Chargeback Policy
ReefnBid is built on a simple principle: "trust is non-negotiable."
A healthy marketplace depends on accountability from both buyers and sellers. Our platform is designed to resolve issues within ReefnBid, through Dispute Management, before escalating externally.
Chargebacks Are a Last Resort
A chargeback should "not" be the first step in resolving an issue. Dispute Management gives you a clear path to make it right first. Only if the issue can't be resolved on the platform should your card's standard chargeback protection apply.
Buyers are required to:
- Communicate with the seller through ReefnBid Messenger or email;
- Attempt to resolve the issue directly;
- Escalate the issue within Dispute Management if communication with the seller breaks down
Dispute Management protects you, and protects honest sellers too
You're fully protected here. If an order goes wrong, opening an issue gets you a refund, a reshipment, or a credit, with ReefnBid stepping in if the seller won't make it right, so you rarely need a chargeback at all. Going straight to your bank instead has a hidden cost: it lands hardest on the honest sellers who would have gladly fixed things, hitting them with non-refundable fees and a higher chargeback ratio that can threaten their ability to sell, even when they did nothing wrong. Escalate on Dispute Management gets you the same protection while keeping good sellers in good standing.
Misuse of chargebacks and account standing
Dispute Management protects both buyers and sellers. Filing a chargeback to bypass Dispute Management undermines that protection. If you have a problem with an order, open an issue first and we'll make it right. Misuse of chargebacks without going through Dispute Management can result in account suspension.
Chargebacks are misuse of the platform when filed:
- Without any prior communication with the seller
- Without attempting resolution through ReefnBid
- While an internal dispute is still in progress
- As repeated or patterned behavior across orders
ReefnBid reserves the right to act to protect buyers and sellers and maintain marketplace integrity.
When Chargebacks Are Appropriate
Chargebacks may be appropriate only when:
- The seller is completely unresponsive
- Internal dispute resolution has failed
- There is clear fraud or unauthorized activity
Even then, buyers are strongly encouraged to notify ReefnBid first.
Final Note
ReefnBid is designed so that "trust is enforced through structure, not assumption." Chargebacks should remain a "last resort, not a standard practice."