Why was my card charged before the start of the task?

At Airtasker, we use a secure escrow system called Airtasker Pay, powered by Stripe. This system ensures secure and fair transactions for all users.

How it works:

1. When you hire a Tasker, payment is deducted and held in escrow with Stripe while the task is ongoing.
2. After task completion, the Tasker requests payment, and you’ll get a notification.
3. If satisfied, you can release the payment, which will reach the Tasker within 3-5 business days.
   Note:  If not satisfied, message the Tasker to discuss feedback and options. If no agreement is reached, we offer a free dispute resolution service, and payment remains in escrow until resolved. 

This process reassures Taskers that payment is secure until task completion.

If a task is cancelled, funds held in escrow may be refunded to your card or converted to Airtasker credit for future use. For refund details, please refer here.