Suspensions
What happens to bids and money on an Orbit when ShoutOrbit suspends the creator who runs it.
ShoutOrbit can suspend a creator's account, until we lift it or for a set number of days. A suspended creator is signed out and can't sign back in. Their Orbits stop taking bids, nobody is charged for them, and they aren't paid. A suspension refunds nothing on the day: money that was already charged goes back on the same clock as any Orbit whose content never went up.
How it works
- Bidding stops. A sponsor trying to bid on one of the creator's Orbits sees "This Orbit isn't taking bids." No bid can be placed or raised.
- Nobody is charged. Winners who haven't been charged yet aren't charged while the suspension stands, and are released uncharged when the line closes. Their sponsors are told by email.
- Bank payments still clearing are stopped. On any Orbit not yet published, a bank payment that started but hasn't landed is stopped. If the bank already has the money, it's refunded in full once it lands.
- Charged sponsors are refunded on the usual clock. If the content isn't published by the publish date plus 7 days, every sponsor who was charged is refunded in full, exactly as for any Orbit that never goes up.
- On an Orbit already published, the creator's payout waits until the suspension is lifted. A sponsor's refund button on their receipt works as usual while it's open.
Why it works this way
Why nobody is charged. We never charge a sponsor for a creator we aren't going to pay.
Why nothing is refunded on the day. A suspension may be lifted, and the creator may still publish on time. Refunds follow the publish date, so a sponsor who was charged is either in a published video or gets their money back, the same as on any other Orbit.
Why payouts wait. A creator under suspension isn't paid until it's lifted, so nothing leaves the platform while we look.
What can go wrong
- The suspension is lifted. Everything settles as normal from then on, including held payouts. Bids already released don't come back, and refunds already made stay made.
- The creator is suspended after missing their publish date. The refunds go out as they would have anyway.
- You're a creator and think it's a mistake. Write to us. A suspension made in error is lifted, and your held payouts follow.