How ChekBuk escrow works.
Escrow holds the payment until both sides have done their part. Here is every step, the time limits, and what happens if something goes wrong.
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Five steps from deal to payout.
The payer is the one paying. The seller is the one delivering. ChekBuk moderates every deal.
Propose the deal
Either side sets the amount, the currency, what the deal is for, and the proof needed before release. Big jobs can be split into milestones.
The other side accepts
Nothing is funded until the other side accepts the exact terms. Not on ChekBuk yet? They get an email invite, sign up with that email and verify who they are.
The payer funds it
The money moves from the payer’s wallet into escrow. It’s held, not sent, and neither side can spend it while it’s held.
The seller delivers with proof
Photos, documents, tracking numbers or a written note go into the deal’s shared thread, for both sides and the moderator to see.
Release, or raise a dispute
The payer releases the money when they’re happy. If you can’t agree, either side raises a dispute and a ChekBuk moderator decides.
Time limits that keep money moving.
Deadlines stop money getting stuck when someone goes quiet. Nothing releases on its own while proof is missing or rejected, a dispute is open, or we’re reviewing the deal.
The full rules are in our Escrow Terms.
If something goes wrong.
A ChekBuk moderator is on every deal from the start. Disputes go to a person, not a form.
Raise a dispute
Either side can raise a dispute on a funded deal. It pauses release and every automatic deadline.
A moderator reviews
The moderator reads the terms, the proof and the thread, and may ask both sides for more.
Release, refund or split
The moderator releases the money to the seller, refunds the payer, or splits it fairly on the evidence.
Two people on big calls
Large money decisions need approval from more than one ChekBuk staff member.
Your rights stay yours
A moderator decides how the escrowed money is handled on ChekBuk. It isn’t a court ruling, and you keep your legal rights.
Everything on record
Every step is logged with who did it and when, so the decision is based on what really happened.
Good to know.
- Walk away before funding. Until the deal is funded, either side can back out and nobody pays a fee.
- Release is final. Once money is released on ChekBuk, it can’t be pulled back.
- Same currency in and out. Escrow is held and released in the currency you agreed.
- Delegates can help. Let someone act for you. Money actions of US$1,000 or more still need your OK in the app.
- Cancel by agreement. After funding, both sides can agree to cancel, and the payer gets the money back.
- Proof must be real. Evidence has to be genuine and relevant. Fake proof can get an account closed.
Questions, answered.
Something else on your mind? Write to hello@chekbuk.com.
Who decides if the payer and seller disagree?
A ChekBuk moderator. They review the terms, the proof and the messages, then release the money, refund the payer or split it. We reply to a new dispute within 72 hours.
What if the payer never responds?
Deadlines stop money getting stuck. If the seller asks for release and the payer doesn’t release or dispute within 14 days, the money is released. Milestone proof is approved after 7 days with no reply.
Can I use escrow with someone who isn’t on ChekBuk?
Yes. Invite them by email. They sign up with that email, verify their identity and accept the terms before the deal is funded.
Is a moderator’s decision a court ruling?
No. It decides how the escrowed money is handled on ChekBuk. You keep any legal rights you have outside ChekBuk.
Does escrow cost anything?
Standard escrow is free. Verified escrow costs 1.5% of the deal, with a $5 minimum and a $250 maximum. Our usual fees for adding, converting and withdrawing money still apply.
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