Escrow Protection Policy
ASCEND holds the buyer's payment from checkout until the buyer confirms the account works, or releases it to the seller automatically if the buyer neither confirms nor disputes within 48 hours of delivery. Every completed trade keeps a 48-hour appeal window, sellers cannot receive funds early, and money stays held for the full duration of any dispute.
Understand how ASCEND's escrow policy protects buyers and sellers: payments held until delivery is confirmed, a 48-hour appeal window, and optional seller verification on every deal.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is escrow on a gaming account marketplace?
- Escrow means a third party holds the buyer's payment while the trade completes. On ASCEND the buyer pays ASCEND, not the seller; the seller delivers credentials; the buyer verifies and confirms; only then is the money released. Neither side can take the other's value and walk away.
- How long does ASCEND hold my payment in escrow?
- Funds are held from checkout until you confirm the account works, plus a 48-hour appeal window after that. If you neither confirm nor dispute within 48 hours of delivery, payment releases to the seller automatically — so verify the account promptly.
- Can escrow be released early or bypassed?
- No. On a manual trade the seller cannot receive funds until you confirm delivery, ASCEND support resolves a dispute in their favour, or your 48-hour review window closes without an appeal — and that window only starts when the seller marks the order delivered. Instant Delivery trades complete on payment, but the buyer keeps a 48-hour appeal window and payouts are processed by ASCEND staff. Any seller asking you to pay outside ASCEND is attempting the single most common marketplace scam — report them and keep the trade on-platform.
- What happens to my money if a dispute is opened?
- It stays held. Funds remain in escrow for the entire dispute and are only moved once support rules. ASCEND aims to rule within 48 hours of the dispute being filed; complex cases can take up to 7 days. A ruling for the buyer refunds in full; a ruling for the seller releases payment as normal.
- Is the escrow fee charged if the trade falls through?
- No. The 1% escrow protection fee and the 4% commission are deducted only on release. A cancelled or refunded trade returns the full amount to the buyer, including the 2% buyer fee.