How it works
How Guaranza escrow works
A neutral third party between buyer and seller: we hold the money, so you can complete the deal with confidence.
- 1
Buyer and seller agree on terms
Either party starts a transaction: describes the item or service, sets the price, currency, inspection period and who pays the escrow fee. The other party reviews the terms and accepts them. From the moment the deal is created, a private deal chat is open for the buyer, the seller and a personal Guaranza escrow agent.
- 2
The escrow agent sends payment details to the buyer
The agent sends payment details — a bank account, card or crypto wallet — privately: only the buyer can see them. The seller only sees a note that the details were sent. The buyer pays and presses “I've paid”, ideally attaching a receipt.
- 3
The agent confirms the payment
The agent checks that the money has really arrived in the escrow account and confirms it. The status changes to “Funds secured” and the seller is notified that it's their turn.
- 4
The seller delivers, the buyer inspects
The seller hands over the goods, the service or the access (logins, transfer codes, tracking numbers — stored encrypted). The buyer checks everything during the inspection period and confirms it, or opens a dispute. If the buyer does nothing before the period ends, the delivery is accepted automatically.
- 5
The seller gets paid
The seller shares payout details privately with the agent. After the buyer's confirmation, the agent releases the funds and the transaction is completed. Both parties receive a confirmation.
Your personal escrow agent
Every deal has an escrow agent — a Guaranza employee who guides both parties, answers questions in the deal chat, sends payment details and confirms every movement of money. An agent never asks for your password and never sends payment details outside the deal chat.
Private details, visible only to the right person
Payment details sent by the agent are visible only to the buyer. Payout details are visible only to the seller and the agent. Everyone else in the chat only sees a note that details were shared. Messages and details are stored encrypted.
If you're the buyer
You never send money directly to someone you don't know. Your payment waits in escrow while you check what you bought. If the seller doesn't deliver, or the item is materially different from the description, you can open a dispute before the seller is paid.
If you're the seller
You don't have to take the buyer's word that the money is on its way. We confirm the funds are secured before you deliver. Once the buyer accepts — or the inspection period ends without a valid dispute — you get paid, with no risk of chargebacks.
The inspection period
The inspection period is agreed before payment and can last from 1 to 30 days. Choose enough time to check the item properly: a domain transfer may need 1–2 days, a car may need 3–5 days including a mechanic's check.
If something goes wrong
Either party can open a dispute during the inspection period. We pause the transaction, ask both sides for evidence (photos, messages, tracking data) and look for a fair solution. If there's no agreement, our team decides based on the transaction terms and our Dispute Policy — for example, the item is returned and the buyer refunded, or the funds are released to the seller.
Read the Dispute & Refund PolicyTransaction statuses explained
- Awaiting agreement
- The transaction has been created and is waiting for the other party to accept the terms.
- Awaiting payment
- Both parties agreed. The buyer now sends the payment to the escrow account.
- Funds secured
- We've received the payment. The seller can safely deliver.
- Inspection
- The item has been delivered. The buyer is checking it during the inspection period.
- Accepted — releasing funds
- The buyer accepted the delivery. The funds are being released to the seller.
- Completed
- The seller has been paid. The deal is closed.
- In dispute
- A problem was reported. Funds are frozen while we help resolve it.
- Refunded
- The deal was reversed and the buyer received a refund.
- Cancelled
- The transaction was cancelled before completion.
Make your next deal the safe one.
Create a free account in a minute and invite the other party.