Checkout Process
Payment at Checkout
At checkout, customers enter their credit card, review the total, and complete payment. If deposits are enabled, they pay a portion now with the balance due at check-in.
After entering their information, customers complete payment. This page explains what they see and how payment works.
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The Payment Page
Customers see:
Order Summary
- All items in cart with details
- Rental dates and times
- Selected add-ons
- Fees and taxes itemized
- Total amount due
Payment Form
- Credit/debit card entry
- Gift card field (if enabled)
- Pay button with amount
Cart Timer
- Remaining time to complete checkout
- Cart expires if time runs out
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Payment Methods
Credit & Debit Cards
Accepted cards: - Visa - Mastercard - American Express - Discover
Customers enter: - Card number - Expiration date - CVC (security code) - Billing ZIP (for verification)
Gift Cards
If you've enabled gift cards:
- Customer enters gift card code
- System validates the code
- Balance is applied to order
- Remaining amount (if any) charged to card
Gift cards can cover: - Full payment (no card needed) - Partial payment (difference to card)
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Deposits vs Full Payment
Full Payment
By default, customers pay the full amount at checkout.
Deposit Payment
If you've configured deposits:
| What Customer Pays | When |
|---|---|
| Deposit amount | At checkout |
| Remaining balance | At check-in |
Example with 20% deposit: - Total: $500 - Deposit (20%): $100 paid at checkout - Balance: $400 due at check-in
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Payment Processing
When customer clicks Pay:
- Card validated — Details checked with payment processor
- Funds authorized — Bank confirms availability
- Payment captured — Charge is completed
- Confirmation sent — Success page and email
This typically takes 2-5 seconds.
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After Successful Payment
Immediate Actions
- Booking status → Reserved
- Confirmation email sent
- Receipt displayed on screen
What Customer Receives
Confirmation Page: - Success message - Booking summary - QR code for check-in - Print/save options
Confirmation Email: - Same booking details - Link to view booking - Your cancellation policy - Check-in instructions
Card is Saved
The customer's card is saved (securely tokenized) for: - Balance payments at check-in - Potential additional charges - Future bookings (convenience)
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Payment Errors
Card Declined
Common reasons: - Insufficient funds - Card limit reached - Bank flagged the transaction - Incorrect card details
Customer sees: - Clear error message - Option to try another card - Cart remains held (timer continues)
3D Secure / Verification
Some cards require additional verification:
- Bank verification popup appears
- Customer completes verification (password, SMS code, etc.)
- Returns to checkout to complete payment
This is an extra security step, not an error.
Technical Errors
If something goes wrong: - Generic error message shown - Customer can retry - Contact support option provided
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Security Features
Card Security
- Card details never touch RecSystems servers
- Processed directly by payment processor
- PCI-DSS compliant processing
Fraud Prevention
- CVV verification required
- ZIP code verification
- Velocity checks (multiple attempts)
Cart Locking
During payment: - Cart is locked to this customer - Prevents double-charging - Prevents inventory conflicts
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What Staff See
When payment completes:
- New booking notification in dashboard
- Payment recorded in cart/booking details
- Customer info available for check-in prep
Payment details show: - Amount charged - Card type and last 4 digits - Transaction timestamp - Payment processor reference
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Gift Card at Checkout
Applying a Gift Card
- Customer clicks "Have a gift card?"
- Enters the gift card code
- System validates and applies balance
- Order total updates
Full Coverage
If gift card covers the entire order: - No credit card required - Payment completes with gift card only - Customer still provides contact info
Partial Coverage
If gift card doesn't cover full amount: - Gift card balance applied first - Remaining amount charged to card - Both transactions recorded
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Troubleshooting
"Payment failed" after 3D Secure
- Card may have been declined after verification
- Customer should try a different card
Customer charged but no confirmation
- Payment may have succeeded
- Check your dashboard for the booking
- Payment processor may have delayed confirmation
Cart expired during payment
- Customer took too long
- Must start new booking
- Previous payment (if any) will be refunded
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Need more? Search the live help desk or email wecare@recsystems.com.