Audit Logging for FiveM: Stay Compliant and Dispute-Free
Logs are your first line of defense
Every refund, item transfer, and staff action should leave a trace. Audit logs aren't just for debugging—they're your evidence when disputes escalate, chargebacks arrive, or staff members go rogue. Here's how to build a logging strategy that protects your community.
What to log
At minimum, capture the who, what, when, and why of every refund action. LD Refund System logs these automatically, but ensure your custom scripts follow the same pattern.
- Staff member Discord ID and username
- Player identifier (license, Discord, Steam)
- Refund type, quantity, and value
- Timestamp in UTC with millisecond precision
- Reason or ticket reference
- Approval chain if multi-step
Log retention policies
Keep logs long enough to handle disputes but not forever. Payment processor chargebacks typically have a 120-day window. We recommend retaining refund logs for 180 days minimum, with sensitive data anonymized after 365 days.
GDPR Compliance
If you have EU players, their data is protected under GDPR. Implement a data deletion request workflow that removes personal identifiers from logs while preserving aggregate records for accounting purposes.
Using logs for dispute resolution
When a player claims they never received a refund, your audit log is the source of truth. Export the relevant entries, include timestamps, and present them in the support ticket. For payment disputes, attach logs to your chargeback response.
“We won three chargeback disputes last month purely because our audit logs showed exact timestamps and staff approvals. The payment processor sided with us every time.”
Detecting staff misconduct
Audit logs reveal patterns. If one staff member issues 10x more refunds than peers, or approves refunds for the same player repeatedly, investigate. Set up automated alerts for anomalies: unusual hours, high-value refunds, or rapid-fire approvals.
Comprehensive logging transforms your refund system from a liability into an asset. Start logging everything today.
Need a smarter refund flow?
LD Refund System automates Discord approvals, in-game claims, and audit logging so your staff stay focused on players.