What Is the PickleballTournaments.com Escrow Service and How Does It Work?
PickleballTournaments.com primarily collects tournament registration payments through a tournament owner’s Stripe Payments account. However, if your organization cannot use Stripe due to restrictions, PickleballTournaments.com offers an escrow service that collects registration fees on your behalf and distributes the funds after the tournament concludes.
What Is the PickleballTournaments.com Escrow Service?
The escrow service is an alternative payment collection method for tournament organizers who cannot use a Stripe Payments account.
Instead of payments going directly to the tournament organizer, PickleballTournaments.com temporarily holds the registration funds and then distributes them after the tournament is complete.
This service allows tournament organizers to still accept online registrations even if they cannot connect a Stripe account themselves.
How Does Tournament Payment Processing Normally Work?
The primary payment method on PickleballTournaments.com uses Stripe Payments.
Tournament organizers typically collect payments directly through their own Stripe account.
To connect Stripe:
• Go to your club or organization on Pickleball.com
• Select Edit Club
• Click Checkout Options
• Choose Connect to Stripe
Once connected, Stripe becomes available during the tournament setup process.
Stripe is the recommended option because it allows organizers to collect funds directly without using escrow.
When Should You Use the Escrow Service?
The escrow option is intended for organizers who cannot use Stripe due to organizational restrictions.
Examples include:
• Certain nonprofit or institutional organizations
• Groups with payment processing limitations
• Organizations without direct merchant accounts
In these cases, PickleballTournaments.com processes the registration payments and transfers the funds later.
How Does the Escrow Fee Structure Work?
When escrow services are used, specific fees apply to each registration transaction.
Escrow Service Fee
• $5 per tournament registration
This fee is charged the first time a player pays for their registration using the escrow service.
Important notes:
• This fee is separate from the Tournament Player Service Fee charged to players
• The escrow fee cannot be passed on to the player
Stripe Credit Card Processing Fees
Since payments are processed through PickleballTournaments.com’s Stripe account, credit card processing fees also apply.
Standard processing fees include:
• 2.9% + $0.30 per successful transaction for domestic cards
• +1.5% for international cards
• +0.5% for manually entered cards
• +1% for currency conversion when applicable
Additional payment methods such as digital wallets, buy-now-pay-later services, or bank debits may also vary by region.
These fees operate on a pay-as-you-go basis with no monthly subscription required.
Example of How Escrow Fees Are Applied
Consider a player registering for a tournament.
First transaction example:
• Player registers for Mixed Doubles
• Escrow Service Fee applies once
• Credit card processing fee applies
If the same player later adds another event:
• Player adds Men’s Doubles
• Only an additional credit card processing fee is charged
• No additional escrow service fee applies
The escrow service fee only applies to the initial registration transaction.
How Are Escrow Funds Paid to Tournament Organizers?
Escrow payments are distributed through the Stampli electronic funds transfer payment portal.
Tournament organizers must set up a Stampli account before receiving payments.
When Will Escrow Funds Be Paid Out?
The target payout schedule is:
• Within two weeks after the first Monday following the last day of the tournament
This timeline assumes the Stampli account has already been set up.
If the payment portal setup is delayed, payments may take up to 30 days after tournament completion.
Once the payment is issued:
• You will receive an email confirmation
• Bank deposits typically take three to five business days
How Do You Set Up the Stampli Payment Portal?
The escrow administrator will send an invitation to the Stampli Vendor Portal.
To complete setup:
Step 1: Create Your Stampli Account
Open the email invitation from Stampli and follow the link to create your account and password.
Step 2: Enter Payment Details
Under the Account section of the portal:
Add your:
• ACH payment details
• Tax ID number
• Billing address
This information allows escrow payments to be transferred directly to your bank account.
Step 3: Add Contact Information
In the Vendor Details section, provide:
• Primary contact name
• Phone number
• Email address
This ensures the escrow administrator can contact you regarding payments or questions.
Why Is Stampli Setup Important?
Your Stampli account must be completed before payments can be issued.
Benefits of setting it up early include:
Benefit #1: Faster payment processing
Payments can be distributed quickly after the tournament ends.
Benefit #2: Payment tracking
You can monitor payment status within the portal.
Benefit #3: Direct communication
Organizers can message the escrow administrator and confirm deposit timelines.
PickleballTournaments.com cannot enter your payment information for you, so completing the setup is required before funds can be released.
Common Questions About Escrow Services
Do I have to use escrow?
No. Escrow is only used when a tournament organizer cannot connect a Stripe Payments account.
Can the escrow fee be passed on to players?
No. The escrow service fee must be absorbed by the tournament organizer.
How often are escrow fees charged?
The $5 escrow service fee is charged only once per player registration transaction.
How long does it take to receive funds?
Payments are typically issued within two weeks after the tournament ends, with bank deposits taking three to five business days.
Key Takeaways
• Stripe is the preferred payment method for tournament registrations.
• Escrow services are available for organizers who cannot use Stripe.
• A $5 escrow service fee applies to each initial player registration.
• Credit card processing fees are also applied per transaction.
• Funds are distributed through the Stampli payment portal after the tournament concludes.
