How to Require a Credit Card for Online Booking

Overview:

This article will outline step-by-step instructions on how to require a credit card for online booking. You will NOT be forcing your customers to prepay but simply requiring them to enter their credit card in order to HOLD the reservation.

Preconditions:

Preconditions are the necessary settings, permissions, and items created in your software to allow the feature to work.

• Access to the following modules: 
  • Tee Sheet
  • Settings
• At least one online reservation group set up (see this article for how to set up an online reservation group)
• You must be using one of our integrated merchant processors (e.g.: foreUP Payments) to allow for a credit card to be added online

Steps:

Follow the below steps to require a credit card for online booking: 

1. Log into your foreUP account
2. Click on the top-left module dropdown and select Settings
3. Select Online Customer Portal > Online Reservations
4. Under the Online Reservation Groups section, click the Actions Drop Down Arrow next to the online reservation group you would like to require a credit card in order to book and select Edit
5. Check the setting Require Credit Card Online
6. Click Save Changes in the bottom right
7. You have now activated the setting to require a credit card when your customers try to book through that online reservation group!

FAQ

Q: Can I give my customers the option to either pay at the facility or prepay online but if they choose the option to pay at the facility, I can still require a credit card to hold the reservation?

A: Yes! Please follow steps 1 - 8 above but before you click Save Changes in step 9, scroll down until you find the Allow Online Payment dropdown. From this dropdown, select Optional. This will give your customers the option to pay at the facility or prepay online but if they select the option to pay at the facility, they will still be required to enter a credit card to complete and hold the reservation.

Q: Can I add some type of disclaimer/message my customers will see before they actually enter their credit card to complete and hold the online reservation? 

A: Yes! Once you have completed steps 1 - 10 above, go to Settings > Online Booking Portal > Messages > No Show Policy - Whatever message you enter into this field will be displayed to your customers before they enter their credit card to complete and hold their reservation.

For further assistance, please contact our Support Team at [e-mail] or 800-929-5737