Escrow payment explained: how your money is protected on Buyam Sellam
"Escrow" sounds technical, but the idea is simple: a neutral party holds the money during a sale, so that neither the buyer nor the seller has to trust the other blindly. The buyer knows the seller can't take the money and disappear. The seller knows the money is real and already paid.
Here is exactly how it works on Buyam Sellam.
Step by step
- You order and pay with MTN Mobile Money or Orange Money by confirming the prompt on your phone.
- Buyam Sellam holds your payment. The seller sees that the order is paid, but does not receive the money yet.
- The seller prepares your order and arranges delivery with you through the chat, then on WhatsApp once you have paid.
- You receive the item and check it.
- You confirm delivery on your order page. Only now is the seller paid, minus Buyam Sellam's 5% commission.
What if I forget to confirm?
So that honest sellers are not left waiting forever, an order is confirmed automatically 5 days after the seller marks it as shipped if the buyer has not reported a problem. If something is wrong, report it before then.
What if there is a problem?
Use "Report a problem" on your order page before confirming: for example if the item never arrived, is damaged or is not what you ordered. While the problem is open, the payment is not released. The Buyam Sellam team looks at the order, the chat and any photos, and resolves it with the buyer and the seller — including refunding the buyer when the order clearly went wrong.
Important: once you confirm delivery, the payment is released and cannot be reversed. Always check before confirming.
Why sellers benefit too
- No more fake "money received" SMS: the order shows as paid only when the payment is really received.
- Buyers who were afraid of paying strangers are more willing to order.
- A clear record of each order in case of disagreement.
Frequently asked questions
Does escrow cost the buyer extra?
No. Buyers pay the listed price plus any delivery fee shown at checkout. Buyam Sellam's 5% commission is taken from the seller's payout.
How long does the seller wait to be paid?
Until the buyer confirms delivery, or at most 5 days after the order is marked as shipped if no problem is reported.