Skip to main content

πŸ’¬ FAQs β€” ChargeAutomation

Everything you need to know about ChargeAutomation, from online check-in and payments to security deposits, upsells, guest portals, integrations, and more.

Written by Thomas

πŸ’‘ New to ChargeAutomation?
ChargeAutomation helps hospitality businesses automate the guest journey β€” from booking and pre-check-in to payments, guest verification, upsells, access, and post-stay workflows.

πŸš€ Getting Started

What is ChargeAutomation?

ChargeAutomation is a guest experience and automation platform for hotels, vacation rentals, B&Bs, hostels, and other hospitality businesses.

With ChargeAutomation, you can automate:

  • πŸͺͺ Online check-in

  • πŸ” Guest and ID verification

  • ✍️ E-signatures and rental agreements

  • πŸ’³ Reservation payments

  • πŸ›‘οΈ Security deposits

  • 🏠 Damage waivers

  • ✨ Guest upsells

  • πŸ“± Guest Portal

  • πŸ“– Digital guidebooks

  • πŸ’¬ Guest communication

  • πŸ” Smart-lock access

  • πŸ“Š Guest and payment workflows

You can customize the guest journey by property and booking source, so each guest only sees the features that apply to their reservation.

Do I need a PMS or channel manager?

No. You can use ChargeAutomation as a standalone solution.

If you already use a PMS or channel manager, connecting it allows reservation information to sync automatically and enables more advanced automation.

ChargeAutomation also provides an Open API for custom integrations.

Which PMS and channel managers do you support?

ChargeAutomation integrates with a growing number of PMS and channel-management platforms.

Because integrations are continually being added and updated, please check our PMS Integrations section in the Help Center for the latest supported platforms.

If you don't see your PMS, contact our Support Team. We can check whether another connection method is available.

Can I use ChargeAutomation with Airbnb and Booking.com?

Yes. ChargeAutomation can work with bookings received through major OTAs, including Airbnb and Booking.com, when connected through a supported PMS or channel manager.

Your guest experience and payment rules can be customized by booking source and property.


πŸͺͺ Online Check-in

What is Online Check-in?

Online Check-in allows your guests to complete important pre-arrival requirements online before they arrive.

Depending on your setup, you can collect:

  • πŸͺͺ Passport or ID

  • 🀳 Selfie

  • πŸ“§ Email address

  • πŸ“± Phone number

  • ✍️ E-signature

  • πŸ“„ Rental agreement

  • β˜‘οΈ Terms & Conditions

  • πŸ“ Custom questions

  • πŸ’³ Payment information

You can also combine online check-in with payments, security deposits, upsells, and the Guest Portal.

Do guests need to download an app?

No. ChargeAutomation's guest experience works through a web link, so guests can complete their check-in from their phone, tablet, or computer without downloading an app.

Can I customize the check-in process?

Yes. You can customize the guest experience based on:

  • 🏠 Property

  • πŸ”— Booking source

  • 🏷️ Tags

  • πŸ‘€ Guest requirements

You can also turn individual parts of the guest journey on or off.


πŸ’³ Payments

Do I need a payment gateway?

You only need a payment gateway if you want to collect or authorize payments.

A payment gateway is required for features such as:

  • πŸ’³ Reservation payments

  • πŸ’° Outstanding balances

  • πŸ›‘οΈ Security-deposit authorizations

  • ✨ Paid upsells

  • πŸ”— Payment requests

You don't need a payment gateway simply to use online check-in, guest information collection, or the digital guidebook.

Which Payment Gateways do you support?

ChargeAutomation supports 120+ payment gateway integrations, including providers such as StrPay, Stripe, Authorize.Net, Adyen, and many regional payment providers.

Payment-gateway availability can vary by country, so check the current Payment Gateway Integrations section for the latest options.

Can guests pay using Apple Pay or Google Pay?

Yes. ChargeAutomation supports multiple payment methods, including credit/debit cards and various alternative payment methods. Availability depends on your connected payment gateway and configuration.

Does ChargeAutomation hold my money?

No. Payments are processed through your connected payment gateway.

ChargeAutomation automates the payment workflow but does not act as your payment processor or hold your funds.


πŸ›‘οΈ Security Deposits & Damage Waivers

Can I collect a security deposit?

Yes. ChargeAutomation can collect a security deposit using a pre-authorization, which places a temporary hold on the guest's payment method rather than immediately charging the guest.

If there is no damage, the authorization can be released automatically.

If there is eligible damage, you can capture all or part of the authorized amount.

What is the difference between a Security Deposit and a Damage Waiver?

πŸ›‘οΈ Security Deposit

A refundable pre-authorization is placed on the guest's card. The funds are held temporarily but are not captured unless you need to make a valid claim.

🏠 Damage Waiver

A non-refundable fee is collected from the guest in exchange for the applicable damage protection offered by your property.

ChargeAutomation now allows you to offer guests a choice between the two options through Flexible Guest Protection.

Can guests choose between a Security Deposit and Damage Waiver?

Yes. With Flexible Guest Protection, guests can choose between:

  • πŸ›‘οΈ A refundable Security Deposit

  • 🏠 A non-refundable Damage Waiver

The choice can be presented directly within the online check-in flow.

When is the Security Deposit released?

The release timing can be configured in ChargeAutomation.

By default, the security deposit is released 3 days after checkout, and you can configure the automatic release period from 1 to 7 days.

The actual time it takes for funds to become available to the guest can also depend on the card issuer and payment provider.

Can I capture only part of the Security Deposit?

Yes. You can capture partial or full security deposit amount within the booking.


✨ Upsells

What can I sell through ChargeAutomation?

You can offer guests additional services and products such as:

  • πŸ• Early check-in

  • πŸ• Late checkout

  • πŸ›οΈ Upgrades

  • πŸš• Transfers

  • 🧹 Additional cleaning

  • 🎟️ Tours and activities

  • πŸ§– Experiences

  • πŸ₯ Breakfast

  • πŸ“¦ Other products and services

Can guests purchase upsells without completing check-in?

Yes. ChargeAutomation provides a standalone upsell page where guests can enter their Booking ID and name to view and purchase available add-ons, even if they haven't completed online check-in.

You can also share individual upsell links through your PMS messages, SMS, email, WhatsApp, or other channels.

Can I charge different prices depending on the time?

Yes. Time-slot pricing allows you to charge different prices depending on the selected time.

For example:

Early check-in before 10 AM β†’ $50
Early check-in 10 AM–12 PM β†’ $30

Time-slot pricing can also be used for services such as transfers, cleaning, and experiences.

Can upsells update my PMS automatically?

For supported PMS integrations, certain upsells such as Early Check-in and Late Checkout can automatically update the reservation schedule in your PMS.


πŸ“± Guest Portal

What is the Guest Portal?

The Guest Portal is a personalized web-based area where guests can access information and services related to their stay.

Depending on your configuration, guests can:

  • πŸ”‘ View access information

  • πŸ“– Open the digital guidebook

  • πŸ“Ά View Wi-Fi information

  • 🏠 Read property information

  • πŸ’³ View payment information

  • ✨ Purchase upsells

  • πŸ’¬ Chat with your host

  • πŸ“ View local recommendations

Guests don't need to download an app.

What is a Digital Guidebook?

A Digital Guidebook lets you provide guests with important property and destination information in one place.

You can include:

  • πŸ“ Local recommendations

  • 🏠 House information

  • πŸ“œ Rules

  • πŸ”‘ Check-in/check-out instructions

  • πŸ“Ά Wi-Fi information

  • πŸ—ΊοΈ Maps

  • πŸ“Έ Photos

  • πŸŽ₯ Videos

  • πŸ”— Useful links

Can my guidebook be multilingual?

Yes. You can create multiple language versions of your guidebook and either manually translate the content or use ChargeAutomation's AI translation feature.

Guests see the appropriate language based on their selected language in the Guest Portal.


✍️ Agreements & Guest Consent

Can guests sign a rental agreement online?

Yes. ChargeAutomation supports electronic signatures and rental agreements as part of the online check-in process.

You can also configure Terms & Conditions and other guest-facing documents.

Can I download signed agreements?

Yes. Signed agreements and other guest documentation can be retained in ChargeAutomation and used as part of your records when needed.


πŸ” Guest Verification

Can I verify a guest's identity?

Yes. Depending on your plan and configuration, ChargeAutomation can collect and verify information such as:

  • πŸͺͺ Government-issued ID

  • 🀳 Selfie

  • πŸ“„ Guest documents

  • πŸ“§ Contact information

You can incorporate verification into the online check-in process.


πŸ”— Integrations & API

Does ChargeAutomation have an API?

Yes. The ChargeAutomation Open API allows developers to build custom integrations and automate workflows involving properties, bookings, and booking sources.

Can I connect multiple payment gateways?

Yes. ChargeAutomation supports connecting multiple payment gateways, including the ability to configure payment gateways at the property level where supported.

I don't see my PMS or payment gateway. What should I do?

Contact our Support Team.

Please provide:

  1. Your PMS/channel manager

  2. Your booking channels

  3. Your country

  4. Your payment gateway

  5. What you want to automate

We'll help determine whether an existing integration or another connection method is available.


πŸ’° Pricing & Billing

Is there a free plan?

Yes. ChargeAutomation currently offers a Basic plan with no subscription fee, as well as paid Essentials, Professional, and Enterprise plans.

The features, property limits, users, storage, and payment-processing fees vary by plan.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. New clients can start with a 7-day free trial on eligible paid plans. A payment card is required to start a trial on paid plans.

How is ChargeAutomation billed?

Paid plans are billed according to your subscription and the number of active properties/rentals connected to your account.

You can manage your subscription and billing details from the Billing section of your ChargeAutomation account.

⚠️ Important: Deactivating a property does not automatically remove it from billing. Make sure the property is also removed from your billing settings when appropriate.


πŸ“² Guest Communication

Can I send guests check-in links automatically?

Yes. When a new reservation is received, ChargeAutomation can send the guest a pre-check-in link through supported communication channels such as email or SMS.

The guest can then complete the required steps from their phone or computer.

Can I resend a guest's check-in link?

Yes. You can resend or share the guest's check-in link from the booking.

You can also resend/share actions to remain available after pre-check-in has been completed.


πŸ‘₯ Team Access

Can multiple team members access my ChargeAutomation account?

Yes. You can invite team members and assign access according to your plan and account permissions.

This allows different team members to manage reservations, payments, guest communication, operations, and other tasks without sharing a single login.


πŸ”’ Security & Privacy

Is ChargeAutomation PCI compliant?

Yes. ChargeAutomation provides PCI-compliant handling of credit-card data and uses connected payment providers for payment processing.

Payment security also depends on your connected payment provider and how your account is configured.

Does ChargeAutomation store credit-card numbers?

ChargeAutomation is designed to avoid directly storing raw card details and works with connected payment providers for payment processing and authorization.

For questions about how card information is handled in a specific payment workflow, please contact Support.

Is ChargeAutomation GDPR compliant?

ChargeAutomation provides features designed to support GDPR and guest-data requirements.

However, compliance is a shared responsibility. Your business is responsible for configuring data collection, retention, privacy notices, and guest workflows appropriately for your jurisdiction.

πŸ†˜ Need Help?

We're here for you.

πŸ’¬ Chat with Support

Use the chat inside your ChargeAutomation account to contact our Support Team.

What is ChargeAutomation?
ChargeAutomation is a globally-recognized leader in online check-in, smart payment collection, upsell, deposit collection and guest portal designed for hotels, B&B's, vacation rentals, hostels, car rentals & other equipment rentals.

Does ChargeAutomation offer solutions for other industries?

Yes, ChargeAutomation is used by various other industries. Speak with an expert to learn about our industry specific offerings. ChargeAutomation has offerings for Government, Real Estate, Rentals, Marketplace and Financial Services.


​What channel manager, PMS or gateway do you integrate with?
You can find the list of all platforms we integrate with here.

If you do not find what you're looking for, send us a request via [email protected].

Can I use ChargeAutomation as a standalone without PMS?

Yes. You can use ChargeAutomation as a standalone solution, simply select "No PMS" during the integration setup.

Does ChargeAutomation collect my funds?

No. ChargeAutomation uses your connected payment gateway, so you are in control of your funds at all time.

Do I need to have a payment gateway to use your software?

If you want to collect or authorize payments or offer upsells to your customers,yes you will need to have one.

Otherwise, it is not needed and you can still use ChargeAutomation for online check-n, personalized guest portal & guidebook

Can we use ChargeAutomation with multiple users? How much is the fee?

Absolutely! You can invite team members to join your account

Can you collect Security/Damage deposits?
Yes. You can collect security or damage deposit from any booking source in a form of authorization. You can capture partial or full amount in case of damage and deposit can be released automatically or manually. Find answers to your questions about Security/Damage deposit here.

What is Chargeback Protection?

With Chargeback Protection, you are protected against fraudulent disputes. Our superior fraud detection eliminates Chargebacks entirely. We’re so confident in the models that we cover 100% of fraudulent chargebacks.

What OTA Channels do you support?

We can support any OTA such as Booking.com, Expedia, Agoda, cTrip, VRBO/Homeaway, direct bookings etc.

What is Guest Portal & Guidebook?

It is a guest area where they can see their Check-in Instruction, WiFi, Payment Receipts, Purchase Add-on Services, Chat & access digital Guidebook.

What is Upsell? How can I use it?

You can enable the Upsell feature and be able to offer your guests additional services like room upgrade, early check-in, late check-out, breakfast, tours & activities and customize your own upsell through the ChargeAutomation platform. You will find more information here.

What is Online Check-in?

It is a FREE online tool to collect guest pre-arrival information such as ID/Passport, E-signature, Credit card scan, Selfie, Email address, Phone number and you can add your own question.

What is Payment Automation? How does it work?

We know taking payments is pain. Especially if you have to take full or partial split payments for Reservation amount, Deposits, Outstanding balance, Cancellation fee, tourist tax etc. We automated all your collection needs based on a set of rules you crate. If payment fails, card is marked invalid automatically and payment link sent to the customer to securely complete payment.

How do I issue refunds?
Our platform allows you to issue full or partial refunds if necessary.

How do I deal with a failed payment?
When a payment fails, a guest will receive an email requesting payment information to be updated. If the information is not updated in 24 hours, the booking may be cancelled.

For damage deposit, how long do you hold the card for?

For stripe users, we can do up to 28 days for Visa and 30 days hold for Amex/Mastercard/Discover credit cards.

The customer cancels, and I send him a full refund. Do I have to pay ChargeAutomation anything?

Refund transactions are FREE. We only bill successful transactions of charges and authorizations.

How long will I be able to charge a guest card after their stay?

The card will be securely stored in your payment provider vault and will be available for charging at anytime.

If I have listings from channels not listed on the integration list, how can I process the bookings from them?

You can use the Payment and Authorization requests and send the link.

I only use Booking.com and does not want to use a PMS, can I still process and receive bookings?

Yes. You can send Payment and/or Authorization request link to your guest or use our standalone solution

How do we resend an Authentication message reminder to guest who has not received the message?

You can resend it manually or copy the link and share it via sms/email etc.

How do I split payments for a booking?

You can customize your setting when and how much to collect first and second payment.

Is it possible to send an authorization link for a damage deposit to a mobile number instead of an email?

Yes. You can create and copy the authorization link and send to a mobile number.

Is the authorization link just for one-time use?

Yes. The authorization link is one time for a specific customer. You can also create a re-usable payment page that you only create once and share it with anyone as needed

How long is the customer credit card available for charging?

Customer card is stored in your payment provider system and available for charging anytime.

How much does this cost?
Use ChargeAutomation for FREE or upgrade to one of our powerful professional plans. Choose the right ChargeAutomation for your business, no matter how small or large. View pricing details here.

For payment automation, are fees directly deducted from the transaction?

No. We bill you at the end of the month based on your transaction volume. Fees are separately paid by you.

What kind of phone number does the SMS comes from when it sends to guests?

ChargeAutomation has a few different generic numbers, and we use the best one for deliverability based on the guest's location.

What is the fee for connecting to Siteminder PMS?

The fee is $15 per month.

What happens at the end of my trial?

At the end of your 7-day trial, you'll be automatically downgraded to the free plan. If you are taking payments or authorization, you will receive a usage-based monthly bill at the end of every month.

How secure is it?
We are PCI Compliant and all data is encrypted and transferred securely and we do not store credit card data. We are also GDPR compliant and you are in control of your data at all time.

Charge Automation is a guest experience software that helps hotels & vacation rentals increase revenue, eliminate check-in queues, improve guest satisfaction, and maximize profits.

Did this answer your question?