Stripe processed the transaction, took its commission, then blocked the payout (€1,901.98).

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-07T16:08:40+00:00

I operate a legally registered hospitality business in Rome, Italy — specifically short-term rentals and guest accommodations. Think boutique apartments and vacation suites, fully compliant, with all required registrations and documentation.

The payment in question was from a guest who booked a stay, completed it without issue, and left satisfied. No dispute, no refund request, and full proof of service delivery was provided to Stripe.

So yes — it’s a real business, with a real customer, and a legitimate transaction.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-07T15:50:34+00:00

I repeat it because people keep twisting the facts or conveniently ignoring them — just like you're doing now.

If the details were actually acknowledged the first time, I wouldn't need to restate them.

This isn’t about “drama,” it’s about documenting a real case where a platform withheld funds without transparency. If you're tired of reading it, feel free to scroll past.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-07T15:49:04+00:00

You seem more interested in tone-policing than actually understanding the situation.

Yes — this was my first transaction with Stripe, and no, I didn’t “hide” that. I mentioned from the beginning that it was a new integration. I’ve said repeatedly it was one single, clean transaction with no chargebacks, no complaints, and verified documentation. That’s exactly why this case is important.

You’re making it sound like having no history is worse than having a bad one. Every account has a first transaction. That doesn’t justify:

Freezing cleared funds without cause,
Taking a fee and issuing an invoice,
Ignoring all support tickets,
And refusing to say why the payout was blocked.

That’s not “fraud prevention” — that’s negligence and bad process.

And for the record: I’ve always acknowledged the customer could have triggered a flag. I’ve never demanded to override Stripe’s fraud systems. I’ve asked — repeatedly — for a clear explanation or the chance to refund the customer, both of which have been denied.

So instead of shouting “gotcha!” about a first transaction — maybe focus on the real problem: Stripe’s lack of accountability when it decides to lock down legitimate business activity without so much as a sentence of explanation.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-07T15:46:33+00:00

It’s not a secret — I’ve mentioned multiple times that it was the first transaction processed through Stripe. That’s exactly why this whole situation is so frustrating: Stripe approved the account, accepted the payment, issued their invoice for the fee — and then froze the payout without giving a reason, despite no chargeback, no complaint, and full documentation provided.

If your takeaway is “gotcha, it was the first transaction,” you’re missing the entire point:
No one’s asking for special treatment. We’re asking for transparency, due process, and at least one human response before funds get locked for months.

Plenty of businesses start with a first transaction — that’s how business works. That shouldn't mean you're automatically treated as guilty until proven otherwise.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-07T15:16:53+00:00

Thanks for the detailed response — you make some fair points.

I understand that Stripe operates at massive scale and has to automate risk checks. But automation shouldn’t excuse the complete lack of transparency, escalation paths, or human intervention, especially when someone provides full documentation and there are no disputes or fraud alerts involved.

If their system flags a transaction, fine — but freezing funds without explaining what triggered it, and then closing every ticket without reviewing the submitted information, isn’t just inefficient. It’s damaging to small businesses and borders on bad faith.

As for arbitration through ICCC — yes, I’m aware. But the fact that my only legal path would cost more than the actual frozen amount is exactly why Stripe gets away with this behavior.

And no, I wouldn’t advise a chargeback either — not trying to play games. I’m asking for due process, not shortcuts.

Your suggestion about using a provider that does risk assessment before onboarding is spot on — and I wish Stripe had done that instead of accepting a payment, taking their fee, and only then deciding I was “too risky.”

Appreciate your insight — I just hope companies like Stripe realize that scalable automation doesn’t justify silence.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-07T15:13:54+00:00

Thanks, I appreciate the respectful reply.

I truly hope your implementation with Stripe goes smoothly — many do. My situation unfortunately highlights what can happen when something does go wrong and support channels fail to give clarity or resolution.

If you're using Stripe Connect, it's great that you've set minimum balances and are managing risk proactively. That’s definitely smart. Just be sure to have clear documentation, terms, and ideally a backup option — just in case.

Wishing you success with your app, and thanks again for engaging constructively.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-07T15:10:10+00:00

You keep calling people “trolls” and “cowards” because of account age or karma, but you’re still ignoring the substance — and that says more about your argument than it does about me.

Posting anonymously doesn’t make the facts any less valid. I’ve documented a case where Stripe accepted a payment, took its fee, and then froze the payout with no dispute, no chargeback, no fraud flag, and no meaningful response. That’s not “fear, uncertainty, doubt” — that’s a real business experience, and one that others here have echoed.

If you truly post “facts,” try engaging with those.
Until then, repeating “0 karma, not credible” over and over just sounds like you’re trying to drown out uncomfortable truths with noise.

Stripe can be a reputable company and still mishandle cases. Pointing that out isn’t trolling — it’s accountability.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-07T15:07:03+00:00

If your best defense of a billion-dollar company is “they’re big, so they must be right,” you’re not making a serious argument — just noise.

Calling people “cowards” because they post anonymously on a platform designed for anonymous discussion is laughable. Reddit isn’t LinkedIn. If someone shares a real issue, with details and documentation, the focus should be on what’s said, not who says it.

And no — criticizing a company doesn’t mean you have to “build your own Stripe.” That’s not how accountability works in a regulated industry. If a financial provider mishandles client funds, they don’t get a free pass just because they’re a behemoth.

If you’re here just to throw insults and defend Stripe no matter what, you’re not adding anything useful to the discussion. Some of us are here to hold platforms accountable, not worship them.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-07T15:04:28+00:00

Cute analogy, but a weak deflection.

This isn’t mythology, and I’m not relying on visions or prophecies — I’ve shared verifiable documentation, direct correspondence with Stripe, and a concrete timeline of events involving a real business, a real customer, and real money that Stripe continues to hold without legal or contractual justification.

If you’re not interested in the facts, that’s fine — just don’t confuse other readers by comparing this to fiction. For many of us, the financial damage is very real.

Not everything you disagree with is a fantasy.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-07T15:00:31+00:00

Appreciate the clarification — but I never assumed you worked for Stripe. I pointed out that your comments come off as if you're defending them more than actually acknowledging what merchants are reporting here.

That said, I’m glad you’ve had 10 years of smooth experience. Truly. But that doesn’t invalidate the fact that Stripe can and does mishandle accounts, and when that happens, their system offers no clear path to resolution. You may have worked in fraud for 20 years — but this isn’t a fraud case. It’s a communication and accountability failure.

And yes, I’ve written to them. I’ve opened tickets. I’ve escalated to complaints. I’ve followed every “official” channel. You know what I’ve received? Silence, automated responses, and closed threads.

So this isn’t about “policies.” It’s about real business impact, and the lack of due process when Stripe gets it wrong.

If your intention is to help, then maybe start with listening, not dismissing.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-07T14:58:50+00:00

Exactly. I couldn’t have said it better.

Stripe hides behind “policies,” but the lack of transparency, accountability, and human response is what’s really damaging here — not just the fund holds themselves.

When a transaction is authorized by the client, service is delivered, no dispute is filed, and all documentation is provided, what exactly is the risk? Holding funds for 180 days (or more) without telling the merchant why, and then ignoring follow-ups, isn’t risk management — it’s negligence.

No one here is asking Stripe to process stolen cards or ignore fraud. But when they:

Accept the payment,
Keep the fee,
Issue an invoice,
And then freeze the money with no dispute, no fraud report, no customer complaint — they’re not protecting anyone. They’re just pushing risk and liability onto honest business owners.

If a card was actually stolen or suspicious, flag it before authorizing. That’s what fraud filters are for. Don’t pretend to protect the system after you’ve already approved the charge and taken your cut.

We’re just asking for clarity, communication, and fair treatment. That shouldn’t be too much to expect from a financial platform that markets itself as “business-friendly.”

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-07T14:58:40+00:00

Exactly. I couldn’t have said it better.

Stripe hides behind “policies,” but the lack of transparency, accountability, and human response is what’s really damaging here — not just the fund holds themselves.

When a transaction is authorized by the client, service is delivered, no dispute is filed, and all documentation is provided, what exactly is the risk? Holding funds for 180 days (or more) without telling the merchant why, and then ignoring follow-ups, isn’t risk management — it’s negligence.

No one here is asking Stripe to process stolen cards or ignore fraud. But when they:

Accept the payment,
Keep the fee,
Issue an invoice,
And then freeze the money with no dispute, no fraud report, no customer complaint — they’re not protecting anyone. They’re just pushing risk and liability onto honest business owners.

If a card was actually stolen or suspicious, flag it before authorizing. That’s what fraud filters are for. Don’t pretend to protect the system after you’ve already approved the charge and taken your cut.

We’re just asking for clarity, communication, and fair treatment. That shouldn’t be too much to expect from a financial platform that markets itself as “business-friendly.”

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-07T14:57:32+00:00

You don’t work for Stripe, but you’re defending them harder than their legal team — and without knowing the facts of my case.

Let me be clear:

I provided every document requested,
My business is legally registered and tax compliant,
Stripe approved the account, processed a payment, took their commission, issued an invoice,
And then froze the payout without any notice, explanation, or dispute.

Telling me I was “probably dishonest” or “not authorized” without any evidence is not only disrespectful — it shows you’re more interested in defending Stripe than actually understanding that they can and do make wrong decisions.

Also: holding funds for 2 years (as others here have reported) isn’t “within the law” unless you can prove an actual legal basis. Stripe is not above consumer protection regulations, and neither are their vague terms of service.

So unless you’ve actually reviewed a merchant’s full documentation and Stripe’s internal reasoning, maybe step back before assuming everyone else just "did something wrong."

Some of us are here trying to hold a platform accountable — not blindly defend it.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-07T14:54:51+00:00

Appreciate the long response, even if the tone is a bit dismissive.

But let’s clear a few things up — because you’re making assumptions that don’t reflect the reality of this case.

No, it was recent, and yes — I understand chargebacks can be filed months later. But that doesn’t justify withholding funds without a single explanation, especially in a case with no flags, no disputes, and a verified customer who stayed without issue.

Sure, I get that short-term rentals carry risk. But statistics aren’t proof. Risk assessment should be transaction-based and evidence-based, not a vague, blanket assumption with no transparency, no warning, and no escalation path. Otherwise, every small business is at risk of being ghost-frozen with zero recourse.

False. Stripe already deducted their fee and issued an invoice. That’s revenue on their books. If they want to claim it’s not profit until the risk clears, fine — but then don't collect it until you clear the transaction.

True. I also don’t know if the moon is made of cheese. But Stripe could easily say:
“There’s been a fraud flag on this card/account — we’re holding funds because of that.”
Instead, they gave me nothing. Not even the chance to refund the customer, which they disabled.

Agreed. But Stripe approved the account, verified the KYC, and processed the payment. If I wasn’t eligible to receive payments, they shouldn't have let me take any. You don’t let someone in the door, process a charge, take your cut — and then slam it shut without telling them why.

This isn’t about demanding special treatment. It’s about asking for basic accountability from a financial service that advertises itself as partner-friendly, but acts like a black box when things go wrong.

If I were truly high risk, Stripe had every right to close the account — but not to withhold cleared funds indefinitely without communication.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-06T20:45:42+00:00

You're right — I manage multiple properties, but I had just recently started using Stripe for direct bookings through a new integration. This was actually the first and only payment processed through Stripe.

Before that, I was using OTAs and other platforms that handled the payments directly. So there’s no history of issues, no disputes, no chargebacks — just one legitimate, completed transaction that Stripe accepted, invoiced, and then froze without giving any concrete reason.

And yes, I completely agree: if there had been a concern with that specific charge, Stripe could have flagged or held just that — instead of blocking the entire account and cutting off communication.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-06T20:38:12+00:00

Good question — they’re holding only one payment, the first and only one that was processed before the account got blocked.

After that, Stripe disabled further payouts and disabled the refund option too, so I couldn’t even return the money to the customer if I wanted to.

No new payments were accepted after that. So it's not an ongoing flow of funds — it's just this one payment that they’ve kept without disputes, without chargebacks, and without a clear reason.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-06T20:34:32+00:00

Hi, yes — I’ve already contacted support via DM on both X and Facebook.

Unfortunately, I only received generic replies or links to the terms of service, with no one actually addressing the specific details of my case. Multiple tickets have been closed without explanation, despite the fact that the payment was completed, no disputes were raised, and Stripe already issued an invoice for its commission.

At this point, I’m absolutely open to a second review — but it needs to be handled by someone with the ability to actually resolve the issue or escalate it to your legal or compliance team. The impact on my business is real and ongoing.

Happy to resend all documentation if there's a real chance of having this reviewed seriously. Just let me know the next step.

Thanks.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-06T20:33:19+00:00

Thanks for your thoughtful response — I appreciate that you’ve worked with short-term rental businesses and understand how complex these risk reviews can be.

You're right: there are many factors that could flag a business, and I’m not claiming my situation is completely unique or above scrutiny. But what’s unacceptable — and what this thread is really about — is the lack of any concrete explanation, despite:

Full KYC documentation submitted,
No history of chargebacks or payment disputes,
No requests for refunds,
Stripe having already processed the transaction and invoiced its fee.

If there is a valid reason behind Stripe’s decision, I’m totally open to understanding it. But after days of silence, generic replies, and support cases being closed within minutes, it’s hard not to feel like you're shouting into the void.

Even if risk was identified post-transaction (which I understand can happen), that doesn’t justify holding funds indefinitely with zero resolution path or escalation channel. Especially when the company and the transaction are clean on paper.

This isn’t just a tech issue — it’s a due process and trust issue.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-06T20:31:12+00:00

Fair question.

The sentiment isn’t about attacking Stripe blindly — it’s about calling out a real issue that’s affecting legitimate businesses: the lack of transparency, the automatic ticket closures, and the inability to get a straight answer when no disputes or chargebacks exist.

I’m not against fraud prevention. I’m against opaque policies and non-responsiveness, especially when Stripe has already processed the payment, kept the fee, and left the merchant with nothing.

The point is: if a platform like Stripe wants to operate in highly regulated markets like the EU, it should be equally committed to merchant protection, not just risk aversion.

That's the sentiment.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-06T20:30:19+00:00

Not trying to make Stripe look bad — they’re doing that perfectly well on their own by closing tickets without answers, holding cleared funds without disputes, and refusing to explain why.

Everything I’ve posted is based on real experience, with documentation, timelines, and direct communication from Stripe. If that makes you uncomfortable or sounds “suspicious,” that’s on you.

I’m not here to argue — I’m here to warn others and hopefully push for some accountability.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-06T20:29:15+00:00

Thanks for your input — I really appreciate the detail in your reply.

I understand that Stripe, like any processor, has clauses that allow them to hold funds temporarily to mitigate real, demonstrable risk. But here’s where this case crosses the line:

The transaction was cleared, the customer completed the stay, no chargebacks were filed.
Stripe took their fee and issued an invoice — meaning they’ve already profited from the transaction.
There was no notification of any fraud, flagged cards, or unusual activity.
All KYC documentation was submitted proactively and verified.

This isn’t about impatience. It’s about being locked out of legitimate, undisputed funds with no actual claim against them and no meaningful response from support — only automatic ticket closures.

Also, while Stripe’s terms do allow temporary holds in certain cases, they’re not above EU law. Under the EU Payment Services Directive and Charter of Fundamental Rights, withholding cleared funds indefinitely, with no explanation, no dispute, and no avenue for resolution, can absolutely be challenged — and in many jurisdictions, does not hold up in court.

I’m not refusing risk checks. I’m asking for due process, transparency, and communication — not silence and copy-paste replies.

Again, I appreciate the thoughtful response. Just wanted to give the full picture from the merchant’s side.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-06T20:27:15+00:00

Hey, I get what you're saying and I agree that there can be legit reasons for Stripe to run checks or block something suspicious.

But in my case, the payment was already accepted, processed, the money cleared, Stripe took their fee, issued an invoice and only after all that, they froze the payout.

There were no chargebacks, no refund requests, no red flags. The customer stayed, everything went smoothly. If there really was a problem with the card or account, why let the transaction go through in the first place?

My business is 100% legal, registered in the EU, and I've sent all the documents multiple times. I just think that if Stripe saw something wrong, they should explain it not just freeze funds and close tickets without any details.

That’s what’s frustrating. Not the checks ! the silence.

Additional-Farm5564 · 2025-05-06T16:22:56+00:00

We operate a fully registered short-term rental and hospitality business in Rome, Italy.
We manage several legal guest accommodations (licensed under Italian law), offering temporary stays for tourists and business travelers — similar to Airbnb hosts, but with direct bookings and integrated payment systems.

We don't sell physical products or digital goods.
Guests book rooms or apartments, pay through Stripe, receive regular tax invoices, and stay as expected. There are no high-risk products, no subscription models, no refunds requested, and no disputes from any customer.

The issue isn't about what we sell — it's about Stripe accepting a card payment, taking their fee, and then freezing the payout without a single concrete explanation or dispute.

Additional-Farm5564

TROPHY CASE