This guide shows you how to send a secure Payment Link to a client to collect an appointment deposit or capture their card details.
The information in this article is relevant to businesses using PhorestPay.
Feature Launch in Progress
This feature is rolling out and will be fully available soon. It may be limited to certain Phorest subscriptions. We will notify you when it's fully released.
In this Article
What is a Payment Link?
A Payment Link is a secure way to collect a deposit for an appointment or to securely capture card details, allowing you to charge a No Show fee or Cancellation Charge if necessary. Rather than asking for card details over the phone, you can send the link via SMS or email, allowing your client to pay online quickly and easily.
You can choose how the link works (for example, how long it stays active). You can also see the link’s status at any time to see if it’s still unpaid or has been paid. Once your client pays, the appointment automatically updates to reflect the deposit.
Currently, you can only send Payment Links for appointment deposits or card capture. At this time, it's not possible to use Payment Links for purchasing other items, such as retail products.
Enabling Payment Links
To enable Payment Links, go to Manager > Payment Links, and enable the Payment Links setting.
Sending a Payment Link
To send a Payment Link, open an appointment, then scroll down and select Add deposit.
Next, select the Payment Link option, and choose whether to take a deposit or Capture card details only.
When you choose to take a deposit, the Deposit amount will be automatically set to your Custom Online Deposit amount, but you can adjust it if needed.
Finally, adjust your payment Link Options if needed, then select Add deposit to send the Payment Link to your client immediately.
Sending a Payment Link from PhorestGo
You can also send a Payment Link from PhorestGo by tapping an appointment > Options > Take a deposit > Collect deposit > Send payment link.
Link Expiry & Auto Cancellation
When sending a Payment Link, you can add an expiry and/or auto-cancel the appointment if card details aren't entered by the time the link expires.
You can also choose to send an Auto Cancel Appointment notification by SMS/Email under your Link Options settings.
What Does it Look Like for my Client?
Your client will get an Email and/or SMS (based on your settings) with a link included. When they open the link, they'll be taken to a Payment Link Checkout page showing their appointment details, where they can enter their card information.
You can change the wording on the Email and SMS templates under Manager > Payment Links > SMS Editor/Email Editor
Agreeable Disclaimer
Your regular Online Booking Disclaimer will also appear if enabled, and it must be accepted before the client can complete the Payment Link. Click here for a guide on updating this disclaimer.
Viewing the Status of Payment Links
You can view the current status of the Payment Link by double-clicking on a client's appointment.
From here, you can also Resend the Payment Link notification(s), Copy the Payment Link URL to share manually, or Cancel the Payment Link.
Additionally, you can check the complete history and current status of all payment links sent to clients by going to Manager > Payment Links > History.
Configuring Your Default Payment Link Options
When you send a Payment Link, your default Link Options will be applied automatically.
You can adjust these default settings under Manager > Payment Links > Settings.