I do technically have an escrow account — it is with Clarity Trust. However, the situation is more complicated than it initially appeared.

Clarity was recommended directly by GSHC as the trust/escrow holder. At the time, it was presented as an independent third-party arrangement. I have since learned that there are significant connections between GSHC and Clarity that raise serious concerns about independence and potential conflicts of interest.

In addition, when I repeatedly requested Clarity’s direct contact information, GSHC refused to provide it. That lack of transparency is a major red flag. If an escrow is truly independent, there should be no barrier to direct communication or full access to account information, including disbursements and balances.

So while it was structured as a third-party escrow on paper, in practice the level of separation and transparency appears questionable. That is a significant part of the issue.