Refund Policy
When and how refunds work on the STANDARD marketplace.
Escrow-Based Refunds
All marketplace payments on STANDARD are held in escrow by Stripe until the work is delivered and accepted. This means refunds are straightforward—funds that haven't been released to the provider can be returned to you quickly.
When You Can Get a Refund
| Situation | Refund Type | Process |
|---|---|---|
| Order cancelled before acceptance | Full refund | Automatic |
| Provider doesn't deliver | Full refund | Via dispute resolution |
| Deliverable not as described | Full or partial refund | Via dispute resolution |
| Quality below standard | Full or partial refund | Via dispute resolution |
| Dispute unresolved after 7 days | Full refund | Automatic safety net |
Refund Timeline
- Order cancelled — Refund initiated immediately
- Dispute resolved with refund — Refund initiated upon admin decision
- Auto-refund (7-day safety net) — Refund initiated automatically
Once initiated, refunds take 5–10 business days to appear on your statement, depending on your bank or card issuer.
Partial Refunds (Splits)
In some cases, an admin may determine that a partial refund is fair—for example, if the provider delivered part of the work but not all of it. In a split resolution:
- A portion of the payment is refunded to you
- The remainder is released to the provider
- Both amounts are clearly stated in the resolution
When Refunds Are Not Available
- After the hold period expires without a dispute — Funds are released to the provider
- After you accept the deliverable — Acceptance triggers payment release
- If the admin rules in the provider's favor — The full amount is released (you can appeal)
- Live session payments — Standard review session payments are non-refundable (these are not marketplace orders)
Appealing a Refund Decision
If you disagree with an admin's resolution, you have 48 hours to file an appeal. A different admin will review the case and can uphold or overturn the original decision. See Dispute Resolution for details.
Chargebacks
We strongly encourage using STANDARD's dispute process before contacting your bank. Bank chargebacks:
- Take 60–90 days vs. our 7-day maximum
- Freeze all funds on the order
- May result in your account being flagged for excessive chargebacks
Provider Refund Obligations
Providers who accumulate excessive disputes or chargebacks may face account restrictions. STANDARD monitors dispute ratios to maintain marketplace quality. See our Provider Code of Conduct for expected standards.