Understanding Deposits and Final Payments (Custom Services)

Overview

Every Custom Service order on The Ghost Production uses a two-part payment system — a 30 % deposit to begin production and a 70 % final payment after you approve the demo.
This structure ensures fairness, transparency, and security for both the buyer and producer throughout the process.

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1. The 30 % Deposit Payment

The deposit payment confirms your order and allows the producer to start working.

What it means:

• The 30 % deposit is paid upfront during checkout.
• Once payment is processed, the order status moves to In Progress and the delivery countdown starts.
• The producer begins production immediately based on your creative brief.

Important:

• The deposit is non-refundable once production begins.
• Paying the deposit does not grant ownership or rights to the demo or unfinished material.
• If the producer hasn’t started the project yet, you can cancel and request a refund by creating a ticket at https://theghostproduction.com/ticket.

This policy ensures that producers are compensated for their time, preparation, and initial creative work.

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2. The 70 % Final Payment

Once the producer uploads your demo and you’re satisfied with the result, you’ll be asked to complete the remaining 70 % payment.

When to pay:

• After you click “Approve” on your order page.
• The final payment unlocks the final delivery stage, allowing the producer to prepare your complete ZIP package.

What happens after payment:

• Your order status changes to Awaiting Final Delivery.
• The producer finalizes the full track (mixdown, mastering, stems, exports).
• Once finished, the producer uploads your final files, and the status updates to Delivered.

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3. Why Payments Are Split

This two-stage system was designed to protect both sides:

Step	Protects Buyer	Protects Producer
Deposit (30 %)	Ensures the producer begins work as promised	Guarantees producer is paid for initial creative time
Final Payment (70 %)	Confirms satisfaction before full payment	Ensures full payment is made before file delivery

This balance makes sure producers are rewarded for their effort while giving you flexibility to review progress before paying in full.

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4. How to Complete the Final Payment

When you’re happy with your demo and ready to proceed:

1. Log in to your account at theghostproduction.com.
2. Go to My Account → Services Orders → Select Order.
3. Click “Approve” and confirm payment for the remaining 70 %.
4. Once payment is processed, the producer starts preparing your final delivery.

You’ll receive a confirmation email immediately after successful payment.

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5. Payment Methods Accepted

The Ghost Production supports all major secure payment methods, including:

• Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
• PayPal
• Other regionally available payment gateways depending on your location

All transactions are processed through secure, encrypted payment systems.

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6. Ownership Transfer After Final Payment

Ownership of your custom project transfers only after the final payment is completed and the order is marked as Delivered.
Once ownership is transferred:

• You receive full exclusive rights to the track.
• The producer loses all rights and cannot reuse or resell the project.
• You can release, distribute, and monetize the track under your name.

Before final payment, all demos remain the intellectual property of the producer.

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7. Missed or Delayed Final Payments

If you approve the demo but delay or fail to complete the final payment:

• The producer will not deliver final files until payment is made.
• Long delays may result in your order being paused or cancelled.
• Your deposit remains non-refundable.

If you encounter payment issues, contact support through https://theghostproduction.com/ticket under Custom Services → Payment Issue.

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8. Refund Rules Summary

Stage	Refundable?	Description
Deposit (30 %)	❌ Non-refundable once work starts	Protects producer’s effort
Final Payment (70 %)	✅ Only if undelivered	Refund may apply if producer fails to deliver final files
Completed Orders	❌ Non-refundable	Rights already transferred
Cancelled Before Work Started	✅ Yes	Full refund possible if confirmed before production

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9. Payment Transparency

The Ghost Production acts as a trusted intermediary, ensuring both payments are handled securely.

• Producers only receive payouts after confirmed delivery.
• Buyers are protected by the platform’s dispute and verification system.
• All payments and receipts are available in your account dashboard.