Background
Thanks to our wonderful community of advisors, we've made dozens of improvements to Credit Card Authorization since initial release. This article walks you through the two biggest upgrades - setting up an Installment Payment Schedule, and allowing authorization for Partial Payments.
This article will walk you through both. But before we jump in, if you haven't already, we highly recommend reading our help center article on Credit Card Authorization.
Overview
Installment Payment Schedule: this new payment schedule allows you, as the advisor, to break down an activity or trip package into multiple payments (beyond just a 'deposit / remaining balance').
We typically see advisors use Installments when they want to make sure a client "stays on track" towards authorizing the full cost of their trip. They will set up monthly or biweekly installments, and make sure the full cost is covered by the 'final payment due date'.
We recommend using an Installment Payment Schedule if you anticipate needing to break down the price of an item into multiple payments - even if you don't want to do that immediately. You can add additional installment(s) at any time.
Allowing Partial Payments: this is a new setting on all Payment Schedules (except guarantees), which allows your client to authorize partial amounts towards the full cost, deposit, or next installment of an activity.
We typically see advisors enable this setting for clients who like to authorize payment amounts whenever they have extra money in the bank, to make sure they are periodically paying for the cost of their upcoming trip.
You can enable this setting at any time (per activity/trip package).
Jump to Partial Payments below to learn more.
Installments
This new payment schedule allows you, as the advisor, to break down an activity or trip package into multiple payments (beyond just a 'deposit / remaining balance').
Advisor Side: Setting Up Installments
1. First, make sure you have set up your activity or trip package with all the information necessary to get it 'ready for authorization'
If you have questions about this, please refer to our help center article on Credit Card Authorization.
2. Next, select the 'Installment' payment schedule type
3. Add as many Installments as you'd like. You'll see the 'Remaining Balance' automatically update as you go
Make sure to re-publish your trip once you're done setting up!
Client Side: Authorizing Installments
1. When your client visits their itinerary to authorize payments, they will see the first Installment that is "ready for authorization"
They will go through the regular process of reviewing items to authorize, adding a credit card, agreeing to terms, and e-signing.
2. You will both receive an email confirmation after authorization
The PDF receipt is identical to the regular receipt for authorizations - but you'll note the amount next to that authorization in the table is marked as an 'Installment'.
3. The next time your client goes to authorize payments, they will see the "next" Installment you have added
Note: you can add additional Installments any time, and they will show up in the order you have set them.
Advisor Side: Reviewing Installment Authorizations
1. You will receive an email receipt immediately after authorization (shown above), and see this logged in Trip Activity
2. Installments will be split out on your Authorization Table
3. You can access credit card details for each Installment on the activity or package
Tip: this allows a client to use different credit cards per Installment, if they prefer to pay that way.
Partial Payments
This is a new setting on all Payment Schedules (except guarantees), which allows your client to authorize partial amounts towards the full cost, deposit, or next installment of an activity.
Advisor Side: Allowing Partial Payments
1. To allow Partial Payments, simply toggle this option on your trip packages or activities at any time
This will work for all Payment Schedule types except Guarantees. Remember to re-publish your trip when you're done!
Client Side: Making Partial Payment Authorizations
1. When your client visits their authorization page, they'll see the option to 'Authorize Partial Amount' available for any packages or activities you've enabled this setting for
2. They will then be able to authorize "up to" the next available amount
For 'In Full' schedule types that means they can authorize any partial amount up to the full cost of the package or activity
For Deposit + Final Balance types that means they can authorize partial payments towards the Deposit at first, and towards the Final Balance once the deposit has been authorized
For Installments types that means they can partially authorize each Installment
3. You will both receive an email confirmation after authorization
4. The next time your client goes to their authorization page, they'll be able to authorize another partial payment
Or they can authorize the full remaining balance / installment normally!
Advisor Side: Reviewing Partial Payment Authorizations
1. You will receive an email receipt immediately after authorization (shown above), and see this logged in Trip Activity
2. Partial Payments will be split out on your Authorization Table
3. You can access credit card details for each Partial Payment on the activity or package
