Refunds and cancellations
Last updated: 7 September 2026
Two different things can be refunded on Bidding Star, and they work differently. This page covers both.
Money paid for an auction item
The organization running the auction decides. It received the payment, it is the merchant of record, and the refund is its call — not ours.
That is not us passing the buck. When you win an item, you buy it from the organization. We are the software the auction ran on.
If you need a refund
Contact the organization directly. Every auction page and every receipt carries its contact details. If you cannot reach it, email support@biddingstar.com and we will help you make contact.
When you should expect one
Most organizations will refund you if:
- The item was significantly not as described.
- The item cannot be provided — it was double-sold, withdrawn or lost.
- You were charged twice for the same item.
- The auction was cancelled before the item was handed over.
Most will not refund you simply because you changed your mind. A bid is a commitment, and a fundraiser plans around the total it raised.
How a refund is made
The organization issues it through Bidding Star, back to the card that paid. Expect it to reach your statement in 5–10 business days once issued, depending on your bank.
Partial refunds are not supported yet. A refund returns the full amount paid for that item.
Our 3% platform fee is returned to the organization when it refunds a payment, so a refund does not cost it our fee. Your card processor's own fee may not be returned — that is Stripe's policy, not ours.
Payments made offline
If you paid by cash, cheque or bank transfer, the money never went through us and we cannot return it. Ask the organization.
Chargebacks
If you dispute a charge with your bank rather than asking the organization first, the dispute goes to that organization, which has to respond to it and may be charged a fee by its bank whatever the outcome.
Please ask first. It is faster for you, and it does not cost a fundraiser money.
If you run an auction
You decide your own refund policy and you should say what it is before bidding starts — in the auction description is the right place.
You are responsible for honoring it, and for responding to chargebacks. Card networks give you a limited window to respond, so watch for the notification.
Issuing a refund returns our platform fee to you. You are not out of pocket on our side. Your processor may retain its own fee.
If you cancel an auction after bidding has started, refund anyone who has already paid. Tell them why. People forgive a cancelled fundraiser; they do not forgive silence about their money.
Bidding Star's own charges
The free tier is free, and there is nothing to refund.
Paid plans are not available yet. When they are, this section will state their cancellation and refund terms before anyone can buy one.
Contact
Verus Major 1814 Pasadena Dr Austin, Texas 78757 support@biddingstar.com