Buyer Protection Fee

What does the fee pay for?

The buyer protection fee covers the cost of running REEQIP's buyer-side guarantees:

• Holding your payment safely in escrow until the seller has shipped and you've confirmed receipt. If you take no action, funds release automatically 4 days after confirmed delivery — giving you a full window to check the item before payment moves.
• Mediating disputes if your item never arrives, arrives damaged, or isn't as described
• Processing refunds and return labels when a claim is upheld
• Identity-verifying sellers before payouts settle so the platform stays clean

How is it calculated?

The fee is £0.30 plus 8% of the item price. You'll see the exact amount on the checkout page and on your order confirmation — there are no hidden charges added later.

Postage is shown separately and is charged at cost. The seller's commission to REEQIP is taken from the seller's side, not yours.

Is the fee refunded when an order is refunded?

This is the same model used by major marketplaces (eBay, Vinted, Depop, etc.) and is how the buyer protection guarantee stays viable across thousands of orders. Without it we couldn't offer the guarantee at all.

One exception: if your payment never actually completed (for example, the seller failed to ship and we voided the authorisation before any money moved), there's nothing to retain and you get the full amount back automatically.

What you'll see on a refund

Your refund email will show two lines:

• Refunded to your payment method — the product price + postage, returned to the card or wallet you used.
• Buyer protection fee retained — the small fee, kept by REEQIP.

Funds typically appear back on your statement within 3–5 business days, depending on your bank.

See also

• Full REEQIP Protection Policy — the broader rights and obligations for buyers and sellers
• Frequently asked questions