Deposits - How Much?

[Jackster]

Can anyone tell me what they do regarding bookings/deposits? I have just started my B&B and don't yet have credit card facilities. I ask for a 10% non-refundable deposit. However, if one person is only staying for one night (at £30) they then have to send me a cheque for £3 which seems rather pointless. How does anyone else get round this? The best I have asked for so far is £30 as this was for a couple staying for five nights. Any ideas?:-k

[Raincliffe1]

Last year and this year our deposit is £25.00 per room per night. To be honest most of our one night people are via the Internet (where the amount is paid in full at time of booking) or 'off the road/passing by.' For many years it was £10.00 per room per night but we found out the hard way that if some visitor books a £90.00 room and has only paid £10.00 they can not turn up (thus their deposit is lost) yet still book into another establishment charging say, £50.00 and they have still saved themselves money and left you high and dry.

Katherine

[Jackster]

Thanks for the reply Katherine. That is a good tip. I think I will change my website to state a £25.00 deposit instead of the 10%.
Thanks again. I knew this website would be good!

[Ang]

We own a caravan & camping park and for the last 10 years we have had a £5 per night deposit for camping/touring and a £15 per night for the hire of the static caravans. However, lately we have found that people dont seem to worry about loosing a small deposit. This year we have asked for all 1 night bookings to be paid in full, and are considering a 50% deposit for next year on all bookings. Anyone tried asking for 50%?

[joyful]

Credit cards solve many problems I can assure you. Once you have their cards I found guests behave beautifully in all areas I have found. I take one nights accommodation up front with a clear cancellation policy on the web site, in writing when I confirm and send the receipt for the deposit). They can cancel no probs up to 14 days before arrival. But, if they cancel within 48 hours or cut their stay short and I can't relet the room/s then I take full payment (they have entered a legal and binding contract with you to pay for the nights they booked whatever). Just this last week we had 2 no shows (business people) and one (holidaymaker) leave early. I would have lost a truck load without the deposit and facility to take the one night of the early leaver (who was trying it on in any event as they had originally just wanted the Sat night only and I have a min stay of 2 nights at weekends). It is expensive to run a card operation but the peace of mind is fantastic!! Guests now even "fess up" to damage which is brill. Usually one can just say "ooh, well, thank you for telling me" and be grateful you KNOW the cup is broken etc. Nothing worse than broken objects just hidden in rooms etc.,

[Sue: White Horse Walking Holidays]

When taking credit card details, is it OK to also note the security code in case you do need to process the card at a later date? I was wondering if there are security implications here? I take cards but have never kept the security code although obviously I have a copy of the actual transaction once made.

[_Sharpe]

The security code isn't on the transaction copy so you must take it and store it under lock and key and then shred it and the card details after the guests have checked out and you've seen that there is no damage. We take credit/debit card details for confirmation when customers book and we always ask them to phone the details to us. The security code is part of the details.

I've just done my Securitry Metrics registration form because as of next month, Barclays Business will be charging .098% if you haven't signed up with Security Metrics. It's a company that they have assigned to ensure that we aren't storing credit card info on our computers or if we are, then it's stored safely. I'm a level three merchant so it was £11.95 for an annual fee. If I hadn't signed up, I would be paying in excess of £15.00 next month and every month after that. Basically, all you are doing is saying that you store credit card info on paper under lock and key and destroy that paper after the customer leaves.

[Libra]

We own a caravan & camping park and for the last 10 years we have had a £5 per night deposit for camping/touring and a £15 per night for the hire of the static caravans. However, lately we have found that people dont seem to worry about loosing a small deposit. This year we have asked for all 1 night bookings to be paid in full, and are considering a 50% deposit for next year on all bookings. Anyone tried asking for 50%?


We have a holiday rental where the guests have to pay 50% deposit if arrival is more than 8 weeks away otherwise the full amount is due.

We also have a Security Deposit of £100 which is fully refunded provided no extra cleaning, damage or breakage is reported by the housekeeper.

I did see on a site today offering similar properties to our own a charge of £200 as security.

Luckily so far we have only had very minor problems relating to the Security Deposit.


Cotswolds Luxury Lakeside Holiday Cottage (http://holidaycottageisis.com)