Effective Date: 21 August 2026 Last Updated: 21 August 2026

These Payment and Refund Terms govern how fees are charged, how funds are held or transmitted, and how refunds and cancellations are handled across all engagements on the Engineer Hut Platform. These Terms are incorporated into, and should be read together with, the Terms of Service.

Important note for internal/legal review: Engineer Hut uses two different payment paths depending on the engagement (see Sections 2 and 3). Where Engineer Hut or any affiliated entity holds Client funds on behalf of an Engineer before work is approved (“escrow-style” holding), this may be subject to money transmission, safeguarding, or trust-account regulations in the jurisdictions where Engineer Hut, its Clients, or its Engineers are located. This document describes the intended commercial arrangement; it should be confirmed against actual banking/payment infrastructure and reviewed by counsel before publication, and updated to name the actual licensed payment processor or account structure used to hold funds.

1. Overview of Payment Models

Engineer Hut supports two payment paths, used depending on the engagement type and project agreement:

• Direct Invoice Path: The Client is invoiced and pays Engineer Hut (for Managed Engagements) or the Engineer (for Direct-Hire Engagements) directly, upfront or on agreed terms, without funds being held by Engineer Hut pending milestone approval.
• Escrow-Style Milestone Path: For applicable Direct-Hire and certain Managed Engagements, the Client’s payment for a milestone is placed into a designated holding account before work begins, and is released to the Engineer or Engineer Hut upon Client approval of the milestone, subject to Section 3.

The applicable path for a given engagement will be specified at the time the project agreement is created.

2. Direct Invoice / Pay-as-You-Go Path

Under this path, Engineer Hut or the Engineer issues an invoice to the Client according to the agreed schedule (e.g., upfront deposit plus milestone invoices, or monthly billing). Payment is due within the period stated on the invoice (default: [14 days]) unless otherwise agreed. Funds are paid directly to the recipient’s account and are not held by Engineer Hut pending approval. Because funds are not held in escrow under this path, refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis per Section 10 and any dispute is resolved through direct negotiation, supported by Engineer Hut where it is a party to the engagement.

3. Escrow-Style Milestone Holding Path

For engagements using this path, the Client deposits funds for an agreed milestone into a designated holding account prior to work commencing on that milestone. Held funds are released to the Engineer or Engineer Hut, as applicable, once:

(a) the Client approves the milestone deliverable; or (b) the applicable review period specified in the project agreement expires without objection; or (c) a dispute regarding the milestone is resolved in accordance with Section 11.

Engineer Hut does not use held funds for its own operating purposes prior to release and will maintain records of amounts held per engagement. Where legally required, held funds are maintained through a licensed payment processor or in a separately designated account rather than commingled with Engineer Hut’s general operating funds. [To be finalized with the specific processor/account structure used.]

4. Hourly Billing and Timesheets

For hourly engagements, the Engineer records time worked through the Platform or an agreed timesheet method. Clients are expected to review and approve timesheets within the agreed review period (default: [7 days]); timesheets not disputed within that period are deemed approved. Approved hours are invoiced or released according to the payment path applicable to the engagement.

5. Fixed-Price Milestone Payments

For fixed-price engagements, the total project fee is divided into milestones agreed in advance. Each milestone is invoiced or funded, delivered, reviewed, and released (or paid) individually, following the process in Section 2 or 3 as applicable to that engagement.

6. Fees and Service Charges

Engineer Hut may charge a service fee, platform fee, or commission on transactions processed through the Platform, particularly for Direct-Hire Engagements. Applicable fee rates will be disclosed before a Client or Engineer commits to a payment method or contract, and any changes to standard fee rates will be communicated with reasonable advance notice. Fees are non-refundable once a transaction has been processed, except as required by law or expressly stated in these Terms.

7. Payment Methods and Authorization

Engineer Hut accepts payment via the methods made available on the Platform, which may include credit/debit card, ACH transfer, wire transfer, or other processor-supported methods. By submitting payment information, you authorize Engineer Hut and its payment processor(s) to charge the applicable amounts, including recurring or milestone-based charges you have approved, to your designated payment method. You are responsible for ensuring sufficient funds or credit are available and for keeping payment information current.

8. Currency, Taxes, and Withholding

Unless otherwise stated, fees are quoted and charged in [USD/local currency]. Each party is responsible for its own applicable taxes, including sales tax, VAT/GST, and withholding tax, except where Engineer Hut is legally required to collect or withhold tax, in which case it will do so and disclose this on the relevant invoice.

9. Late Payment and Suspension

Invoices not paid by the due date may accrue late fees or interest where permitted by law and disclosed in advance, and may result in suspension of active work or Platform access until payment is resolved. Engineer Hut may engage collection processes for significantly overdue amounts.

10. Refunds and Cancellations

Refund eligibility depends on the stage of the project and resources already committed:

• Before work begins: Projects cancelled prior to any work starting may qualify for a refund of amounts paid, less any non-recoverable planning, evaluation, or processing costs already incurred.
• After work has started: Amounts corresponding to work already performed or resources already committed are generally non-refundable. Amounts paid for milestones not yet started may be refunded at Engineer Hut’s discretion, less applicable fees.
• Held/escrow funds: Where funds are held under the Escrow-Style Milestone Path and a project is cancelled before a milestone is approved, held funds for that unstarted or incomplete milestone are handled per the dispute and release process in Section 11, rather than the deemed-approval process in Section 3.

Specific refund terms may be varied by a signed project agreement, which will control over this general policy where they conflict.

11. Payment Disputes and Chargebacks

If a Client disputes a milestone, invoice, or the quality of work, the parties agree to first attempt resolution directly, with Engineer Hut mediating where it is a party to or facilitator of the engagement. For held funds under the Escrow-Style Milestone Path, disputed amounts remain held pending resolution and are not released to either party unilaterally. Initiating a card chargeback or bank dispute without first attempting resolution through this process may result in suspension of Platform access pending investigation. Engineer Hut reserves the right to provide transaction records and correspondence to payment processors or card issuers investigating a dispute.

12. Bonuses and Additional Payments

Clients may offer discretionary bonus payments to Engineers through the Platform in addition to agreed fees. Such payments are subject to the same fee and processing terms as other payments under the applicable payment path and are non-refundable once released.

13. Release of Held Funds

Funds released from a designated holding account under Section 3 are transferred to the recipient’s designated payout method, subject to standard payment processing times and any applicable payout fees. Engineer Hut is not responsible for delays caused by third-party banking or payment processing systems.

14. Record-Keeping

Engineer Hut maintains records of invoices, payments, held funds, and releases associated with each engagement, and will make relevant records available to the applicable Client or Engineer upon reasonable request, and to regulators or courts where legally required.

15. Changes to This Policy

Engineer Hut may update these Payment and Refund Terms from time to time. Material changes will be posted with an updated “Last Updated” date and, where required, communicated to affected Users. Changes do not apply retroactively to funds already held or invoices already issued under prior terms, unless required by law.

16. Contact

Questions regarding these Terms may be directed to contact@engineerhut.com or through the official contact channels listed at https://engineerhut.com/contact/.