Payment Method

To accept job referrals on Trusted Bench, you need a payment method on file. This card is used to pay tier fees when you accept jobs from other pros' networks. This page explains how to add your card, how payments work, and answers common questions.

Why You Need a Payment Method

When you accept a job referral, a tier fee is charged based on the job size. Your payment method is used to:

• Authorize funds when you accept a job (a hold is placed, not an immediate charge)
• Pay the tier fee once the 7-day hold period completes
• Protect the referral system by ensuring pros are committed to jobs they accept

Without a valid payment method, you cannot accept job referrals from other pros' networks.

Adding Your Payment Method

Setting up your payment method takes just a few minutes.

How to Add a Card

1. Go to Settings in your dashboard
2. Click the Payments tab
3. Find the Payment Method section
4. Click Add Card
5. Enter your card details in the secure form
6. Click Add Payment Method to save

Your card is securely stored with Stripe. Trusted Bench never sees or stores your full card number.

How Payment Authorization Works

When you accept a job referral, here's what happens with your payment method:

The Authorization Hold

1. You accept a job — An authorization hold is placed on your card for the tier fee amount
2. 7-day hold period — Funds are reserved but not charged during this time
3. Job progresses — You have time to confirm the job is real and moving forward
4. Automatic capture — After 7 days, the fee is collected from the held funds

When Holds Are Released

The authorization hold is cancelled (you're not charged) if:

• You mark the job as lost — The lead didn't convert or the client went elsewhere
• The job is cancelled — The owner cancelled the job before completion
• You're declined — The owner declined your acceptance of the job

This protects you from paying for jobs that don't work out.

For more details on the 7-day hold and fee structure, see Referral Fees.

Updating Your Payment Method

You can update your card at any time from your settings.

How to Update

1. Go to Settings → Payments tab
2. Find the Payment Method section (shows your current card)
3. Click Update
4. Enter your new card details
5. Click Add Payment Method to save

Your new card replaces the previous one immediately. Any future authorization holds will use the updated card.

Payment Security

Your payment information is protected by industry-leading security:

• Stripe handles everything — All card data is processed and stored by Stripe, a PCI-DSS Level 1 certified payment processor
• We never see your card — Trusted Bench cannot access your full card number, CVV, or sensitive details
• 3D Secure supported — Additional verification may be required by your bank for extra protection
• Encrypted transmission — All payment data is transmitted over secure, encrypted connections

Tier Fee Reference

The tier fee depends on the job size. Here's what you'll pay when accepting jobs:

The job tier is set by the owner when they create the job based on the scope of work. You can see the tier fee before accepting any job.

For the full breakdown of how fees work and where the money goes, see Referral Fees.

Troubleshooting

Card Declined During Setup

If your card is declined when adding it:

• Check card details — Verify the card number, expiration date, and CVV are correct
• Ensure funds are available — Some banks require a small authorization check
• Contact your bank — Your bank may be blocking the transaction for security
• Try a different card — Use an alternative credit or debit card

Card Declined When Accepting a Job

If your card fails when trying to accept a job:

• Update your payment method — Your card may have expired or been replaced
• Check available credit — Ensure you have sufficient funds or credit for the tier fee
• Contact your bank — Your bank may be blocking the authorization hold

Until you resolve the payment issue, you won't be able to accept job referrals.

Expired Card

If your card expires:

• You'll still see your old card in settings, but authorizations will fail
• Update to a new card before accepting your next job
• Any existing holds placed before expiration will still be processed normally

Related Documentation

• Referral Fees — How tier fees work and the 80/20 split
• Payouts — How owners receive their share of tier fees

FAQ

When am I actually charged?

You're charged 7 days after accepting a job, when the authorization hold is captured. If the job is marked as lost, cancelled, or declined before then, the hold is released and you're not charged.

Can I use a debit card?

Yes. You can use any Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover card—credit or debit. Just ensure your account has sufficient funds for the authorization hold.

What if my card expires?

You'll need to add a new card before accepting any new jobs. Go to Settings → Payments and click Update to add your new card details.

Can I have multiple payment methods?

Currently, Trusted Bench supports one payment method per account. When you add a new card, it replaces the previous one.

How do I remove my payment method?

To update to a different card, simply add a new one and it will replace the existing card. If you want to completely remove your payment method, you won't be able to accept job referrals until you add one again.

Is my card information safe?

Yes. All payment processing is handled by Stripe, a PCI-DSS Level 1 certified payment processor. Trusted Bench never sees or stores your full card number or CVV. Your data is encrypted and protected by industry-leading security standards.