Ask clients to leave a card on file

A saved card protects a location against no-shows without taking a deposit. The client leaves a card when they book. Nothing is charged then. If they later cancel late or do not come, and the fee from your cancel policy is not already covered by a deposit, the fee is charged to that card, and only that amount.

The client agrees to this when they leave the card, and sees what it can be used for. The card number is entered into the payment provider's own field and never reaches Zelun. Zelun shows the client only the card's brand and last four digits so they can recognise it.

If the charge does not go through, because the card was declined or the bank wants the client present, the fee is recorded as owed on the appointment and the client is sent a message with a link to pay it. Zelun does not hold your funds: the fee is charged through your connected payout account, and the platform fee applies as for any captured payment.

1. Connect payouts for the location. A card cannot be required where the location cannot take card payments.
2. Set your late-cancel tiers and no-show fee under Cancel policy. A saved card only pays fees that policy computes.
3. Decide whether to require a card from everyone, or only from clients who keep missing appointments.

Require a card for every booking

1. Open My business and find Payments under Billing. On the location's card, find Deposits, saved cards and credit.
2. In Protection for a booking, choose A saved card, or A deposit and a saved card if the location also takes a deposit. None and A deposit do not ask for a card. The choice has to match the deposit switch above it: turn the deposit on or off first.
3. Press Save.

Require a card only from risky clients

1. On the same card, scroll to No-show risk deposit (staff only).
2. Fill in the number of no-shows and the months to look back.
3. In Ask a risky client for, choose A saved card (no deposit). A location that takes a deposit keeps asking for the deposit instead.
4. Press Escalate risky clients to deposit-required.

Take a card at the desk

1. Choose or create the client first, because the card is saved to a client. Then book as usual. At a location that requires a card, the booking is refused until a card is on file, and the form shows Save the client's card.
2. With the client present, tick the box that says they have read the policy and agree, enter their card in the card field and press Save card.
3. The form says the card is saved. Press Book to finish.

When a fee is owed

1. The appointment shows Fee owed and the amount.
2. Press Retry fee capture to try the saved card again, or Paid at the desk once the client paid you in cash or at your terminal.
3. Otherwise the client has already been sent a link to pay it from their booking page.

When they book at a location that asks for a card, they see Leave a card on file, what it can be charged for, a box to agree, and the button Save card and book. A client who already left a card there is not asked again. On their booking page they see Your card on file with the brand and last four digits, and they can press Remove this card. They cannot remove it while a visit or a fee still depends on it.

• Expecting a card at group bookings, recurring series, waitlist offers and one-tap rebooking. These cannot collect a card yet, so at a location that requires one they are refused online. Book them at the desk.
• Choosing a protection that disagrees with the deposit switch. Turn the deposit on or off first, then choose the matching protection.
• Expecting a card to be charged for more than the fee. It is charged only for the fee your policy computes.
• Expecting the desk to override the card requirement. It cannot be skipped. Save the card, or change the location's protection.

The linked articles cover deposits and refunds, risk deposits, the cancel policy, recording who cancelled and payouts.