripe hosted page in Safari, and the app is distributed on the United States storefront only.

It has now been 8 days with no response, and build 1.0.1 (44) still shows Waiting for Review. I also submitted an appeal today.

Could someone please take a look or let me know if you need anything else from me? I'm happy to provide more details or a demo.

Thank you,
Maryyam

Replies  1
Boosts 0
Views  36
Participants  2
jetrise OP

Hi Maryyam, you're on solid ground. Guideline 3.1.3(e) (Goods and Services Outside of the App) says that when people pay for physical goods or services used outside the app, you must use a payment method other than In-App Purchase. Yard work and moving help fall under that rule.

Reviewers usually flag this because of the word "credits": prepaid credits look like an in-app currency, which falls under 3.1.1. What usually clears it:

  1. Stop selling credit packs. Charge per task ("Pay $40 for this job") and tie each payment to a specific booking.
  2. In the app, the listing and the screenshots, swap "credits" for "booking payment" or "task payment".
  3. In your App Store Connect reply, quote 3.1.3(e) word for word. Add a 3-step path the reviewer can follow (post a task, accept a helper, pay for that task) and state that nothing digital is unlocked.
  4. If a stored balance is still needed (for example for refunds), make it refund-to-card only, with no other use in the app.

The appeal and your reply run separately. Once you change the build or the wording, resubmit rather than waiting on the appeal.