Some opportunities on Dapple charge a submission fee. You pay as the last step of the submission form, through Stripe's secure checkout, by card or — if the organisation offers it — Apple Pay or Google Pay. Depending on where you and the organisation are, US sales tax or VAT may be added. In the UK and EU you may also see a field for a business VAT number. You get a receipt by email, or an invoice if you entered a VAT number. The organisation sets the fee and refund policy, not Dapple.
Dapple processes submission payments through Stripe. If an organisation has set a fee on their submission form, you'll see a Continue to Payment button at the bottom of the form. Your submission is only complete once the payment has been successfully processed. All fee amounts and refund policies are set by the organisation, not Dapple.
Which payment methods does Dapple accept?
Payment method | Supported | Notes |
Visa (credit and debit) | Yes | — |
Mastercard (credit and debit) | Yes | — |
American Express | Yes | — |
Apple Pay | Yes | On supported devices and browsers |
Google Pay | Yes | On supported devices and browsers |
PayPal | No | Not currently supported |
Bank transfer / BACS | No | Not currently supported |
Voucher or access code | Yes | If the organiser has enabled fee waivers |
Payments are processed securely via Stripe. Dapple does not store your card details.
When is payment required?
Only if the organisation has chosen to charge a fee on that specific submission form. If there's a fee, the amount is always shown before you begin filling out the form — organisations are required to display it clearly. Many calls and opportunities on Dapple are free to submit.
How do I pay for my submission?
Complete the submission form.
Click Continue to Payment.
If you're paying as a UK or EU business, enter your VAT number in the field provided (if shown).
Enter your card details, or choose Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Check the total, then confirm. You'll see a confirmation screen once payment succeeds.
You're only charged when you confirm. Your submission is complete once the payment goes through.
Will I be charged sales tax or VAT?
Only if the organisation is registered to collect tax. Checkout always shows any tax before you pay.
Where you are | What to expect |
United States | Sales tax may be added at checkout, depending on your state and the organisation's registrations. Many states don't tax application fees. |
United Kingdom | VAT is usually included in the advertised fee if the organisation is VAT-registered. |
European Union | VAT may be included or added. Businesses with a VAT number may not be charged VAT. |
Should I enter a VAT number?
Enter one if you're paying as a VAT-registered business or freelancer in the UK or EU and need an invoice for your records. If you're paying as an individual, leave it blank. Applicants in the US won't see this field.
UK businesses paying a UK organisation are still charged VAT, but get a VAT invoice to reclaim it.
Businesses in a different country from the organisation (for example, an EU business paying a UK organisation) who enter a VAT number usually aren't charged VAT — the reverse charge applies and you account for the VAT yourself. If the fee was advertised including VAT, the price you pay stays the same.
You'll receive an invoice showing your VAT number and the organisation's.
The field only appears if the organisation has set up tax.
What emails will I get after paying?
If you… | You receive |
Paid without a VAT number (including all US applicants) | A submission confirmation and a payment receipt |
Entered a VAT number | A submission confirmation and an invoice |
Your card statement shows the organisation's name, not Dapple, because the payment goes straight to the organisation's Stripe account.
What happens if my payment fails?
Failure reason | What to do |
Card declined | Try a different card, or check with your bank — some banks block online payments by default |
Insufficient funds | Try a different card or use Apple/Google Pay linked to a funded account |
Card expired | Use a valid card — your bank will have issued a replacement |
3D Secure / authentication failed | Complete the verification prompt from your bank's app or SMS — don't close the window |
Payment page timed out | Return to the project and restart your submission — your form data may not be saved |
If payment fails, your submission is not submitted. You can return to the project and try again. Contact the organiser if you're repeatedly unable to pay — they can check whether a fee waiver applies to your situation.
What happens after a successful payment?
Once payment is confirmed:
Your submission is marked as received in the organiser's Submissions table.
You receive a confirmation email with a payment receipt from Stripe.
Your Creator Dashboard shows the submission as Submitted.
The organiser can see your payment status in the submission detail view.
What emails will I get?
After a successful payment you'll receive two emails from Dapple: a submission confirmation, and a receipt for the payment. The charge on your card statement will show as the organisation's name (not Dapple), because Dapple passes the payment directly to the organisation's Stripe account.
Can I get a refund?
Refund policies are set by the organiser, not by Dapple. Check the project's terms and conditions for the organiser's refund policy before submitting. If you believe you're entitled to a refund, contact the organiser directly.
If you were charged but your submission was not received (e.g. a technical failure during submission), contact the organiser with your payment receipt and they can investigate.
Who handles refunds or payment issues?
Contact the organisation you submitted to. Refund policies, payment amounts, and dispute resolution are all set by the organisation — Dapple provides the payment infrastructure but doesn't set or enforce payment terms. You'll usually find the organisation's contact details on their website or social media.
What if the organiser has offered a fee waiver?
Some organisers offer fee waivers via access codes. If you have been sent a private links, it will have a reduced fee or no fee already built in to the form. If you believe you qualify for a waiver but don't have a code, contact the organiser directly.
Best practices
Check the submission fee before starting — it's listed on the project's public page.
Have your card details ready before starting the form.
If paying on mobile, Apple Pay or Google Pay is faster and avoids card entry errors.