How Escrow Payments Protect Both Buyers and Vendors

Escrow is simple in concept but powerful in practice. Instead of sending money directly to a seller, you send it to a neutral third party who holds it until both sides fulfill their obligations. When the transaction completes successfully, the escrow agent releases the funds. If something goes wrong, the money can be returned.

In SurePay's system, escrow happens automatically. When you place an order, your payment is deducted from your wallet but not sent to the vendor. It sits in our secure escrow account. The vendor sees that funds are committed and ships the item with confidence. Our verified rider picks it up, photographs it, and delivers it to you. Only when you enter your PIN to confirm receipt does the money move to the vendor's wallet.

What This Means for Buyers

As a buyer, you never risk sending money into the void. If the item doesn't arrive, you didn't pay for it. If it arrives damaged and the pickup photo proves it was in good condition initially, you have documentation for a dispute. The escrow system ensures you can only lose money if you explicitly confirm receipt—and even then, our photo trail creates accountability.

What This Means for Vendors

As a vendor, you never ship to a "maybe." When you see an order in your SurePay dashboard, the buyer's money is already locked in. You're not hoping they'll have cash when the rider arrives. You're not worrying about bank transfer screenshots that turn out to be fake. You ship knowing that delivery completion automatically triggers your payment. The only way you don't get paid is if you don't ship—which means the escrow system protects you from your own risk.