Deposits and payment at booking: what is possible today

What exists and what is not available

The panel has screens for online payments, but the switch that turns them on is not available on the current plans and refuses to activate. Check the pricing page for what each plan includes today. In practice a booking made through the public page stays pending, and any payment happens outside the tool, on the spot or by a method you choose. If a client asks whether they can pay online, tell them that option does not exist and say how you prefer to be paid.

• The tool does not process card, PayPal, bank transfer or any other payment
• The online payments switch refuses to activate on the current plans
• A booking made on the public page stays pending until your team confirms it
• Any payment is agreed with the client and received outside the tool

How to ask for money in advance outside the tool

If your service justifies payment up front, you can proceed as follows, without relying on any 4appointments feature:

• Write down the terms: the amount, the deadline for paying and what happens if the client cancels
• Tell the client the payment method you accept, for example bank transfer, FPS or payment on the spot
• Confirm the booking in the panel only after the money has arrived. Confirming sends the client no message, so tell them directly
• Keep proof of payment with your records, and say on your website if you prefer payment at the visit

Be careful with the words “deposit” and “advance payment”

In everyday language a deposit is any amount paid before the service. Legally the name does not settle everything: in many places a deposit and an advance on the price have different consequences if someone fails to perform. So pick one term, use it the same way in your terms and messages, and state in writing what happens to the money if either side does not keep to the arrangement. Example (illustrative amounts): on a €40 service with €10 paid beforehand, “advance payment of €10” and “deposit of €10” do not mean the same thing. A pending booking holds its slot until it is confirmed or rejected; if it is left unresolved it is cancelled automatically, with no notice to the client, about an hour after the end of the requested interval, so deal with requests in good time. The tool does not issue invoices or receipts. General information, not legal advice; if in doubt, consult a lawyer.

Common questions