Guide
Escrow chat: what it is and how Sika does it
Escrow means a neutral party holds the money until both sides have done what they promised. Escrow chat puts that inside the conversation where the deal was made.
The idea in four steps
- Agree in the chat. The buyer and seller talk as they normally would, then the seller sends an order card with the items, price and delivery details.
- The buyer pays into a hold. Where payment protection is available, the payment goes to a licensed payment partner and is held. The seller can see it is there, but cannot take it yet.
- The seller delivers and records it. The seller marks the order shipped and can add the courier, tracking number, expected day and photos of the parcel.
- The buyer confirms, and the money is released. If the buyer says all is well, the seller is paid in full. If not, either side can raise a dispute.
Why inside the chat
Deals fall apart in the gaps: the price was agreed in one app, the address in another, the payment in a third. An order card keeps the price, the steps and the deadlines next to the conversation. Everyone sees the same state, and the history is there if something goes wrong.
Who holds the money
Sika does not hold money. Payments go through licensed payment partners such as Flutterwave. Sika keeps the order's state: who the parties are, the amount, which step it is on, and the delivery record.
Disputes
If the buyer and seller disagree, either can open a dispute from the order card. Photos you choose to share are locked on your phone so that only Sika's reviewer can open them. The reviewer decides from the order record and what both sides shared.
Limits
Sika is in early access. Protected orders are available where Sika has switched them on, and the app shows it when you create an order. Escrow lowers risk. It does not replace asking questions before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is escrow in simple words?
A third party holds the buyer's money until the goods arrive, so the buyer does not pay and hope, and the seller knows the money is real before shipping.
Who pays the fee?
The buyer pays a small Sika fee on top of the price, so the seller receives the full amount. Business Pro sellers lower it for their buyers.
Can the seller take the money before I confirm?
No. The payment is held until you confirm delivery or a dispute is decided.
Try it
Sika is in early access and runs on Android 7 and later. Download Sika, or read how we protect your chats on the Security page. More help is in the Help Centre.