TripWorks gives you the option to pre-authorize a guest’s credit card instead of charging it immediately. This is especially useful if you want to hold a card for incidentals, security deposits, or final payment at check-in—without collecting money up front.
What Is a Pre-Authorization?
A pre-authorization places a temporary hold on a guest’s credit card for a specific amount. No money is withdrawn, but the amount is set aside by the guest’s bank. You can later:
- Capture the full or partial amount
- Or release the hold without charging the card
Pre-authorizations expire automatically after 7 days if not captured.
Important Note
Before getting started, reach out to our support team to request the Pre-Authorization feature on your account. You can contact support at support@tripworks.com.
Video Walkthrough
How to Use Pre-Authorization During Booking
- Inside your Product Catalog, set up a product that represents your security deposit or damage protection
Need help creating a product?
Check out our article on How to Build Your Product Catalog.
Adding an Authorization to an Existing Booking
- Select an existing trip or create a new trip where you would like to set up a credit card hold
- Add your Security Deposit or Damage Protection product to the trip.
- Select Payments > Save/Card hold to set up the hold
- Enter in the credit card details and the hold amount, then select “Save”
Important Note
The “Hold Amount” should include any fees. For example, the amount shown below in red includes a Security Deposit of $100 + $8 in fees. Therefore, the amount you were enter for your hold should be $108.
You'll then see the hold initiated on the trip along with the automated expiration date of the hold
Releasing a Credit Card Hold on a Trip
To release a credit card hold before the expiration date, select the reversal arrow
You will be asked to confirm the release. Select “Release” to proceed
One released, you'll see the hold status updated to show release of the funds
Capturing a Credit Card Hold on a Trip
To capture a credit card hold, select the dollar sign icon
Add a note as to why you are capturing the hold and select “Capture”
One completed, you'll see the hold status updated to show the funds were captured
Credit card pre-authorizations for security deposits are a valuable tool for businesses across various industries. TripWorks' Pre-Authorization feature enables users to efficiently collect and manage security deposits, enhancing trust, security, and operational efficiency!