Payments & cancellations
Definitive card rules for HostMeals. · Effective 7 October 2026 · Version hostmeals-pay-2026-10-07b
HostMeals is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nink Inc. Day-one bookings are paid by credit or debit card only through Stripe. Sample / demo hosts cannot accept real bookings.
What the guest pays
The guest pays the listed meal price per seat in the currency shown for the selected city (for example CAD or GBP). HostMeals does not add a separate guest service fee on top of that listed price. There is no guest-facing “HostMeals service fee” line item. Taxes are the host’s responsibility where applicable.
What the host receives
Hosts set the meal price. HostMeals keeps a 10% platform fee from that price to cover the site and card processing. The host keeps about 90% of the meal price (before ingredients and any taxes they owe). Example: $80 × 4 guests = $320 gross → about $32 platform fee → about $288 to the host before food costs.
Hosts connect payouts in Host Studio → Payments. Free meals (price $0) do not charge a card; the seat-request and host-approval flow still applies.
Host payouts
Host payouts are processed weekly after we review completed bookings. Your bank may take additional time to make the funds available.
When the guest is charged
Flow: guest requests a seat → host confirms → guest pays by card from Account → Bookings within 48 hours of confirmation → seat stays confirmed/paid. If payment is not completed within 48 hours, the approval expires and the seat is released (guest must request again). Hosts should not treat a paid experience as locked in until payment succeeds (or the meal is free).
Completion
A booking is treated as completed when its status is attended (or, for recipe unlock and similar guest features, when the seat was confirmed and the meal start time has passed). Hosts should mark no-shows appropriately. Completed bookings are what we review before weekly host payouts.
Guest cancellation (card bookings)
Windows use the meal start time in the listing city’s local timezone (for example America/Toronto for Toronto, America/Vancouver for Vancouver, Europe/London for London).
- More than 48 hours before start: full refund of what the guest paid (the listed meal price for those seats).
- 24–48 hours before start: 50% of the meal price refunded; the remainder compensates the host for prep and a lost seat.
- Less than 24 hours, or a no-show: no refund.
Refunds
Refunds are reviewed and processed manually in accordance with our cancellation policy. To request a refund, email support@hostmeals.com. Approved refunds are returned to your original payment method.
Host cancellation
If a host cancels a paid card booking, the guest should expect 100% of what they paid (the listed meal price charged). There is no separate guest service fee to refund. Request that refund via support@hostmeals.com. Repeated host cancellations may affect listing privileges.
Failed payouts
If a host payout fails (for example incomplete Connect details), the host should update bank/identity details under Host Studio → Payments. HostMeals support can help investigate at support@hostmeals.com.
Disputes and chargebacks
Contact support first for payment or refund questions. Card network chargebacks are handled with Stripe; HostMeals may request information from both parties.
Contact
Support and privacy requests: support@hostmeals.com (monitored business days; we aim to reply within 2 business days). For emergencies at a meal, contact local emergency services — not HostMeals.