“I ordered a gig from a freelancer on Fiverr; I’m not satisfied, how do I make Fiverr refund my money?” This statement and those similar to it are actually a common occurrence on the freelance gig giant Fiverr.
Fiverr is a great platform for freelancers to source gigs and earn cash. It’s also equally an awesome platform for buyers of such services to get their job done with ease and for a relatively reasonable price.
For more information on how you can use Fiverr to make money, check out our article by >>clicking here<<.
But as it is with every freelancing platform, users are bound to hit a snag from time to time. As stated earlier, Fiverr connects freelancers with people in search of the services freelancers provide. As with any business dealings, a breakdown could occur. From a dissatisfied buyer to a disgruntled seller, the list is endless.
The fact that unsuspecting sellers and buyers alike can be scammed by one another is another reason that necessitates a refund. Refer to our list on some pretty popular Fiverr scams out there.
To minimize the loss on both the part of the seller and the buyer, Fiverr implemented a Fiverr refund policy.
Fiver Refund Policy
The Fiverr refund policy was enacted to act as a safeguard measure to help minimize loss of funds due to any number of reasons. Below is an extract from the refund policy on Payment Terms and Conditions:
- “Fiverr does not automatically refund payments made for canceled orders back to your payment provider. Funds from order cancellations are refunded to the buyer’s balance as credit and are available for future purchases on Fiverr. Funds returned to your balance from canceled orders will not include service fees paid.”
- “Deposit refunds, when available from the payment provider, can be performed by our Customer Support team. To prevent fraud and abuse, we limit the total amount of times users can request a payment provider refund from their account which is subject to review by our Customer Support team. Such refunds may be subject to an additional fee. If any service fees were added at the time of purchase to create a new order, the service fees from that payment will not be refunded along with your deposit.”
From Fiverr’s Payment Terms and Conditions, a buyer is open to get a refund if an order is canceled for reasons such as: not receiving the service, receiving a service not as described on the Gig Page, or for any fraudulent conduct.
While Fiverr refund policy assures its clients that they will get their money back, it explicitly states that service fees charged already won’t be returned. So while users get their money back, they will still lose a fraction of it; 20%. Talk about half loaf is better than none!
One final note, it’s totally up to the Fiverr support team to decide whether or not you will get your refund in the first place.
Criteria for Getting a Refund
Not just anyone can request a refund. To request a refund, the conditions preceding such request must satisfy Fiverr’s criteria.
Users have the window to cancel an order:
- When it is active
- Within 3 days from completion
- Under special circumstances, when Fiverr deems it necessary.
Fiverr encourages its buyers and sellers to settle all discrepancies mutually via the Resolution Centre before approaching Customer Support with your case.
Users only qualify for a refund if the seller:
- Fails to deliver the work agreed upon
- Abuses the delivery system to extend the delivery due date
- Requests additional payments by shifting the delivery of service
- Does not respond for over 24 hours after the order is marked as Late
- Withholds the service delivery for improved ratings
If you satisfy any of the above-listed conditions, then you are eligible for a refund and can proceed to the next step which is actually getting the refund.
It’s easy to get tempted to want to cancel an order based on the quality of work rendered. Think again as Fiverr’s TOS clearly states that “Orders are not eligible to be canceled based on the quality of service or materials delivered by the seller if the service was rendered as described in the Gig page. Buyers may rate their experience with the seller on the order page, including the overall level of service quality received”.
Getting Refund on Fiverr
If you want to request a cancellation refund on Fiverr, there two ways to get Fiverr to help you with that:
The Resolution Center
To request for a refund through the Resolution Center, you will have to contact your seller about your order’s cancellation and you both come to a resolution that is agreeable to both parties. To achieve this, follow this simple 6 step guide:
- Log in to your Fiverr account
- Select the order you want to cancel
- Tap the Visit the Resolution Center button
- Select Ask the seller to cancel this order
- Choose one of the dispute reasons and explain your request in detail
- Click on Send
In an instance where the seller refuses and offers to modify the work, you can choose to either accept or decline as well. Should the seller not respond in 48 hours, your order will be automatically canceled and you get a refund!
Customer Support
To request a refund via customer Support, then your order must have been marked as completed. For more on this, see our article on Fiverr scams to avoid.
If your order is marked as completed, you will no longer have access to the Resolution Center, but you will be able to contact the Customer Support team and request a cancellation refund by providing sufficient evidence to justify such cancellation.
Where will Fiverr Send my Refund?
Fiverr automatically sends your refund to your Fiverr balance, so that you can use it for another purchase. Many businesses give refunds in the form of “store credit” and Fiverr does exactly the same. This is because most buyers still need the service, so they can use the credit to buy said service from another seller.
If you don’t want your refund added to your Fiverr balance, you can request that the refund be redirected to the original payment method used.
It’s important to note that Fiverr has placed a limit on the number of times a user can request a refund to be paid to the payment provider used. This was implemented to stop abuse, fraud and as such, a refund done in this manner might attract additional fees.
How long does it take to receive a direct refund?
According to Fiverr, “Refunds made to PayPal are usually completed within 24 hours of the request being processed by Customer Support”. While “Refunds made to Credit Cards take longer due to card processing times on the issuer’s end”.
Usually, credit card refunds are completed within 7 to 10 days of the request being processed by Customer Support. However, it can take up to two weeks, in extreme cases.
Some FAQs about Fiverr Refund
Some other frequently asked question include:
- Does Fiverr Enable Partial Refunds?
The answer to this is NO. Partial refunds are not an option on Fiverr.
- How can I check if I Received My Refund?
This is very easy to accomplish. Users will see their credit balance next to their profile picture in their Fiverr account.
- Can My Fiverr Refund Be Made to a Different Payment Method?
No. Besides crediting a refund to your Fiverr balance, Fiverr can only issue your refund back to the original payment method you used for the purchase.
- If I Paid My Order With a Different Currency, Will My Refund Be Made in That Currency?
Yes. If you use a currency other than USD for your purchase, Fiverr will process your refund in that currency.
Tips on how to Avoid Cancellation and Refund Order on Fiverr
While these tips won’t necessarily eliminate the need for refunds, they are sure to help you reduce the need for them. So try them out and improve your experience on Fiverr.
As a Seller
- Always state clearly in the description the work you do exactly.
- In the instructions area, request buyers to be reasonable and only place orders that match your work description.
- Ask the buyer to be polite and patient.
- Offer feedbacks during work on the order.
As a Buyer
- Always read the seller’s work description, reviews as well as negative reviews.
- Don’t always choose the cheapest seller.
- Carefully detail the work you want to be done.
- Should the need arise for revision, politely point out the areas you are dissatisfied with and suggest a correction
Conclusion
Fiverr provides a global online market for freelance services also known as Gigs. This simply means that buyers of service can connect with a seller from any part of the world. The platform has a wide range of service categories to meet the needs of most potential service buyers and earn sellers the extra cash for their expertise.
With that said disputes and disagreements are bound to occur and in such cases, a refund is necessary. Fiverr offers this refund as a means of protecting both seller and buyer’s interest. Users are advised to pay attention before making or receiving orders so as to avoid any potential conflict. If all else fails, they should make good use of the Fiverr refund policy.
