What to do if a P2P trade goes wrong
If a P2P trade goes wrong — you paid but the seller won’t release, or you’re a seller and payment never arrived — open a dispute rather than cancelling. The exchange reviews the evidence and decides who gets the escrowed crypto. Winning comes down to clear, on-platform proof.
How the dispute process works
When a trade is disputed, the crypto stays locked in escrow and a support team reviews both sides. As a buyer, you show you paid correctly; as a seller, you show the money never cleared or was reversed. The exchange then releases escrow to the rightful party.
Evidence that wins
- On-platform chat — keep all communication inside the exchange.
- Payment proof from your bank — the real transaction record, not a chat screenshot.
- Exact amounts and timestamps matching the trade.
- Name match between payer and trader.
Mistakes that lose cases
The common losses: cancelling after you paid (always dispute instead), moving off-platform so there’s no record, releasing on a fake receipt, or accepting third-party payment. Build the habits in the safety checklist and you rarely need a dispute at all. Related: fake receipt scam.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if a P2P trade is disputed?
The crypto stays locked in escrow while the exchange reviews evidence from both sides, then releases it to the rightful party. Clear, on-platform proof of payment is what decides the outcome.
I paid but the seller won’t release — what do I do?
Do not cancel the trade. Open a dispute and provide your bank’s payment record with matching amount and timestamp. The exchange can release the escrowed crypto to you based on the evidence.
How do I win a P2P dispute?
Keep all chat and payment on-platform, provide genuine bank records rather than screenshots, ensure amounts and names match, and never move the trade off the exchange. Off-platform actions often can’t be verified.
This article is general information, not financial advice. P2Pinfo.net is an independent P2P rate comparison tool and does not hold funds.