Most guests today prefer to pay with a credit card, but particularly for higher-end properties, some guests would rather pay by check. Some owners also prefer this, as it avoids credit card fees.
OwnerRez does not support ACH or e-checks, for a variety of technical and accounting reasons. This functionality may be added at some point in the future, but it's much more complicated than you might think. Even if you are using a payment processor gateway that claims to support these payment methods, they cannot work automatically with OwnerRez.
- Video: Payment Processing - Checks
- Configuring OwnerRez to Accept Checks
- Check Settings
- Recording Payments
- Other Notes
Configuring OwnerRez to Accept Checks
You can add an entry for the manual Check Payment method under Settings > Payment Methods > Connect a Payment Method:
This screen allows you to enter instructions that will be displayed to your guests.
Your guests need to know:
- The name to make their check out to
- The address to mail it to
- Any other relevant instructions
In the Options section further down, you can select which properties should offer the check option.
It is not currently possible to have multiple Check Payment options per property - you can only offer one. So, you'll need to have a consistent set of instructions.
Save your changes to create and activate the Check Payment method.
Check Settings for Properties and Bookings
There are special settings that control how the check option is presented and made available to your guests. These are available in the specific Property > General Info > Rules > Pending & Auto Cancellation > For Checks.
This is how OwnerRez addresses the inherent problem with accepting checks:
- OwnerRez is designed to require payment in order to hold open dates
- But, it takes time for the check to show up in the mail and clear your bank
By default, OwnerRez allows two weeks (15 days), which should normally be sufficient. During this time, a booking whose guest has selected the Check Payment option, will be held in Pending status. You can change this to a different time if you prefer.
At the end of the specified time, if payment has not been recorded, the booking will be automatically cancelled, and the guest notified, if you've selected the "auto cancel" option.
Quotes and Bookings automatically inherit the settings from the Rules for their Property; this appears in the Rules tab of each. If you like, you can modify them there without changing the main Property Rules.
Recording Payments
When the check arrives in the mail, OwnerRez cannot know that on its own—you have to record the check payment manually. For instructions, see the Recording Payments section of the Custom Payments Option support article.
Other Notes
- OwnerRez cannot use checks as a payment method for its automatic security deposit holds. Checks can, however, be used to pay for refundable damage deposits.
- There is no ability for OwnerRez to issue checks for refunds - you have to do that manually, then record the refund in OwnerRez. Do this by going to the Booking, Transactions tab, Refund dropdown button, Record Refund option.