How Payments Work
💰 Real Example: $300 Fishing Trip
🔍 Complete Transparency
- • Stripe Processing Fee: Industry standard 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (goes to Stripe, not us)
- • Fish Roulette Fee: Flat $20 per trip for platform services, support, and features
- • Total Cost: $29 on a $300 trip (9.7%) vs competitors who charge 10-20% commission alone
💡 The higher your trip price, the more you save! A $500 trip = $34.80 total fees (7%) vs $50-100 with percentage-based platforms.
How Fish Roulette Payments Work
We hold funds securely until your trip is completed and verified, ensuring everyone is protected.
💳 For Co-Anglers
- Pay upfront when booking
- Your funds are held securely by Stripe
- If trip is cancelled, you get a full refund
- Payment protection for 48 hours after trip
🎣 For Captains
- Receive payment 48 hours after trip completion
- Platform fee: $20 per trip (fixed)
- Stripe processing: 2.9% + $0.30 (industry standard)
- Automatic transfer to your bank account
🛡️ Protection Period
The 48-hour hold protects both parties. If any issues arise with the trip, we can help resolve disputes before funds are transferred.
💵 Where Does Your Money Go?
Your card is authorized (not charged) until captain approves. Once approved, funds are held securely in escrow until the trip is verified complete. Captains receive earnings automatically after the verification period.
📅 Payment Timeline
Why Captains Love Fish Roulette
Transparent Fee Structure
Flat $20 platform fee + Stripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee. Total cost on a $300 trip: $29.
Note: You pay the processing fees. This is industry standard - captains are responsible for payment processing costs on funds they receive.
You're Protected
Payment is guaranteed before the trip. If a customer cancels last minute, you're covered by their booking deposit.
Fast, Automatic Payouts
Money hits your bank account automatically 48 hours after each trip. No invoices, no chasing payments.
Payment Security
We handle all payment processing through Stripe. Your customers' information is secure, and you get paid reliably.
Why Co-Anglers Trust Fish Roulette
Your Money is Protected
We hold your payment until the trip is complete. If something goes wrong, we're here to help resolve it fairly.
Secure Payments
Your credit card information is processed through Stripe, one of the world's most trusted payment platforms.
Clear Communication
Get instant receipts and booking confirmations. Track your upcoming trips and payment history all in one place.
Book with Confidence
Our cancellation policies are clear upfront. Know exactly what to expect before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you hold funds for 48 hours?
The 48-hour verification period protects both captains and co-anglers. It allows time to ensure the trip was completed as agreed and gives both parties time to raise any concerns.
What are the fees?
We believe in complete transparency. Here's the breakdown:
- Stripe Processing: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (industry standard, goes directly to Stripe for payment processing)
- Fish Roulette Platform Fee: Flat $20 per trip for customer support, platform features, and maintenance
- Total Example: On a $300 trip, total fees are $29 (9.7%) vs competitors who charge 10-20% commission plus their own processing fees
No hidden fees. No surprises. Just honest, transparent pricing.
When do captains get paid?
Captain earnings follow a secure escrow timeline:
- Booking: Customer's card is authorized (hold placed, not charged)
- Approval: When captain approves, payment is captured and held in Fish Roulette's escrow account
- Trip Completion: Fishing trip happens successfully
- 48-Hour Hold AFTER Trip: Verification period starting from trip completion to ensure quality and allow dispute resolution
- Automatic Transfer: 48 hours after trip ends, funds transferred to captain's Stripe account
- Bank Payout: Arrives in captain's bank within 1-2 business days
Total timeline: For first-time captains, expect 5-9 days from booking to bank payout (includes Stripe's clearing period). Established captains with regular activity typically receive payouts in 4-5 days.
This escrow system protects both parties and ensures captains only receive payment for completed trips.
What if I need to cancel?
We have clear cancellation policies that protect both captains and co-anglers:
If a Co-Angler Cancels:
- 7+ days before trip: Full refund minus $10 processing fee
- 3-7 days before trip: 50% refund (captain compensated for blocked calendar)
- Less than 3 days: No refund (captain's time is valuable)
- Weather exceptions: Full refund if conditions are unsafe (verified by captain)
If a Captain Rejects Before Approval:
- No cost to captain: Authorization canceled, no charge occurs
- Co-angler protected: Card hold released immediately, no fees
- Encouraged practice: Only approve trips you can fulfill
If a Captain Cancels After Approval:
- Co-angler gets 100% refund - always, no exceptions
- Captain pays processing fees only: Stripe fees (2.9% + $0.30) deducted from next payout
- Example on $300 trip: $9 deducted from your next trip earnings
- Why only $9? You never received the $300 - we held it in escrow and returned it to customer
- All cancellations count: Even emergencies incur processing costs (Stripe doesn't refund fees)
- Pattern monitoring: Excessive cancellations may result in account review
⚠️ Important for Captains: When you approve a trip, the customer's payment is captured and held in Fish Roulette's escrow account (not yours). If you cancel after approval, we refund the customer from escrow. However, Stripe doesn't refund their processing fees ($9 on a $300 trip), so those costs are deducted from your next payout. Only approve trips you're confident you can complete.
💡 Note: All bookings initiated through Fish Roulette must be completed through the platform per our Terms of Service. This protects both parties with payment security, fishing trip verification, and dispute resolution.
Is my payment information secure?
Yes! We use Stripe, one of the world's most trusted payment processors. Fish Roulette never stores your credit card information directly.
What if I need to file a dispute about a trip?
Co-anglers have a 48-hour window AFTER trip completion to report any issues. During this time, funds are held in escrow by Fish Roulette and have NOT been transferred to the captain yet.
- Report issues immediately: Contact support within 48 hours of trip completion
- Payout pause: We can pause captain payouts while investigating
- Full refund capability: Funds are in escrow, so refunds are straightforward
- Fair resolution: Our team reviews evidence from both parties
- Quick response: Most disputes resolved within 24-48 hours
After 48 hours, if no disputes filed, captain receives payment. This protects both parties - captains know they'll get paid for good trips, co-anglers know they have recourse if something goes wrong.
💡 Important: Once the 48-hour window closes and funds transfer to captain, disputes become more complex (requiring Stripe chargebacks). Always report issues promptly.
How does the captain get their money?
Captains connect their bank account through Stripe Connect during onboarding. Here's the payment flow:
- Escrow Period: Funds held by Fish Roulette until trip completion + 48 hours
- Fee Deductions: Stripe processing fees (2.9% + $0.30) automatically deducted
- Platform Fee: Flat $20 per trip deducted
- Debt Deductions: Any outstanding fees from previous cancellations deducted first
- Net Transfer: Remaining amount transferred to captain's Stripe account
- Bank Payout: Arrives in captain's bank within 1-2 business days
Captains receive a detailed breakdown with each payout showing gross earnings, fees, and net payment.
What is a payment authorization hold?
When you book a trip, we place an authorization hold on your card rather than charging it immediately. Here's what this means:
- Not a charge: Your card shows as "pending" but no money leaves your account
- 7-day window: Captain has 7 days to approve or reject your trip request
- If approved: Hold converts to actual charge, funds held in escrow
- If rejected: Hold canceled immediately, no charge occurs
- If expires: After 7 days without captain response, hold automatically releases
This protects both parties: captains only approve trips they can fulfill, and you're only charged for approved trips.
What if a captain tries to take a booking off-platform?
We take platform circumvention seriously because it hurts everyone. When bookings go off-platform:
- Co-anglers lose protection: No payment escrow, no dispute resolution, no verified reviews
- Captains lose credibility: Can't build verified reputation or get platform support
- Everyone loses trust: Our community depends on transparent, verified interactions
Per our Terms of Service, any booking relationship initiated through Fish Roulette must be completed through the platform. Violations result in immediate account suspension, forfeiture of funds, and potential legal action. Co-anglers who report circumvention attempts receive priority support and full protection.
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