Escrow, Cancellation & Refund Policy

1. How AbeyCollab Escrow Protects Payments

When a brand funds a collaboration or accepts a creator brief, funds are placed into segregated platform escrow. Funds are never released to the creator upfront without verified deliverable submission and brand approval.

2. Full Refund Conditions for Brands

A brand is entitled to a 100% full refund of the escrow deposit under any of the following circumstances:

• Creator Cancellation / Default: The creator fails to submit the required milestone draft by the agreed delivery deadline without mutual written extension.
• Material Specification Breach: The submitted deliverable fails to follow explicit, agreed brief requirements (e.g. wrong product shown, missing required discount code, unedited raw audio).
• Brand Safety Infraction: The creator publishes content containing hate speech, illegal claims, or undisclosed non-consensual alterations.

3. Creator Protection Against Non-Payment

Creators are protected against arbitrary cancellations once production has commenced:

• 7-Day Review SLA: Brands have 7 calendar days to review submitted deliverables. If no feedback or dispute is logged within 7 days, escrow is automatically approved and released.
• Scope Creep Shield: Brands cannot demand net-new deliverables or major concept pivots outside the original brief without an agreed budget addendum.

4. Dispute Arbitration Workflow (< 4 Hour Response)

Either party may open a dispute ticket directly inside the Collaboration Workspace. AbeyCollab talent directors review the chat log, timecoded video timeline, and original brief within 4 hours to issue a binding determination (release, revision mandate, or full escrow refund).

5. Refund Processing Time

Approved refunds are credited back to the brand's original payment method (Stripe / Razorpay) within 3 to 5 business days depending on your issuing bank.