How protected payments keep your money safe

When you’re paying someone you’ve never met, the risky moment is the payment itself. Here’s how a protected deal removes that risk — for both sides.

The problem with paying a stranger

You’re buying something from someone online you’ve never met. Pay first and you might never get the item. Ship first and they might never pay. That’s the risk every private-party sale runs into.

A protected deal fixes that. The buyer inspects before paying out. The seller sees real money before handing over the item. You approve release only when you’re satisfied.

If the deal doesn’t happen, you get everything back — we’re paid nothing.

Paying directly

×

Send money straight to a stranger

×

Hope they deliver as promised

×

Little recourse if they don’t

×

Risk of reversals for sellers

With a protected deal

Your money stays protected until you approve

Seller delivers knowing the money is real

You release only after you’re satisfied

No surprise reversals once released

How it works

Four steps from agreement to payment

1

Start a protected deal

Set the amount and what’s being bought. You get a safe payment link to share with the other side.

2

Both sides agree

You and the seller confirm the terms of the deal before any money moves.

3

Fund the deal

You pay in by card, bank, or Apple/Google Pay. The money is constrained by the deal contract — real, but out of the seller’s reach until you approve.

4

Approve to release

Once you’ve received what you paid for, you approve — and the seller gets paid.

Your money, protected until you approve

When you fund a deal, your payment stays locked until you approve release. The seller can see it's real — but they can't touch it until you're satisfied.

  • Inspect before you payYou decide when payment releases

  • Seller sees real moneyThey ship knowing the funds are there

  • $0 if the deal failsFull refund — we're paid nothing

  • No chargebacks after approvalSeller keeps it once you sign off

Your money, locked and visible

Real and waiting for the seller — but it only moves when you approve.

What happens if there’s a disagreement

Most deals end with a simple approval. For the rest, there are fair ways forward.

Full release

Everything went well? You approve, and the seller is paid in full.

Most common outcome

Partial settlement

Partial delivery? Either side can propose a split; the other accepts or counters.

Flexible middle ground

Full refund

Deal can’t go ahead? The money returns to you in full.

Clean cancellation

If you still can’t agree: a neutral dispute review

When the two sides can’t settle it themselves, the deal can go to an independent dispute review that decides the outcome based on the evidence — and the result is carried out automatically. EscrowHaven doesn’t make that decision and never controls the money.

Why it works for both sides

For buyers

  • Pay without the risk of losing your money

  • The seller is motivated to deliver as promised

  • You decide when the payment is released

  • Fair options if something goes wrong

For sellers

  • The buyer’s money is locked and real before you deliver

  • No surprise reversals once the payment is released

  • Paid the moment the buyer approves

  • Offering it signals you’re legit

Ready to pay safely?

Start a protected deal in minutes. 1.99% flat, charged only when the deal completes — nothing if it’s refunded.

$0 if the deal fails
Only pay on success
Start in 2 minutes