Deposit by SMS • No‑show
Deposit by SMS: request payment before booking
A <strong>deposit by SMS</strong> helps you confirm a booking, visit, rental or appointment before the service. You send a <strong>secure payment link by SMS</strong>, the customer pays in seconds, and you cut <strong>no-shows</strong> without needing a card terminal.
Customers can pay the way they prefer
One payment link, multiple options: card and compatible wallets.
Secure payments powered by Stripe.
Customers can pay the way they prefer: One payment link, multiple options: card and compatible wallets.. Secure payments powered by Stripe.
How it works
Follow an SMS payment link from creation to confirmation.
Create the payment link
Enter the phone number, identity, amount and memo.
PayLinker side
Ready to send
Customer side
Waiting
Phone number
Full name
Amount
Label
SMS sent to Lucy
PayLinker pushes the link as soon as you click “Send”.
PayLinker SMS
[PayLinker] – Your secure payment link:
paylinker.fr/abc
Please pay €189.00 for “Catering booking”.
PayLinker SMS
[PayLinker] – Your secure payment link:
paylinker.fr/abc
Please pay €189.00 for “Catering booking”.
The secure link lands directly on their phone.
Secure Stripe checkout
Amount charged
€189.00
Catering booking
Order paid
You receive €189.00 and the SMS link becomes the receipt.
Amount charged
€189.00
Catering booking
Sign up for free
Send SMS payment links and get paid with PayLinker + Stripe.
Why request a deposit by SMS?
A deposit makes the booking concrete before the service starts and keeps your slot reserved for a customer who is actually committed.
Sent by SMS, it is usually read immediately and turns into payment faster than a standard email reminder.
It’s one of the most effective ways to reduce no-shows.
Deposit by SMS: secure your bookings and cut no‑shows
A customer who books without paying any deposit can cancel at the last minute. Result: blocked slot, idle equipment, empty tables or a lost job. With a deposit by SMS, you make sure the customer is genuinely committed and dramatically reduce no‑shows, while keeping the experience simple for them.
With PayLinker, the deposit by SMS relies on a secure payment link sent by SMS: you create the link, send it in a few clicks and your customer pays the deposit from their phone. No terminal to install, no app to download.
💡 For an overview of SMS payments (deposits, balances, instalments), you can also visit the PayLinker homepage.
Why deposits by SMS change the game
- • Filter out low‑commitment bookings.
- • Protect your most profitable time slots.
- • Make your cash flow more predictable.
- • Stay simple for customers (one SMS, one link, one payment).
In practice, deposits by SMS complement your existing processes
- • You keep your own terms and cancellation rules.
- • PayLinker provides the payment link, Stripe processes the payment, you stay in control of the client relationship.
- • Each deposit generates a dated receipt that you can use in accounting or in case of disputes.
How do deposits by SMS work with PayLinker?
The idea is simple: you turn important bookings into firmly committed ones by collecting a remote deposit.
Step 1
Create your deposit link
From your PayLinker dashboard, you choose the deposit amount, the reason (booking, rental, service…) and, when available, enable payment in instalments via Stripe.
Step 2
Send the link by SMS
PayLinker generates a unique SMS payment link that you send to your customer. You can also share it via email or messaging.
Step 3
Customer pays and you’re notified
The customer pays the deposit on a secure Stripe page. You receive a real‑time notification and an automatic receipt is generated for both parties.
The payment is processed by Stripe and the funds land directly in your business account.
Learn about how the payment link works.
Deposit, booking fee or security deposit: what changes?
A deposit is a firm commitment: once paid, the appointment is locked and the booking is confirmed.
A booking fee is useful when you want to confirm a reservation while keeping your terms and cancellation policy clearly framed. Check the booking fee by SMS to see how that flow works.
A security deposit covers risk on equipment, keys or property handover; see the online security deposit for details.
Every option runs through the payment link page built by PayLinker and Stripe.
Which professionals benefit most from deposits by SMS?
Wherever a time slot, table, piece of equipment or team is booked, deposits by SMS become a useful reflex.
- • Equipment and leisure rentals (jet‑skis, boats, bikes, rooms…).
- • Leisure activities on booking (escape game, karting, activity parks).
- • Restaurants, caterers, wine bars for large tables and events.
- • Coaches, wellness practitioners, photographers, event providers.
- • Concierges and short‑term rental managers.
Concrete examples
- Equipment or leisure rentals: You only block a date and time once the deposit is paid. No more equipment reserved for nothing.
- Caterer or restaurant: Deposit by SMS for large tables, privatisations or weddings, balance paid before or after the event.
- Coach or practitioner: Deposit requested when the appointment is booked, which greatly reduces missed appointments.
To go further, you can also explore our sector pages on leisure and rentals / restaurants and caterers.
PayLinker pricing
Using PayLinker doesn’t change the deposit amount. Only the transaction is subject to your PayLinker commission plus Stripe fees. Sending an SMS consumes 1 credit.
FAQ
When should I request a deposit by SMS?
As soon as you are reserving a slot, visit, rental or piece of equipment for a customer. It is especially useful before high-value appointments or any booking with cancellation risk.
Can I request a deposit without a subscription?
Yes, PayLinker works without a subscription: you only pay the transaction commission, Stripe fees and 1 credit per SMS sent, with no fixed costs.
Does the customer need an account to pay?
No, the customer taps a secure Stripe payment link and pays the deposit without creating an account.
Is the deposit refundable?
You apply your own refund policies; PayLinker never holds the funds, Stripe transfers them straight to your business account.
Can I send the deposit link by email?
Yes, email is a free channel, while sending an SMS consumes 1 credit so the link reaches the customer faster.
Are the payments secure?
Stripe secures every transaction and the funds land on your professional account as soon as they are captured.
Ready to confirm more bookings with deposits by SMS?
Create your PayLinker account, send secure payment links by SMS and start collecting deposits before each booking, rental or appointment that matters.