Keep the three decisions separate
A deposit describes a payment schedule. A card, bank transfer or wallet describes a payment method. Booking, charge and settlement currencies describe different parts of the money flow. Saying that a platform supports deposits does not establish which methods or currencies are available to your business. Ask for a configuration-specific answer.
Make the due-now and due-later amounts explicit
For a €1,200 package, a 25% deposit is €300 and the remaining balance is €900. Put both amounts, the due date and the accepted cancellation policy in the booking summary. If you offer two later instalments of €450, each needs its own date and state. Avoid a general “balance later” label that leaves the guest guessing.
Do not confuse a reminder with a charge
A scheduled reminder asks the guest to pay. Charging a stored method is a different action with authorisation and provider requirements. Agree what happens if that method fails or requires an extra authentication step. The guest should receive a useful next action, and the operator should see the unresolved amount rather than assuming the schedule collected it.
Choose methods for the actual market
Choose payment methods that work for the guests and countries you serve. Card payments, bank transfers and local payment methods can have different availability, processing times and settlement rules. Confirm what your connected payment account supports for each booking currency, then show those options clearly at checkout.
Reconcile changes and refunds
A cancelled room and a completed refund are separate states. Record the accepted policy, any authorised adjustment, refund request and processor outcome. A manual bank receipt should carry its reference and source. Do not mark it as processor-confirmed money or forget to stop an obsolete balance reminder after it is reconciled.
Explain the full price
Marnie costs $180 USD per month with no Marnie booking commission. Payment processing, currency conversion and applicable third-party charges are separate. Decide how your business handles taxes and any guest-facing charges, then make the total, deposit and balance clear before someone pays.
Write the schedule before selecting the method
A €1,200 package with a 25% deposit and a balance due before arrival.
| Due point | Amount | Record after the attempt |
|---|---|---|
| Booking | €300 | Confirmed, pending or failed processor outcome |
| 15 April 2027 | €450 | Payment reference and remaining balance |
| 15 May 2027 | €450 | Final balance or unresolved amount |
| Total | €1,200 | Reconciled against the booking ledger |
Put it into practice
- Write down schedule, method and currency separately.
- Show amount due now, amount due later and each deadline.
- Test failed, pending, duplicate and delayed payment events.
- Agree refund states and manual-payment reconciliation.
- Confirm provider costs and the guest-facing policy.
