When a client authorizes their credit card in Tern, does that charge their card?
Authorization and charging are two different things in Tern. Here is how each scenario works:
Most bookings (hotels, flights, tours booked directly with suppliers): Tern collects the client's credit card authorization, but does not charge the card. You use the card details with the supplier to process payment directly. The authorization records that the client has consented to the charge.
Car rentals and other pay-on-pickup bookings: Car rentals are handled as Transfer bookings and follow the same rule as most bookings. Tern collects the client's authorization as a hold but does not charge the card. The rental supplier charges the card at pickup. Two things to watch:
Authorizations expire 30 days after they are created. If pickup is more than 30 days out, the hold will expire first, and the client will be re-prompted to authorize the next time you publish the trip.
Once the supplier has charged the card, mark the item as "Exclude from authorization" and republish so the client isn't asked again. See handling guarantees in active authorizations for the steps.
If a rental is strictly pay-at-counter and needs no hold, mark the item as "Exclude from authorization" from the start so it never generates an authorization prompt.
Project Expedition tours and transfers: When a client authorizes payment for a Project Expedition booking through Tern, Project Expedition automatically charges the card. You do not need to enter card details separately.
Insurance integrations (Arch RoamRight, Faye, Chubb, Trawick): When a client authorizes payment for an insurance policy quoted through Tern's integrations, the insurance provider automatically charges the card.
Tern is fully PCI compliant. Credit card details (including CVV) are collected through the secure authorization flow and are accessible to you within the trip.
If a charge fails on an integrated booking, Tern will show the booking as failed. Better failure notifications are planned for a future update.