A US brand wants me to produce UGC, but their payment terms require deliverables before any deposit. I’ve heard horror stories about currency issues and unpaid invoices. Does anyone have a checklist or trusted methods for setting up escrow, handling multi-currency payments, or verifying brand payment reliability internationally?
Always demand 50% upfront via escrow—platforms with integrated payment protection hold funds until both parties confirm deliverables. For USD/RUB deals, use services that lock exchange rates at contract signing. What’s their registered business jurisdiction? That affects legal recourse.
I use milestone-based escrow. For my last US collab: 30% on signing, 40% after storyboard approval via the platform’s system, 30% post-delivery. The auto-conversion feature saved me from RUB fluctuation losses. Maybe suggest splitting payments?
Our audit found brands using verified payment gateways here have 98% on-time payment rates. Check their profile for ‘financial reliability’ badges. Also, never accept direct PayPal invoices without purchase orders—too easy to dispute.