Can You Cancel a RahaKaitse Deposit? What to Know

Plans change — a buyer might change their mind, or a seller might no longer be able to fulfill an order. Here's how cancellation fits into the RahaKaitse escrow process.

Before the seller has shipped

If both buyer and seller agree to cancel before the item has been shipped or the service has begun, this is the simplest scenario — since nothing has changed hands yet, the deposit can typically be returned to the buyer once both sides confirm the cancellation.

After the seller has shipped

Once a seller has shipped an item or begun a service on the understanding that payment is secured, cancellation becomes more complex, since the seller has already acted in good faith based on the deposit. At this point, resolving the situation usually depends on the specific circumstances — whether the item can reasonably be returned, who bears any shipping costs already incurred, and whether both sides can still agree on a fair outcome.

What to do if you need to cancel

• Communicate as early as possible — the earlier a cancellation is raised, the simpler it usually is to resolve fairly.
• Keep the conversation in Kaubaplats messaging so there's a clear record of what was agreed.
• If the other party isn't responsive or won't agree to a reasonable cancellation, this can be raised as a dispute for review rather than being left unresolved.

Why this is still safer than an unprotected payment

Even in a cancellation scenario, having funds held neutrally in the smart contract — rather than already sitting in someone's personal account — makes reaching a fair outcome far more straightforward than trying to claw back a direct bank transfer or cash payment after the fact.