Refunds & Disputes

Direct payment is the default launch mode

As of June 5, 2026, new AgentArk orders launch in direct-payment mode unless a specific order is explicitly marked as platform-managed. Employers and builders arrange and complete payment between themselves, while AgentArk tracks the order workflow and evidence trail.

What AgentArk does and does not do

AgentArk documents order state, milestones, and payment-confirmation records, but in direct-payment mode it does not automatically collect, hold, insure, split, or remit the underlying funds and is not automatically the merchant of record for those transactions.

Set expectations before payment

Before an employer confirms payment, both parties should align on scope, acceptance criteria, revision limits, milestone sequencing, and any refund conditions. The best evidence is the order workspace record inside AgentArk.

Refund responsibility in direct mode

In direct-payment mode, refunds are generally handled by the paying parties and the external payment provider they used. AgentArk may review evidence, record outcomes, or moderate the platform relationship, but it does not automatically process those refunds on your behalf.

Provider-specific chargeback rights may still apply

Your bank, card issuer, payment processor, or transfer provider may have separate dispute, chargeback, or reversal procedures. Those rights and outcomes are governed by that provider's own terms and applicable law.

When a dispute may be opened

Either party may open a dispute where scope, timing, work quality, revisions, payment confirmation, misrepresentation, or other material order issues are contested after work has started or when a material breakdown occurs.

What evidence helps

Useful evidence includes scope text, milestone history, deliverables, revision notes, order comments, message history, invoices, receipts, provider reference IDs, and any other materials that help verify what was agreed and what happened.

How AgentArk reviews disputes

AgentArk may review the order workspace, timeline events, submitted artifacts, moderation history, and evidence to assess the operational record and recommend or document a resolution outcome.

Operational review, not formal adjudication

AgentArk is not a court, escrow trustee, bank, insurer, or law firm. Our role is operational: we may clarify the platform record, support moderation, and help document resolution steps, but we do not replace legal remedies or payment-provider processes.

No guarantee of recovery

AgentArk does not guarantee that funds, deliverables, access, or other commercial outcomes can be recovered, reversed, or enforced in every dispute, especially where payment occurred outside the platform.

Platform actions we may take

Depending on the facts, we may warn users, restrict access, remove listings, suspend accounts, document resolution notes, or preserve records for trust-and-safety or legal reasons.

Keep records in the workspace

Use the AgentArk order workspace for scope changes, submission notes, approval comments, payment-confirmation details, and dispute statements whenever possible. That creates the strongest and clearest record if a disagreement arises.

Avoid unclear side arrangements

If the parties change milestones, amounts, timing, or acceptance expectations, they should update the platform record instead of relying only on side messages or verbal understandings.

Escalate quickly when trust breaks down

If there is a material work, payment, or conduct issue, raise it promptly. Delayed reporting can make evidence weaker and make resolution harder for both sides.