Table of Contents
Overview
To keep things running smoothly and securely for everyone on our platform, we sometimes need to take a closer look at certain accounts. This step helps us maintain Jobber's compliance standards and ensure everything is running smoothly–from identifying unusual activity to confirming your account is set up for success.
You might see a few things pop up during this process, like:
- A request for a bit more documentation
- A temporary hold on some funds (called reserves or payout delay days)
- A review of your processing limits or payout schedule
We know these reviews can feel a little inconvenient, but they’re designed to protect both you and your clients. This guide walks you through why reviews happen, what they involve, and how you can navigate them smoothly.
What is credit risk, and how does it apply to Jobber Payments?
In the context of Jobber Payments, credit risk refers to the potential for financial loss if a business is unable to complete the services it has already been paid for. This can happen if a client initiates a chargeback, requests a refund for work that’s delayed or not delivered as expected, or when an ACH payment fails.
Credit risk tends to be higher when payments are collected well in advance of the service being completed. While most businesses fully intend to deliver their services, unexpected challenges (like staffing shortages, scheduling conflicts, or supply chain delays) can sometimes prevent that from happening.
That’s why Jobber looks at factors like service timelines, chargeback history, the industry your business operates in, how far in advance clients pay for your services, and your business’s history or reputation as part of our ongoing effort to support businesses that are financially and operationally prepared to meet their commitments.
You can find helpful tips in the guide below on preventing chargebacks and fraud.
How to Prevent Chargeback &
Protect Your Service Business
What factors can signal high credit risk?
Jobber Payments may flag accounts for review if certain patterns suggest a higher risk of chargebacks or refunds. These signals don’t necessarily mean something’s wrong, they just help us proactively support your business and protect your clients. Here are some common indicators of higher credit risk:
- High chargeback rates: Chargebacks can happen for a number of reasons: clients may not recognize a charge, feel the service wasn’t delivered as expected, or say they didn’t authorize the payment.
- Spike in refunds: A noticeable jump in refund requests (especially if it doubles from the previous week or month) could be a sign that clients are experiencing issues with service delivery or expectations.
- Long service windows: Businesses that collect payment far in advance of when the work is completed (for example, months ahead of a seasonal project or recurring service) may face more risk due to potential delays or disruptions, such as weather, staff availability, or material shortages.
- Extended billing cycles: If your business bills clients for long-term service packages, there's a higher chance of cancellations or refund requests if service expectations change over time.
- Sudden volume increases: Rapid growth is exciting, but big jumps in payment volume can also put a strain on operations. In some cases, sharp spikes may also trigger a review to rule out fraudulent activity.
These reviews help Jobber ensure everything continues to run smoothly for your business and your clients, especially as things evolve or scale.
What should I expect during a review?
If your account is selected for review, Jobber will take a closer look at a few key areas to get a well-rounded understanding of your business. This helps ensure your account stays in good standing and that we can continue supporting your operations effectively.
As part of the review, we may assess:
- Your business model and how you provide services
- Your payment and transaction history through Jobber Payments
- Your business’s reputation and financial stability
- How clearly you communicate with clients: like how to reach you, your cancellation or refund policies, and any trial offers or service guarantees
To help us complete the review, we may also ask you to share updated information about your business. This could include things like recent bank statements, business formation documents, proof of service/communications with your clients or management reports. In some cases, we may follow up with a few additional questions about how your operations are managed or recent changes in your payment activity.
Our goal is to make this process as smooth and transparent as possible while continuing to support your business with secure and reliable payment tools.
Why these reviews are important
As your payments processor, Jobber facilitates transactions between you and your clients. While we manage the technical aspects of payment processing, you, as the service provider, are responsible for fulfilling the services agreed upon with your clients.
In instances where a client initiates a chargeback (for example, claiming a service was not delivered) Jobber is obligated to comply with card network rules and processes. This means that the funds may be withdrawn from your connected bank account, and you may be required to provide evidence through the disputes dashboard demonstrating that the service was rendered as agreed.
To mitigate risks and ensure smooth transaction processing, we adhere to strict risk management guidelines set by our financial partners. It's essential for service providers to maintain clear communication with clients, obtain necessary approvals, and keep detailed records of services provided.
To meet these standards (and to protect both your business and your clients) we conduct periodic reviews of businesses that use Jobber Payments. These reviews help us monitor credit risk, ensure compliance, and maintain the reliability of the platform.
When we ask for information like your business structure, how funds flow through your operations, or details about your vendors and partners, it’s to get a clear and fair understanding of how your business works. If you’ve connected your bank account to Jobber Payments, this also gives us helpful insight into your financial health and may reduce the need for frequent reviews in the future.
How to make the review process smoother
If your Jobber Payments account is selected for review, there are a few simple things you can do to help things move along quickly and smoothly:
- Keep your contact details up to date. This ensures we can reach you if we need any additional info.
- Be thorough in your responses. When answering questions, include as much relevant detail and supporting documentation as possible to give us a clear picture of your business.
We rely on the information you provide to accurately assess and support your business. The more complete and up-to-date your profile is, the more efficiently we can complete the review and get you back to business as usual.
How often are accounts reviewed?
At Jobber, we use automated systems to continuously monitor activity on accounts that use Jobber Payments. How often we conduct a more in-depth review depends on the risk signals we see based on your account’s activity and overall performance.
In some cases we may need to review an account more closely, especially if there are signs that a business could be experiencing operational or financial challenges. This is a standard practice in the financial services industry to help keep things running smoothly and securely for everyone.
We may also review accounts if we notice unusual processing behavior or if we believe your business could be affected by changes in your industry or broader economic trends.
By connecting your bank account, we’re able to get a clearer, more up-to-date picture of your financial health. This can help reduce the need for additional documentation and may lower how often we need to conduct reviews.
How is my information kept secure and confidential?
We take data security and privacy seriously. Any information you provide is used solely for risk assessment and underwriting purposes and is only accessible to authorized Jobber team members who require it to manage and support your account.
Learn more about Security at Jobber.
What happens after an account review?
After we complete an account review, next steps will depend on the level of risk we’ve identified for your Jobber Payments account.
In most cases, once the review is done, you’ll be able to continue processing payments as usual with no changes needed.
If we determine that your account presents a higher level of risk, we may introduce a reserve. This means holding a small portion of each transaction temporarily, to help ensure funds are available in case of future refunds or chargebacks.
In rare situations, such as if an account remains in a card network monitoring program for an extended period, or is found to be in violation of the Jobber Payments Terms of Service, we may need to limit or close the account.
Our goal is always to support your business and help you stay successful while maintaining a safe and reliable payment system for all Jobber users.
What if I can't provide the requested information?
If you’re unable to provide the information we’ve asked for, please reach out to us as soon as you can. We’ll do our best to work with you on alternative options where possible and help avoid any delays or disruptions to your payouts.
Can you appeal a decision?
Yes, we understand that each situation is unique, and we're here to help. Our Risk Team reviews account decisions on a case-by-case basis and may be able to re-evaluate depending on the circumstances.
As part of the review, we may request supporting documents or additional context. While final decisions are made at Jobber’s discretion, we aim to be fair and considerate by balancing your business needs with our risk requirements.
To help move things forward smoothly, we recommend:
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Responding promptly to emails from our team
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Providing any requested documents
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Reducing refund or chargeback rates where possible
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Ensuring a consistent account balance
We're committed to making the process as straightforward as possible while ensuring a safe experience for everyone using Jobber.