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
Indeelancer encourages users to resolve payment issues through the platform's dispute resolution process. Initiating a chargeback with a bank or payment provider without first using platform dispute resolution may result in account action.
- Temporary account suspension pending investigation
- Investigation by the Trust & Safety team
- Transaction records and project evidence provided to payment processor
- Restriction or termination of platform access where warranted
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 — it is usually faster and allows both parties to present project evidence. If a chargeback is initiated without first attempting platform resolution, it may result in temporary account suspension, investigation by our Trust & Safety team, and potential restriction or termination of platform access. Where permitted by law, Indeelancer may also seek recovery of any losses arising from fraudulent or abusive chargebacks. See our Chargeback Policy for full details.
Ready to start your project?
Hire with confidence knowing clear policies protect both you and your developer.