Using payment links for underpaid bookings
Last updated: October 30, 2025
Note: In order to use this feature, certain permissions are required for your Dashboard. Please contact FareHarbor Support for assistance if you do not see this option. To initiate the setup process, submit the Payment Links Request Form.
By updating your item settings, you can allow customers to make payments to underpaid bookings using a payment link in their email or confirmation page.
The following are scenarios where this option can be useful:
- A customer calls with questions about your activities before booking. You make a direct booking for the customer and a payment link is automatically included in their confirmation and reminder emails when there is an amount due.
- A booking is made for a group of people who want to pay individually. Any customer on the booking can make a payment towards the remaining balance using the payment link provided in the customer confirmation page or email forwarded to them.
- A customer has made an online booking with a deposit, and they would like to pay the remaining balance later, either in a one-time payment or in multiple payments.
Enabling payment links for items
If you do not see these options in your item settings, you may not have the required permissions for your account. Please contact FareHarbor Support for assistance.
To enable payment links for an item:
- Navigate to the Items tab.
- Select the item you want to update.
- Select Bookability from the sidebar.
Navigate to the Online Payments section, and check the box to Allow customers to make payments to underpaid bookings.
- Check at least one of the following options:
- Accept payments for online bookings: This option allows a customer who has made a booking with an online deposit to pay their remaining balance online.
- Accept payments for direct bookings: Allows the customer to add online payments to direct bookings.
- Check at least one of the following options:
Click the Save changes button to finalize your updates.
Note: If you would like to allow partial payments from customers, please get in touch with our Support team to request this.
Making payments from a payment link
Making payments for online bookings
Once an online booking is complete, your customer can make a payment directly from the booking confirmation page:
They can also select Make a payment from their booking confirmation email.
The customer can now click the Make a payment button to enter payment information.
Making payments from emails
For existing, non-cancelled bookings that have an amount due, you can send the customer an email that will show the remaining balance. The Make a payment button will automatically be included in the email.
You can verify that the item is available for online payments by referring to the Payable online section below the email details. The amount shown here includes the total amount due when the customer pays their remaining balance online. (Note: If the customer pays the remaining balance in multiple payments, the amount payable can vary, depending on taxes and fees.:
Here’s what a reminder email for a booking with an outstanding balance looks like to your customers: (remember, email messages are customizable):
Summary of payments made
A summary of all payments made towards the booking is emailed to the customer after each successful payment:
The Make a payment button is also included in any forwarded emails to allow the recipient to make an online payment towards the amount due.
Frequently asked questions
Why don’t I see the option to send payment links?
The feature may not yet be enabled for your Dashboard. Please contact FareHarbor Support for assistance.
Do deposits have to be enabled on my Dashboard in order to use payment links?
No. Deposits and payment links payments are independent settings, however, these features can make it easier for customers when used together. For example, with both deposits and payment links enabled, your customer can pay an initial deposit when booking, later return to pay the remaining balance in installments.
Is it possible to enforce a deadline for payments?
Automatic payment plans and deadlines are not currently supported. As a best practice, we recommend updating your confirmation notes and creating a canned message that you can reuse when emailing customers about their remaining payments.
QR codes associated with underpaid bookings will still be valid. A booking must be canceled in order to invalidate its QR code.
How do I send a payment reminder to my customers using payment links?
To send a payment reminder, first set up a canned message and name it “Payment reminder” (you can write any reminder text in the body of the message letting the customer know they still have an amount due).
Next, select the “Message” email type from a customer’s booking using the “Payment reminder” canned message you created, which will include a confirmation link with any applicable payment links.
Can a customer apply a gift card when using a payment link?
Yes, but only if they are applying the gift card to a single booking (payment links cannot be used on an online order that has multiple bookings).
Why does the amount due that I see differ from the amount my customer sees in their booking confirmation or emails?
All payments made online will have an associated fee. The one exception is when a customer has already paid an online deposit for a booking. Because the associated fee is collected at the same time as the deposit, no additional fees will be applied.
Why don’t I see the payment link option when it is enabled on an item?
The payment link option will not be shown if the booking has been cancelled or there is no amount due.
Why can’t I access payment links after the availability end date?
Access to booking and order confirmation pages, including payment links, will expire seven days after the availability ends. This security measure is in place to prevent potential personally identifiable information (PII) leaks.
Can payment links be used with affiliate bookings?
Yes, affiliates can use payment links when using an affiliate Dashboard. These are the best scenarios to use payment links:
- Referral and skip payment: The affiliate places the booking and the customer pays for the total amount of the tour directly via the payment link in their confirmation email.
- Referral deposit: The customer pays the affiliate a commission outside of FareHarbor. The remaining balance (your net rate) is then requested from the customer through a payment link.
Note: Payment links cannot be used for bookings made via API (for example, OTA bookings).
How do I send a payment link via text or SMS?
All texts sent from FareHarbor contain a link to the customer confirmation page at the end of the message, which contains a payment link if applicable.
Can I rebook or modify a booking with a payment link?
Yes, the payment link included in emails and texts will direct customers to the customer confirmation page, which reflects all changes made to a booking. Customers will be directed to the most recent booking containing a payment link in the event of a rebooking.
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Setup
Setup for clients
If a client wants to have this feature enabled, please send them the Payment Links Request Form link to initiate the process.
Payment links and deposits are two separate features. One does not need to be enabled in order to use the other, but for many clients, it may make sense to use both together.
To enable payment links for clients:
- Navigate to Settings > Advanced company settings.
- Scroll down to Payments and open the menu.
Enable Let customers pay for underpaid bookings online under the Payment links section.
To enable partial payments for the client:
- Navigate to the Items tab.
- Select the item you want to update.
- Select Bookability from the sidebar.
- Navigate to the Online Payments section.
- Enable the FH admin setting Accept partial payments.
- Save the changes.
Setup for affiliates
Note: Payment links cannot be used for bookings made via API (for example, OTA bookings).
To enable payment links for affiliate-created bookings:
- Navigate to Settings > Users & Permissions > Permission Groups.
- Check if the Affiliate – Can see prices (skip payment) permission group exists:
a. If it doesn’t exist, continue with the third step of these instructions.
b. If it already exists, skip to the seventh step of these instructions. - Click on Edit for the Affiliate – Can see prices permissions group and duplicate it (scroll to the bottom of the page > click Duplicate).
- Name this new group Affiliate – Can see prices (skip payment).
- Scroll down to the Working with bookings sections and:
- Enable Skip adding payment when creating bookings.
- Enable Send emails.
- Click Save changes.
- Navigate to the general Settings page > Affiliates (via the options on the left-hand side).
- Click on Edit for the relevant affiliate company (under Actions on the right-hand side).
- Open the Permissions dropdown menu and select the Affiliate – Can see prices (skip payment) permission.
- Scroll down to Options and make sure that:
- The Payment default IS NOT configured to Affiliate taking payment.
- Show prices in confirmations is
- Click on Save to finalize if any changes were made.
To restrict payment links for affiliate-created bookings:
- Navigate to Settings > Affiliates (via the options on the left-hand side).
- Click on Edit for the relevant affiliate company.
Scroll down to Options and set Payment default to Affiliate taking payment.
Note: With this setting, bookings will be treated as fully paid.
Click on Save.
- Navigate back to Settings > Users & Permissions > Permission groups.
- Click on Edit for the relevant permission group.
- Disable Send emails.
- Click the Save changes button.
Best practices
- To help clients see underpaid bookings and reach out to customers accordingly, you can set up a saved report using the Underpaid bookings suggested report and share this with the client during training.
- If a client wants to have a visible payment policy shown to customers during online booking and in confirmations, you can add this using a whole-booking custom field.
- If needed, you can also add a checkbox field that requires the customer to acknowledge the payment policy before booking.
- For direct bookings, some clients may need the option to choose between multiple payment policies. In this case, you can set up a dropdown field with the different options and conditional logic to show a text field with the related policy that is visible to the customer.
Fees and partial payments
- If a customer wants to make a partial payment, payment link fees are evaluated based on the following:
- When the full total payable online is entered as a partial payment, payment link fees are added this amount and the amount due and fees will be paid in full
- For partial payments less than the total payable online, the fee is included in the amount entered so that customers are not surprised the amount charged to their card is more than what they entered into the partial payment amount
FAQs
Will the ‘Payable online’ preview always be shown?
The total payable online preview is not shown on book forms and booking overviews when a booking has a set total.
Can PayPal be used as a payment method for payment links?
Yes, PayPal can be used as a payment method for payment links in the following scenarios:
- Client Dashboard has Stripe as the default payment processor but PayPal is enabled; or
- Client Dashboard has PayPal as both the default and enabled payment processor.
When is a payment link fee included, and when is it not?
Payment link fees are always included when a customer pays using the Make a payment button. The only exception is when a customer creates a booking using an online deposit, in which case the regular booking fee is paid in full at the time of booking (and no payment link fees are added for additional payment). Note that when a deposit is made on a direct booking, subsequent payments are still eligible for payment link fees.
Why don’t I see the option to pay for a booking using payment links for an affiliate booking?
If a client reaches out with this question, please refer to the Setup for affiliates steps and check if any of the settings is missing for them.
Why can’t I access payment links after the availability end date?
Access to booking and order confirmation pages, including payment links, will expire seven days after the availability ends. This security measure is in place to prevent potential personally identifiable information (PII) leaks.