Home|Escrow & Payment Terms

Escrow & Payment Terms

Last updated: January 29, 2026

SwapU Payment & Coordination Fee Terms

Version: 2.0
Last Updated: June 18, 2026
Effective Date: June 18, 2026

1. OVERVIEW

These Payment Terms govern the single fee SwapU charges — the coordination fee — and how it is authorised, captured, and refunded. By using SwapU's payment services, you agree to these terms in addition to our Terms of Service.

SwapU charges one fee only. SwapU does not hold, transfer, or escrow any cash exchanged between the swapping parties. Any cash adjustment the two parties agree on is paid directly between them — SwapU is not a party to it (see Section 4).

2. THE COORDINATION FEE

2.1 What it is

Amount: $100 AUD (inclusive of GST)
Who pays: The instigator (the party who starts the swap). The invitee pays nothing.
What it covers:

  • PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register) check coordination on both vehicles
  • Outreach and coordination between the two parties through to a verbal agreement
  • Assistance preparing the documents you will need (Swap Agreement, Bill of Sale, Odometer Declaration)
  • Timeline management and reminder coordination through to handover

The coordination fee is a fee for SwapU's coordination service. It is not a payment toward either vehicle, and it is not a valuation, inspection, or verification fee.

2.2 How it is authorised and captured

The coordination fee is $100 AUD (inclusive of GST). It is authorised on your card when you commit to coordinating a swap and is captured only once coordination proceeds — your card is not charged while the authorisation is pending. If the swap is marked as not proceeding within 2 days (48 hours) of the fee being captured, the fee is refundable less the 3% payment-processing fee, which you absorb; after that window the fee is non-refundable. In some cases where the other party withdraws after capture, SwapU may issue the amount as non-transferable SwapU account credit instead of a cash refund. SwapU never holds, transfers, or escrows any cash exchanged between the swapping parties — any cash adjustment you agree is paid directly between you.

In practice this means:

  1. You commit to coordinating the swap. We place a $100 authorisation on your card through Stripe. Your card is not charged at this point.
  2. Your swap partner has a 48-hour window to confirm the agreement or raise a concern. We send reminders during this window.
  3. If your partner raises a concern, or the window passes without confirmation, the authorisation is released. Your card is never charged — no fee, no processing cost. The swap returns to the swap room.
  4. If coordination proceeds, the $100 is captured and SwapU's coordination begins.

3. REFUNDS

3.1 Before capture

If the swap does not proceed before the fee is captured (you cancel, your partner raises a concern, or the 48-hour window lapses), the authorisation is released and you are not charged anything. There is no fee and no processing cost.

3.2 After capture — the 48-hour window

If the swap is marked as not proceeding within 2 days (48 hours) of the fee being captured, the fee is refundable less the 3% payment-processing fee, which you absorb. For example, a $100 fee returns approximately $97, with the ~$3 processing cost retained because the card networks do not return it to SwapU.

3.3 After the 48-hour window

Once 48 hours have passed since capture, the coordination fee is non-refundable, because the coordination service has been delivered.

3.4 Store credit alternative

Where the other party withdraws after capture, SwapU may, at its discretion, issue the amount as non-transferable SwapU account credit (valid for 3 years from the date granted) instead of a cash refund, so you can apply it to a future swap.

3.5 Goodwill and disputes

Nothing in this section limits your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. If you believe a charge is incorrect, contact billing@swapu.com.au within 14 days of the charge.

4. CASH BETWEEN THE PARTIES

Many swaps involve a cash adjustment where one vehicle is worth more than the other.

SwapU does NOT:

  • Hold, transfer, or escrow any cash exchanged between the two parties
  • Set, suggest, or calculate the cash-adjustment figure
  • Act as a party to any cash payment between the parties

You and your swap partner are responsible for:

  • Agreeing any cash adjustment between yourselves
  • Choosing how to settle it — for example, a direct bank transfer between you on swap day, or a third-party escrow service of your own choosing (such as escrow.com)

The only money SwapU handles is its own $100 coordination fee.

5. PAYMENT PROCESSING

5.1 Payment processor

The coordination fee is processed by Stripe (Stripe Payments Australia Pty Ltd), a third-party payment processor.

  • SwapU does NOT store your card details. All card information is handled by Stripe's PCI-compliant systems.
  • Payments are encrypted in transit, with 3D Secure authentication where required.
  • By paying, you also agree to Stripe's terms of service (stripe.com/legal).

5.2 Accepted payment methods

  • Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express)
  • Debit cards

5.3 Currency

All payments are in Australian Dollars (AUD).

6. TAXES

6.1 GST

The coordination fee of $100 AUD is inclusive of GST (10% Australian goods and services tax). The GST component is approximately $9.09.

6.2 Tax receipts

A tax invoice is emailed to the instigator after the fee is captured, and is available from your account.

6.3 Your tax responsibilities

You are responsible for any tax arising from your vehicle swap (for example, stamp duty on the transfer, or capital gains tax where it applies). SwapU does not provide tax advice, calculate your tax, or report transactions to the ATO unless legally required.

7. CHARGEBACKS

If you initiate a card chargeback on the coordination fee:

  • Your account may be suspended pending resolution.
  • SwapU will provide Stripe with a record of the coordination service delivered.
  • You remain responsible for any chargeback fees charged to SwapU by the card networks.

We would rather resolve any concern directly — contact billing@swapu.com.au before raising a chargeback.

8. PRICING CHANGES

SwapU may change the coordination fee with 30 days' notice (by email and a notice on the platform). The fee that applied when you committed to a swap continues to apply to that swap.

9. PAYMENT FAILURES

If the authorisation or capture fails (for example, insufficient funds or an expired card), we will notify you and ask you to update your payment method. Coordination cannot begin until the fee is successfully captured.

10. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the maximum extent permitted by Australian law, SwapU's liability in connection with the coordination fee is limited to the amount of that fee. Claims relating to card processing are subject to Stripe's terms. Nothing in these terms excludes rights that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law.

11. ACCEPTANCE

By committing to coordinate a swap and authorising the coordination fee, you acknowledge that:

✓ The coordination fee is $100 AUD (inclusive of GST)
✓ It is authorised on commit and captured once coordination proceeds
✓ It is refundable less the 3% processing fee if the swap is marked not proceeding within 48 hours of capture, and non-refundable after that window
✓ SwapU does not hold or escrow any cash exchanged between you and your swap partner
✓ You agree to Stripe's terms of service

12. CONTACT

Billing questions: billing@swapu.com.au
Disputes: dispute@swapu.com.au
General support: support@swapu.com.au

Response time: within 2 business days

END OF PAYMENT TERMS

These Payment Terms are a draft prepared for implementation and will be reviewed by a qualified lawyer before final public launch.