Clear policies, no surprises
Know exactly what happens if you need to cancel or request a refund. Our policies are transparent and fair to both buyers and developers.
Clear policies
Funds protected
Fair resolution
Refunds by project stage
What happens depends on where you are in the project.
Before work starts
Pre-work cancellation
If work hasn't begun, cancellation is straightforward. Funded milestones can be fully refunded.
- Full refund of unfunded milestones
- Posting bond returned (if applicable)
- No fees charged on cancelled funds
- Developer notified of cancellation
During milestones
Active work cancellation
If work is in progress, proportional arrangements apply based on work completed and deliverables submitted.
- Partial payment for work demonstrably completed
- Remaining funds returned to buyer
- Both parties must agree on split
- Dispute process if no agreement
After submission
Post-submission disputes
If work has been submitted but you're not satisfied, the dispute process determines the outcome.
- Funds frozen during dispute
- Evidence reviewed by both parties
- Indeelancer makes final determination
- Partial or full refund based on findings
Chargebacks
Chargeback handling
If a chargeback is filed, we work with Stripe to provide evidence. Milestone payment records help protect developers from fraudulent chargebacks.
- Milestone payment records as transaction evidence
- Delivery confirmation documented
- Collaborative response with Stripe
- Platform tracks chargeback patterns
Project lifecycle and refund windows
Understanding when each policy applies.
Contract created
Full refund possible
Milestone funded
Funds held by Stripe
Work started
Proportional terms apply
Work submitted
Dispute process available
Work approved
Funds released to developer
“If work hasn't started, you can cancel.”
We want you to feel confident starting projects on Indeelancer. That's why pre-work cancellation is straightforward. Once work is in progress, fair proportional policies apply.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about refunds and cancellations.
Yes. If no milestones have been funded or work has not begun, you can cancel the project and receive a full refund of any funded milestones. The $20 posting bond is 100% refundable when you hire a developer and fund your first milestone within 7 days.
For active milestones, you'll need to reach an agreement with the developer on how to split the funded amount based on work completed. If you can't agree, either party can raise a dispute for Indeelancer to determine the fair split.
Once a refund is approved (either by mutual agreement or dispute resolution), funds are returned within 5-10 business days depending on your payment method. Credit card refunds may take longer due to bank processing times.
If no work is delivered by the agreed deadline and the developer is unresponsive, you can request a full refund of the milestone. If the developer contests this, it goes to dispute resolution where we review the evidence.
Platform fees are only charged on funds that are actually released to developers. If a milestone is cancelled before release, no platform fee is charged on those funds.
We strongly recommend using our dispute resolution process first. If you file a chargeback, we provide Stripe with milestone payment records and delivery evidence. Repeated chargebacks may affect your ability to use the platform.
Ready to start your project?
Hire with confidence knowing clear policies protect both you and your developer.