How are my payments protected?

MadeMay uses an escrow system to protect your payments throughout the entire project.

What is escrow?

When you pay for a project, the funds are not sent directly to the artisan. Instead, they are held securely by MadeMay through Stripe, our payment processor. The artisan knows the funds exist, but cannot access them until you approve their work.

How milestone payments work

Your total payment can be split across milestones. For example, a three-milestone project might release 30% at sketch approval, 30% at progress approval, and 40% at final delivery. Funds are released only when you approve each milestone.

What if something goes wrong?

If the artisan's work does not match what was agreed, you can open a dispute. Our team reviews all evidence including the original brief, milestone approvals, messages, and photos. Possible outcomes include full refund, partial refund, or a required revision.

The MadeMay Guarantee

Your payment is held securely until you approve. If something goes wrong, our team mediates to make it right. You are protected at every step. This is not a blanket money-back guarantee, but a commitment to fair mediation.

Is my payment information safe?

All payments are processed through Stripe, which is PCI Level 1 certified (the highest level of payment security). MadeMay never sees or stores your full card number.