How protected payments work
Plain answers, no fine print.
Current status
Online Mobile Money protected payment through CinetPay is currently in pilot and coming soon. Until it opens, property transactions close through our direct verified cash closing: Xodus Habitat verifies the property and the parties before any money changes hands, and the closing is recorded on the platform. The steps below describe how protected payment works once online payment is available for your deal.
Which deals are protected
Only deals paid online through Xodus Habitat checkout are protected. Cash paid in person at a meetup is between you and the seller — we cannot hold or refund it.
Who holds the money
When you pay online, the money is collected by Xodus Habitat through our payment provider and held — the seller does not receive it straight away.
When it is released
The seller is paid after you confirm you received the item or service, minus the fee shown at checkout. Payouts to sellers are made by our team, not automatically.
If something goes wrong
Open a dispute on the deal before confirming. The money stays held while our team reviews the messages and proof photos from both sides, then decides to release it to the seller or refund you.