When you set up ZEN Payment Gateway for your online store, two contract settings help manage risk around payments: secure deposits and settlement delays. Both are standard measures designed to protect your business and keep payments running smoothly.
What is a secure deposit?
A secure deposit is a small percentage taken from each transaction processed through ZEN Payment Gateway.
In your ZEN Business account, you’ll see this as “eCommerce Secure Deposit” in the transaction history.
This amount is held temporarily in a separate account to cover potential chargebacks or transaction disputes. It helps protect both your business and ZEN.COM if a customer challenges a payment.
The exact deposit percentage and how long it’s held depend on:
- Your agreement with ZEN.COM
- The accepted Terms and Conditions
- The confirmation email you received when activating your store
These details may vary depending on the payment methods your store offers.
Once the agreed holding period ends, the deposited funds are automatically released back to your ZEN Business account.
What is a settlement delay?
A settlement delay is the time between when a customer makes a payment and when the funds are transferred from ZEN Payment Gateway to your company’s account.
This delay applies to certain payment methods and allows time for processing and potential disputes before the funds are settled.
The length of the settlement delay and the payment methods it affects are defined in:
- Your agreement with ZEN.COM
- The accepted Terms and Conditions
- The confirmation email you received when activating your store
Where to find your specific terms
Your secure deposit percentage and settlement delay are always set out in your contract documents.
For a full overview of your pricing and contractual details, see: Where can I find ZEN Business pricing and my contract information?