Deposits and payment at booking: what is possible today

What exists and what is not available

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

• No integrated card payment, PayPal, bank transfer or local payment method
• The online payments switch in the panel is not available on the current plans and refuses to activate
• A booking made through the public page stays pending, and any payment happens outside the tool
• The tool does not process any payment and does not issue invoices or receipts

How to ask for money in advance outside the tool

If your service justifies a payment up front, you can proceed as follows, without relying on any 4appointments feature. If you prefer, leave payment for the visit and say so on your website.

• Write down the terms: the amount, the deadline for paying and what happens if the client cancels
• Contact the client yourself and name the payment method you accept, for example bank transfer or payment on the spot
• Confirm the booking in the panel only after you have received the money, and tell the client directly, because confirming sends no message
• Keep proof of payment with your records

Be careful with the words “deposit” and “advance payment”, and with pending requests

In everyday language, a deposit is any amount paid before the service. Legally, the name does not settle everything: in many countries a deposit and an advance payment 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 the client or the business 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. General information, not legal advice; if in doubt, consult a lawyer. Pending bookings also need attention: until it is confirmed or rejected, a pending booking holds the slot. 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. If the client entered an email address when booking, you can write to them from your own account; the phone number on the public form is not stored.

Common questions