Terms of service
Last meaningful update: May 17, 2026. Plain-English summary of how Settled works and what you're agreeing to when you use it. The formal terms are being finalized with counsel; in the meantime this is what we operate under.
What Settled is, and isn't
Settled is a software platform. We help one person send an ACH payment to another, and (optionally) collect a signed unconditional lien-waiver release after the payment clears. Settled is not a bank, not a money transmitter, and does not hold your funds. The ACH rail is operated by Dwolla, Inc., a U.S.-regulated money-services business. Bank verification is provided by Plaid Inc..
What you authorize when you tap Pay
Tapping "Pay" on the pay screen authorizes Settled to instruct Dwolla to debit the specified amount from your linked bank account and credit it to the payee's linked bank account. The authorization is for one transfer only — we do not initiate recurring ACH without you re-authorizing each time.
You agree the information on your invoice or pay screen is accurate and that the amount you're sending is for goods or services actually rendered, or for a debt you legitimately owe.
What it means to sign a release
The release is unconditional — by signing, you acknowledge you have received the payment referenced on the form and you release lien rights for the work covered up to the work-through date specified. You can (and should) read the full filled body before signing. We render the same statutory language your title company would hand you, with the project context filled in.
The release is captured afterthe ACH clears, by design. You are never asked to acknowledge receipt of money you haven't actually received. If the ACH bounces (insufficient funds, closed account, name mismatch), we'll text you; the payee never gets a signing link until the rail reports success.
Fees
Subcontractors (payees) never pay anything to use Settled. That's a product commitment, not a pilot-window discount.
General contractors and lenders (payers and notify-parties) will pay a subscription once Settled exits the pilot phase. The current MVP is free during pilot use; we'll give 30 days' notice before any paid tier turns on.
Disputes
If you believe a payment was unauthorized or sent in error, email chris@settled.work within 60 days. Disputes over the underlying work or the amount owed are between you and the other party — Settled doesn't arbitrate construction disputes — but we will freeze further payments on the same project while you work it out, on request.
Account termination
You can close your account anytime. We'll keep records required by law (KYC, audit trail, signed releases) for at least seven years per state lien-retention rules. We can also terminate your account for fraud, repeated chargebacks, or misuse — we'll tell you why and refund any subscription balance.
Limitation of liability
Settled is provided as-is during the pilot phase. We'll do our best to keep the rails moving and the audit trail accurate, but we can't guarantee uninterrupted service or that an ACH initiated through us will always clear (rails fail; banks bounce things; we don't control that). Our maximum liability for any claim related to a transaction is the amount of the transaction itself.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Montana. Any disputes go to the District Court of Ravalli County, Montana — or arbitration if both sides agree.