Deposits & Security Holds

How deposits work

A security deposit is a card pre-authorisation (hold) placed at booking time. The funds are reserved on the customer's card but not actually charged — unless a damage claim is filed.

The hold is automatically released when: The booking is marked Returned with no active damage claim A configured number of days after the return date passes

Setting a deposit Open a listing and click Edit Listing. Set the Security Deposit amount. Save.

All future bookings for this listing will require the deposit at checkout.

Deposit statuses

| Status | Meaning | |--------|---------| | Held | Pre-auth active on card | | Released | Hold removed, no charge | | Charged | Deposit converted to actual charge (after a claim) | | Failed | Pre-auth could not be placed |

Manual release

If you need to release a deposit before the automatic release: Open the booking detail page. Scroll to the Deposit section. Click Release Deposit.

FAQ

Q: How long does a card hold last?

A: Stripe holds authorisations for up to 7 days. For longer rentals, OutdoorShare automatically re-authorises the hold if needed.

Q: What if the deposit hold fails?

A: The admin receives an alert and the booking is flagged. You can retry the hold or proceed at your own risk.