Paying a deposit, progress payment or balance
Paying is the last of the three steps in your booking. You can pay by card on the page, or tell them a bank transfer is coming and send it yourself. Both are offered side by side and neither is the preferred one.
This article covers where the payment section is, paying by card, keeping a card on file, paying by bank transfer, and how to check what has actually been paid.
Where it is
The payment section appears on your booking page, under the terms, once you have agreed to them. It is headed Secure your booking when a deposit is due, or Pay your balance when the deposit is behind you.
Some bookings are paid in more than two payments, for example a booking fee, a progress payment and then the balance. Your booking page lists each payment with its amount and due date, and asks for them in order. While a payment between the deposit and the balance is due, the section is headed with its name, such as Pay your progress payment.
If you cannot see it, the terms are not signed yet. See agreeing to the terms.
Paying by card
Click Pay deposit (or the button for the payment that is due, such as Pay progress payment), or where more is owed than that, Or pay in full for the whole balance. The amount is printed on each button, so you always know what you are about to be charged.
The button takes you to Stripe's secure payment page. Card or digital wallet both work. When you are done, Stripe brings you straight back to your booking, which now says Payment received. Thank you! and shows the payment in the list further down.
The page takes a moment to hand you over to Stripe. The buttons disable themselves while that happens, so a second click cannot charge you twice.
Keeping a card on file
Under the payment buttons there is an unticked option to keep the card on file, which lets the business charge later amounts on this booking without asking you to enter the card again.
It is entirely optional and it is off unless you tick it. Leave it unticked and your card is used for this payment only.
Paying by bank transfer
Their account details are printed on the page, along with a payment reference, which is your booking number. Use that reference so the payment is matched to your booking when it lands.
Before you send the money, tell them what is coming by clicking one of:
- I'll pay the deposit [amount] by bank transfer (or the payment that is due now, by its name)
- I'll pay in full [amount] by bank transfer
That records what to expect, so nobody is left wondering whether a transfer is on its way.
It takes no money and marks nothing as paid. The balance only changes when they receive the funds and record the payment against your booking. The page then shows the date you told them and the amount you said you would send, and the account details stay on screen if you need them again.
Clicking one of those buttons is also what makes the invoice option appear, if you need a formal document for your accounts team. See getting an invoice.
Checking what has been paid
Under the document, once there is anything to show, your booking page lists:
- Invoices, every invoice issued to you, with its number, date and total. Each one opens in a new tab.
- Payments received, the date, method and amount of everything paid so far, with a Paid total underneath.
That list is the honest answer to "what have we actually paid?", so it is the first place to look before chasing anyone.
When it is all done
All three steps turn green and the page says Booking confirmed. Nothing disappears afterwards: come back to the link any time and it still shows what you paid and what is still owing.
Next
- Getting an invoice.
- What the booking portal is for what else is at your link.