Can I charge a security deposit for bookings?
Yes. WP Booking System allows you to add a separate refundable security deposit to a booking.
You can set the security deposit amount in the booking form, decide whether it should be taxable, and configure how many days after the booking ends it should be automatically refunded.
A security deposit is different from a booking deposit or part payment: it is an additional refundable charge rather than part of the booking price.
How do I enable security deposits?
Go to:
WP Booking System → Settings → Payment → Security Deposit
Enable the Security Deposit option.
You can then configure:
- whether the security deposit feature is enabled;
- whether the security deposit is taxable;
- how many days after the booking ends it should be refunded.
Once enabled, a new Security Deposit field becomes available in the Form Builder.
How do I add a security deposit to a booking form?
Open the form you use for bookings and go to the Form Builder.
Add the Security Deposit pricing field to the form.
The amount of the security deposit is configured in the field’s settings.
For example, you could add a refundable security deposit of €200 to a holiday rental booking.
Because the deposit is added at form level, different booking forms can use different security deposit amounts when required.
When is the security deposit charged?
The security deposit is charged together with the booking payment.
WP Booking System does not store customers’ card details in order to charge the security deposit at a later date.
This means the built-in Security Deposit feature does not work as a credit-card authorization or pre-authorization hold.
What happens if I use Part Payments?
If Part Payments are enabled, the security deposit is not charged with the initial booking deposit.
Instead, the security deposit is added to the Final Payment.
For example, if the booking total is €1,000 and you collect a booking deposit first, the refundable security deposit will be collected when the customer makes the remaining payment.
Is a security deposit the same as a booking deposit?
No.
These are two separate features in WP Booking System.
Booking deposit / Part Payment
A booking deposit is part of the total booking price.
For example:
Booking price: €1,000
Booking deposit: €300
Remaining payment: €700
The customer still owes the remaining €700 because the €300 deposit forms part of the booking price.
Security Deposit
A security deposit is an additional refundable amount.
For example:
Booking price: €1,000
Security deposit: €200
Total amount charged: €1,200
The €200 security deposit can then be refunded after the booking has ended.
You can use both Part Payments and a Security Deposit on the same booking.
How are security deposits refunded?
In the Security Deposit settings, you can specify how many days after the booking ends the deposit should be automatically refunded.
For example, setting the refund period to 2 days gives you time to inspect the property after checkout before the refund is processed.
The security deposit and its status can be viewed from the booking’s Payment Details tab.
Where can I see the security deposit for a booking?
Open the booking in the WordPress admin and go to Payment Details.
If the booking contains a security deposit, the security deposit information and its current status are displayed there.
The Payment Details tab also contains the booking’s:
- payment status;
- payment gateway;
- transaction information;
- order breakdown;
- refunds.
This makes it easy to review the booking payment and security deposit from the same place.
Can I refund a payment manually?
Yes. Payments can be refunded from the booking’s Payment Details tab.
Click Refund, enter the amount you want to refund, and confirm the refund.
If the booking was made using Part Payments, the different payments are shown as separate refund sources.
Can different booking forms have different security deposits?
Yes.
The security deposit amount is configured in the Security Deposit field inside the Form Builder, rather than as one global amount.
This means you can create different forms with different security deposit amounts.
For example:
- Apartment A → €150 security deposit
- Villa B → €400 security deposit
- Equipment rental → €100 security deposit
Simply use the appropriate form for each booking calendar or resource.
Can I apply the security deposit only in certain situations?
The Security Deposit field supports form configuration like other pricing fields, allowing you to build the deposit into the booking form where required.
For example, you may use different forms for different properties or booking types so that only the relevant bookings include a security deposit.
This gives you more flexibility than applying one security deposit amount globally to every booking.
Is the security deposit taxable?
You can choose whether the security deposit should be treated as taxable.
Go to the Security Deposit settings and enable or disable the Taxable option depending on how the deposit should be handled for your business.
Tax treatment varies between jurisdictions, so check the applicable accounting or tax rules for your business.
What should I tell customers about the security deposit?
It is a good idea to clearly explain the security deposit before the customer completes their booking.
For example:
“Your booking includes a refundable €200 security deposit. The deposit will be automatically refunded 2 days after checkout.”
You may also want to explain:
- what the security deposit covers;
- when it is collected;
- when it is normally refunded;
- under what circumstances deductions may be made.
This helps prevent customers from confusing the refundable security deposit with a non-refundable fee.
Why isn’t the Security Deposit field available in my form?
First make sure the security deposit feature has been enabled under:
WP Booking System → Settings → Payment → Security Deposit
The Security Deposit field only becomes available in the Form Builder after the feature has been enabled.
Pricing must also be enabled for your booking setup because the security deposit is a pricing field.
Can I collect a security deposit on arrival instead?
You can create your own offline workflow for collecting a deposit outside WP Booking System, but this is separate from the plugin’s built-in Security Deposit functionality.
The built-in feature is designed to add the security deposit to the booking payment and track it with the booking.
If you simply want to collect cash or handle a card deposit manually at check-in, you would manage that process outside the automated Security Deposit feature.
Does WP Booking System place a temporary hold on the customer’s card?
No.
The built-in Security Deposit feature charges the security deposit rather than placing a temporary authorization hold on the customer’s card.
WP Booking System does not store card details for charging the deposit later.
The amount can then be refunded after the booking according to your configured refund schedule.
Summary
WP Booking System can automatically handle refundable security deposits as part of the booking process.
To use the feature:
- Enable Security Deposit in the Payment settings.
- Add a Security Deposit field to your booking form.
- Set the deposit amount in the field.
- Decide whether the deposit is taxable.
- Set how many days after the booking ends it should be refunded.
The security deposit is charged with the booking payment, or with the Final Payment when Part Payments are enabled, and its status can be managed from the booking’s Payment Details.
