As we move closer to a module whereby reservations are automatically charged at a certain point, removing the need for properties to have to have to worry about charging their guests, the outline of the system is becoming clearer, and we can answer more questions.

1.      Will everyone be forced to use Automatic Payments?

No it will be optional, properties can decide if they want to go down this route.

2.      Which Payment Gateway will be used?

At present it is only Stripe that we integrate with.

3.      What happens if i need to charge a credit card for extra charges/room damage etc?

This does not change. As far as we are aware if it is an OTA (Online Travel Agent) booking made with a Virtual Card you cannot apply extra charges now or with Automatic Payments.

4.      What should we do if a guest books over the phone?

You are advised to use the current ‘Shopping Basket’ tool or soon we will be adding a 'Guest Payment' button which allows you to create a reservation in GuestDiary and send an e mail to a customer that has to be completed together with a credit card number in a certain time or the reservation expires. This guarantees that you have a credit card on file ready for when the payment is automatically taken.

You can of course still take reservations without a credit card number, but these will NOT be automatically charged.

5.      What happens if for some reason a credit card cannot be charged?

You are informed on the GuestDiary screen and in a daily automatic e mail if for any reason a card cannot be charged.

6.      So, when are cards actually charged?

This does not change and is in the hands of the OTA’s. For example, some OTA’s insist cards can only be charged on the day of arrival.

7.      What happens with reservations that book online last minute/on the day of arrival?

Their credit cards will be charged as soon as they book.

8.      Tell me again the advantages?

First and foremost, all customers are automatically charged, you don’t have to have people and systems in place to process credit cards to collect money for reservations.

Secondly, because in this system you don’t actually see or receive the credit card number, you are less exposed to being responsible for credit card fraud.

We hope to have a beta version of Automatic Payments available in First Quarter 2024.