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Booking without credit card information

We are receiving many long stay bookings from outside of Canada and the US without credit card information. The first two bookings were “no shows”. Is this typical? Thank you.


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Hotelorangeleaf 5 years ago

I India also we are facing the same problem .People book two three hotel without credit card details and at last moment they decide .

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pibomarco 5 years ago

This is happening worldwide. Your policies are not strict enough.

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Ron French 5 years ago

what would you say the best policy for small chambre dhotes...b and b...is?

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pibomarco 5 years ago

Depends of your local competition, what you offer, location, season, amount of guests you are having..
This year I've set a very strict policy that there is no free cancelation after booking. If canceled after 30 days before arrival 100% of the booking is charged. (although I wouldn't.. it just a prevention. I try to avoid those shady guests, who just book and meanwhile they search for other accomodations that would suits them best.. I've done this mostly because of gusts from Israel. They book all my apartments in march for July and August.. and canceled 14 days before arrival (that was my free cancelation policy before).
Also if you don't have activated Payments by Booking.com it is still difficult to take money from late cancelations and no-shows if you dont take the money upfront. Most of the guest will empty their credit card or will report to their card provider that they didn't authorize the transaction, and will refund them back.
With Payments by Booking.com you don't have to worry to be paid for late cancelations and no-shows, so you can be quite fleksible regarding the policies in this case.

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Arobinsong 5 years ago

Thanks for the feedback. We also use another booking company and have never had a problem. You suggest letting Booking.com charge the guests’ credit card. I assume they reimburse you. Can you tell me how that works? We do not take credit cards at our B and B. Can you suggest how we can tighten up our policies? And, finally, have you ever actually spoken to someone from Booking.com? You have been very helpful Thanks.

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pibomarco 5 years ago

I am using Booking.com almost for 10 years now.. At the early years it was very frustrating, because at the time they weren't so flexible regarding the policies and owner wishes.. We had to argue a lot for the things that are now available.
Payments by Booking.com: You save yourself a lot of work. But maybe in some countries this feature is not available. You have to contact BC and ask them to activate this for you. (This is my first year that I use this feature).

I also use different online travel agencies, such as expedia, AirBnB, Hostelworld,.. and it is true, there are less cancelations or no-shows, but I don't receive that many bookings from those portals comparing to booking.com. From Booking I receive more then a half or even 3/4 of all bookings comparing to others.. Next one is AirBnB.
Sure I have spoken.. Mostly in the early years.. Now I don't really have to, I don't have the need. If I have any questions I just send them a message via extranet.

If you don't take credit cards, and can't make at least preauthorizations there is no good formula.. because as said if you are colecting payments with the guest directly, the guest can just empty its credit card (or even make a booking with unvalid card) and you can't do nothing about it when the guest cancels or doesn't show up.

If you don't accept credit cards, Payments by Booking.com would be the best choice..
For some this is not quite acceptable because some hosts wants to avoid paying taxes that is why they preffer payments with cash only etc..

I would say there is no win/win situation.. But with Payments by booking.com you don't have to worry about late cancelations and no shows..

I am not sure, but at least activate this feature (if you haven't yet) that at the time of booking the guest must provide credit card details.. If you accept bookings without credit cards then there shoudl be more late cancelations and no-shows. I once activated bookings without credit cards for last minutte bookings. Never again, because there were instantly some no-shows after that.

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Nassine 5 years ago

Oufff what a relief to read you explaining about the NO SHOWS. I'm new to this and just when I was excited and happy about my first booking , they didn't show up. I'm so disappointed and upset after spending a full week making sure that everything is perfect for the guests. Now I'm exhausted , lots potential good clients etc.
I don't think that booking.com offer the service in my area to receive payment on my behalf . Keeping my fingers crossed on the next Booking. ?

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pibomarco 5 years ago

If this feature is not available in your area, I would suggest that you get yourself a POS Terminal, and you collect at least a deposit before the guest arrives (based on your policy). For example if you have set a free cancelation policy 14 days before arrival, after that time, collect a deposit. Or at least make a preauthorizations of the card on the time of booking (1,00€). If it doesn't go through you can report an invalid card and if the gust doesn't update card information you are able to cancel their booking in 24 hours. Even beter is to activate Online Payments by booking.com (if you have POS Terminal), you will be also covered for late cancelations and no-shows, you will just have to charge Booking's virtual card.
In the "fine print" you also have an option: "Payment before arrival via bank transfer is required. The property will contact you after you book to provide instructions."

Don't be upset, it is part of the business and you have all the tools available to avoid this to happen.. at least not too frequently. :) I had lots of stress, was angry, even sometimes threathaning the guest (abut suing them if they will not pay the no-show fee, or put them on black list etc lol..). And again with all the years of experiance it is not worth it.. try to accept it.. better to be calm which is also better for your health. :) In the end it is also our "fault" anyway. :)

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Nassine 5 years ago

Thanks again for explaining it so well and for the moral support , I feel much better now knowing the steps and actions to take. I'm actually using the terminal of SQUARE BANK , I can accept payments when the guest is on site , I'm not sure if I can ask guests for their credit card Infos upfront to charge a 50% deposit, 1 or 2 weeks before their arrival to confirm their Booking. I made changes already regarding my policies , I'm trying my best to stay calm and learn from mistakes.
I truly appreciate all the Infos, blessings to you ??

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pibomarco 5 years ago

If you have a terminal and you can charge cards on distance (don't need a card phisically) then you should activate online payments. But your terminal must support this feature or your bank must activate this extra. I had to request this at my bank.

"Allowing your guests to pay online (for example, using PayPal) opens your property up to guests who can’t pay by credit card, or prefer not to use one. This type of reservation offers secure, guaranteed payments - and is 4x less likely to be cancelled than other bookings."

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Nassine 5 years ago

Thank you , great advises. I'm working on fixing them all.

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Grahamsplacehonduras 5 years ago

We are having a lot of last minute cancellation and there is no way for us as hotel to be protected against this as the the channel does't has required information fields, where the guest cannot proceed with the reservation if missing information such as email, CC information and so on. How can this be amended.

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pibomarco 5 years ago

Set your policies more strict and activate online payments.
Guest information:
Extranet -> Property -> Policies -> Guest requirements

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Tiram209 5 years ago

Hi, anyone can help with my scenarios below?

I did not set any credit card requirement at my property.

The weird thing is, if potential customer try to book today or tomorrow, the booking site still asking for the credit card details.

If potential customer choose the day after tomorrow and above, then the site will not ask for the credit card details.

Anyone have solution how to fix this issue?

My goal, I do not want my potential customer to provide their credit card info on all date.

Thanks

-Villa Solihin-

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pibomarco 5 years ago

Maybe you have a restriction for "last minute bookers"? I think it was possible to set in extranet that credit card is not needed for last minute bookings.
Although I would not advice you that, you'll probably get more late cancelations and no-shows.