Why was my card charged when the task hasn't started?

At Airtasker, we utilize a secure escrow system called Airtasker Pay, powered by Stripe, our trusted payment provider. Our payment system is designed to ensure fairness, peace of mind, and secure transactions for all users.

Here's how it works:

1. When you assign a Tasker, the payment is immediately deducted from your card. The funds are securely held in an escrow account with Stripe while the task is in progress.
2. Once the Tasker completes the task, they will request payment, and you will receive a notification confirming their completion.
3. If you are satisfied with the task outcome, you can release the payment, which will then be transferred to the Tasker's nominated account within 3-5 business days.
4. If you are dissatisfied with the task completion, our free Dispute Resolution Service allows you to negotiate with the Tasker. During a dispute, the payment remains in escrow until it is finalized. 

This process also benefits Taskers, as they can be confident that the payment is securely held until they complete the task.

In the event of a task cancellation, the funds held in escrow can be refunded to your card or converted into Airtasker credit for future tasks, depending on your preference. For more details on refunds, please refer here.