How Belancer keeps your payment safe until the work is approved.

When you pay for a gig, a milestone, an hourly week or a consultation, your money goes into Payment Secured: Belancer holds it, not the freelancer. It's released to the freelancer only when you approve the work, when the review time passes without a response, or when Belancer decides a reported problem. If things go wrong, you can get a refund.

Before you start

• Pay only through Belancer's checkout. Money sent any other way isn't protected.
• Keep all messages, files and agreements on Belancer, so there's a clear record.

Steps

1You pay

At checkout you see "Payment Secured: your money is safe with Belancer", "Belancer holds your amount, not the freelancer", and "Released only when you approve the delivery."

2The money is held

Your order or contract shows the amount as held. The freelancer sees it too, so they know the work is funded and can start.

3The freelancer delivers

You review the delivery or submitted milestone.

4The money is released

Money is released when:

• You choose Approve on the delivery or milestone.
• You don't respond: gig orders complete after 3 days, milestones approve after 7 days, consultations release 24 hours after the call.
• A Belancer specialist decides a reported problem.

5Pending, then Available

The freelancer's share (after Belancer's fee) goes to their Pending balance for 14 days, then becomes Available to withdraw.

What happens next

If something goes wrong before release, choose Report a problem: only that item's money is frozen while it's sorted out. During the Pending period you can still raise a problem. See report a problem.

Troubleshooting

• I paid but the order shows "Awaiting payment". Bank and card confirmations can take a moment; refresh. Bank transfers wait for a manual check.
• The money is "frozen". A problem was reported on that order, milestone or week. It stays frozen until the case ends.
• I want my money back. Cancel if allowed, or report a problem. See refunds.

Good to know

• One currency per order: the held money stays in the currency you paid.
• Separate account: held money is kept apart from Belancer's own money, for the time it's held.
• Chargebacks through your bank are handled separately with the payment partner; please talk to us first.

Tip: Fund one milestone at a time. Small, clear steps keep your risk low and your freelancer motivated.

Important: If anyone asks you to pay "outside Belancer to save fees", don't. Those payments aren't protected, and it's against the rules.