Payment links are convenient for businesses that want to accept digital payments but don’t need a full product catalog or checkout process. Examples include a deposit for a reservation, a phone order, a repair, a service, a delivery, or an outstanding balance.
Online payments that inspire confidence and are properly tracked
In your payment provider’s portal or app, you create a payment request with the amount, description, and, if applicable, due date. The customer receives a unique link via email, text message, in-app message, or QR code and makes the payment on the secure payment page.
After payment, the provider displays a status and a report. The specific features, payment methods, and costs depend on the service selected.
Online Reservations with a Deposit
The customer needs to know who is requesting the payment, what they are paying for, the amount due, and what happens after payment is made. Use a clear company name and reference. Do not send any unexplained links from an unknown phone number or email address.
Warn customers that you will never ask for their PIN, online banking password, or full card details via a payment link outside of the secure provider page. This helps them recognize phishing attempts.
A successful payment must be linked internally to a reservation, customer, order, or invoice. Use unique references and designate who is responsible for following up on outstanding payments. Prevent employees from sending a second request to the same customer from different systems.
For larger volumes, an API or integration can automatically create the link and update the status. For limited use, a clear manual process may suffice.
Specify how long a link remains valid and what happens if the customer pays late. For advance payments, cancellation and refund policies must be available before payment is made. Refunds can be processed through the provider portal or via an integration, depending on the service.
Remove or deactivate unused links whenever possible, and if in doubt, check the payment status directly in the portal—not via a screenshot provided by the customer.
A payment link is convenient for the customer, but requires clear internal references, follow-up, and terms and conditions. With a solid process in place, you can receive digital payments without having to build a full-fledged online store right away.
OmEs pay assesses which provider, payment methods, and reporting options best suit your needs and helps tailor the process to your reservations, orders, or invoices.
