NightsBridge Main

Virtual cards: How they work

Some of the extranets provide a virtual card payment option. This means that the guest prepays the extranet and they provide a virtual card for you to claim your money. These payments are automatically processed via PayBridge.

Please see below information including when the payment will be transacted, what happens when payment fails and what the PayBridge procedure would be if a virtual card goes through. Example: No authorisation documents needed and more.

Will my current bookings be processed on the day of arrival?

Yes. PayBridge will swipe the card on the day of activation. This date varies per extranet.

When are the cards due for deduction?

Booking.com = Day of Activation (varies per booking).

Expedia = Day of Arrival

Agoda = Day after Arrival

Hotelbeds = Day of Departure

Will I automatically be opted in to virtual card bookings from the extranets?

No. You will have to reach out to Booking.com, Expedia, and Agoda if you don't currently accept virtual card bookings. 

What do I do if the payment fails?

You will have to get the card details from the extranet to try and process the card again yourself. If you get stuck reach out to the extranet for new virtual card details.

How do Virtual cards currently get processed?

At the moment when you receive a booking with a virtual card payment, you have to manually go and retrieve the card details and process the payment - remembering which day you are allowed to process which cards for different channels.

Virtual cards will be automatically swiped - what do you mean?

When NightsBridge receives a booking with a virtual card, we will securely store the card details. Every morning the system will check which bookings need to be swiped. We will swipe the card and send you a confirmation stating that the booking has been paid and the virtual card has been processed.

What do you have to do?

Nothing, we will now retrieve and swipe on the correct day with the correct amount.

When will I get paid?

We will pay you 48 hours after the cards has been processed.

How will I know which bookings PayBridge will be handling?

We will let you know each morning, which payments will be processed for "today". The booking notes will also indicate if PayBridge will swipe the card.

How do I know when the card will be swiped?

There will also be instructions in the booking notes, as well as the booking confirmation mail for each booking. Please always read the notes. There is also a reminder below.

What amount will be deducted?

PayBridge will swipe the amount as authorised by the channel and sent through when booked - guaranteed money!

What bank charges am I paying for this automatic deduction?

A bank fee of R2.83 (ex. VAT) will be charged per transfer made to your establishment.
Virtual Cards are international cards, so 3.82% (incl. VAT) will be charged on the total amount.

Where can I see the breakdown of the amount deducted and paid to me?

As per any amount we deduct and pay, please go to your Owners Login/ Webview> Payments> Payment recon

What will happen if the booking is modified?

PayBridge will still process the card according to the changes received.

What will happen if a booking is cancelled?

The automatic deduction will be removed from the queue.

What if I need to process as per my cancellation policy?

You will have to manually process the card if you would like to enforce your cancellation policy. The card details will be available in the owner's login. PayBridge will not process anything automatically.

What will happen if it is a same day booking?

The card will be swiped immediately through PayBridge. If you have your own gateway, the card will be automatically swiped through your gateway. 

Virtual Cards from Booking.com will be swiped the day after arrival if the booking or modification is for the same day as arrival.

What authorisation documents do we need for virtual card transactions?

We do not require our clients to collect any documentation for virtual card transactions.

This is because we processing the payment on the channels card, not the guests credit card.

Previous Article How to schedule an automated credit card link email to collect the balance before guest arrival.
Next Article What are the reasons for Virtual card disputes?