Terms of Service

Safehold Canada ("Safehold," "we," "us") is a payment holding and dispute resolution service for private sales between individuals, including sales conducted through Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, and similar platforms, and private used vehicle sales. Safehold is not a bank, trust company, or licensed escrow agent.

Funds are held by our outside payment processor, Stripe, and are released or refunded based on confirmation by both parties or, if a dispute is raised, a decision by a Safehold reviewer.

Safehold is currently offered as a new, developing service. Features, pricing, and processes described here may change as the service develops.

You must be at least 18 years old and legally able to enter into contracts in your province or territory of residence to use Safehold. By creating a hold or accepting an invitation to one, you confirm that this is true.

One party opens a hold, providing the listing details, agreed price, and the other party's email address. Both parties confirm the details are accurate before payment is accepted.

The buyer pays the agreed price plus the Safehold fee. Funds are authorized and held by Stripe on Safehold's behalf and are not released to the seller at this stage.

After the item or vehicle changes hands, the buyer confirms the handoff matched what was agreed, or a party raises a dispute. If no dispute is raised, either party can release the funds to the seller.

If a dispute is raised, the hold is frozen and a Safehold reviewer decides, based on the information and evidence both sides provide, whether to release the funds to the seller or refund the buyer.

Current fees are 2.5% plus $2 for general marketplace items, and 1.25% (minimum $45) for private vehicle sales. Fees are shown before payment and are paid by the buyer. Fees may change; the fee shown at the time you fund a hold is the fee that applies.

You agree to provide accurate information about the item or vehicle being sold, to communicate honestly with the other party and with Safehold reviewers, and not to use Safehold for anything illegal, fraudulent, or for items Safehold does not support.

If a dispute is raised, both parties may submit evidence and messages, which are visible to each other and to the reviewer. The reviewer's decision to release or refund is final for the purposes of the hold, though this does not affect any other legal rights either party may have.

Safehold facilitates and reviews private transactions between buyers and sellers but does not inspect items in person, guarantee their condition, or verify the identity of either party beyond what is described elsewhere in these terms. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Safehold is not liable for losses arising from a transaction between users, beyond the funds actually held in a given hold.

We may update these terms as the service develops. Continued use of Safehold after changes take effect means you accept the updated terms.

These terms are governed by the laws of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable in Ontario.

Questions about these terms can be sent to help@safeholdca.com.