In the case of destination charges or separate charges and transfers, which account is automatically debited for the disputed amount and fee?

In the scenario involving destination charges or separate charges and transfers, the platform balance is automatically debited for both the disputed amount and any associated fees. This platform balance represents the funds that are available to the platform itself, which can include various transactions processed through the platform.

When a dispute arises, the platform must manage these transactions effectively to ensure that the appropriate funds are allocated for disputes and fees. By debiting the platform balance, it ensures that the responsibility for handling disputes is kept at the platform level, rather than affecting the connected accounts or any external or test balances that may be in use. The platform is ultimately responsible for managing the overall financial relationships and transactions between users, making it logical for the platform balance to be impacted in situations like these.

Connected balances refer to the funds available specifically to connected accounts, while external balances typically pertain to funds outside the Stripe ecosystem, and test balances are used in a development or testing environment. Thus, these options are not directly applicable in the context of managing disputes linked to destination charges or transfers.