Online payment, payment on site or guarantee card

When a traveler books accommodation, three phrases can easily be confused: online payment, payment on-site, and guarantee card.

In reality, the cost of the stay can be paid in two ways: online at the time of booking or directly with the host. The guarantee card is not a third payment method. It can secure a booking whose main payment will take place on-site.

Sometimes people talk about a "bank guarantee," but the more accurate term in this context is guarantee card. Stripe verifies the payment method without automatically charging the cost of the stay.

The two payment methods for a stay

Online payment

The traveler pays the displayed amount before confirming their booking. Stripe processes the payment, and GoMyRoof waits for its technical confirmation before marking the booking as paid.

This method can be offered by a professional host with an active and compliant Stripe Connect account. Individual hosts use only on-site payment.

On-site payment

The traveler does not pay GoMyRoof for the accommodation. They pay the property directly according to the terms stated in the booking.

A card can be checked at the time of booking to guarantee certain consequences in case of late cancellation or no-show. This check doesn't mean that the stay has already been paid for.

How does online payment work?

When this option is activated for the listing, the traveler sees the price, currency, and main conditions before confirming.

Here’s how it works:

1. the traveler chooses their accommodation and dates;
2. the price and applicable conditions are displayed;
3. the traveler enters their payment information in Stripe's secure interface;
4. Stripe verifies and processes the transaction;
5. GoMyRoof confirms the booking only after receiving the technical result of the payment.

If Stripe requests additional authentication, the traveler must complete this step with their bank. Until the transaction is confirmed, it should not be considered finally collected.

When does the host receive the money?

The traveler’s payment and the bank transfer to the host are two different steps.

The traveler may have paid for their booking while the net amount intended for the host is still being processed by Stripe. The transfer depends in particular on the schedule of the connected account, Stripe checks, and any confirmed refunds or adjustments.

The host section lets you see:

• the amount paid by the traveler;
• the commission for the booking;
• the net amount intended for the host;
• the earnings still waiting to be transferred to the bank;
• the bookings already reconciled with a Stripe payment.

So, the date of a booking doesn’t necessarily match the date the money arrives in the establishment’s bank account.

How does payment on-site work?

With on-site payment, the host collects the amount of the stay directly from the traveler. It is up to them to specify the accepted payment methods in their establishment and to arrange payment at the announced time.

GoMyRoof does not collect in advance the price indicated as payable on site. The host remains responsible for this collection, for the invoice of the accommodation service when required, and for managing the tourist tax.

The GoMyRoof commission related to this booking remains separate. It first appears as an estimated amount, then becomes due at the time specified by the applicable conditions, usually after the stay.

What is the purpose of the guarantee card?

The guarantee card is used to secure a reservation paid on-site. Stripe checks the payment method and keeps the necessary technical references, without automatically charging the accommodation price.

Before confirmation, the traveler must be able to know:

• the price that will be payable directly to the host;
• the currency of the reservation;
• the applicable cancellation policy;
• the possible consequences of a late cancellation or a no-show;
• the limit of the amount that could be charged in these situations.

The traveler then explicitly agrees to these conditions before their card is verified.

Does the guarantee card lock in the price of the stay?

Checking a card does not mean that the stay amount is collected by GoMyRoof. The price is still payable directly to the host.

However, the traveler's bank may temporarily show a technical operation related to the card verification. How it works depends on the bank and the payment network.

You should check the status shown in the reservation to know if an amount has actually been debited. A simple recorded or verified card should never be presented as a received payment.

In which cases can the guarantee be debited?

A later charge can only be requested in situations that were planned and accepted at the time of booking, such as a late cancellation or a no-show covered by the chosen policy.

The guarantee card does not allow for free charging of:

• damage found in the accommodation;
• a service added after booking;
• unplanned consumption;
• an amount exceeding the accepted limit;
• an amount in another currency without a new agreement.

A new authentication may be requested by the bank. If the charge is refused or remains pending, the host should not consider it as collected.

The host should also not ask for a second payment for an amount already charged through the guarantee.

Payment on site with or without a guarantee

Payment on site simply means that the property collects the price of the stay directly. Depending on the process in place, a guarantee card may also be requested to secure cancellation and no-show conditions.

So you need to read separately:

• the payment method, which shows where the stay price will be paid;
• the guarantee, which specifies if a card has been checked to cover certain outlined situations;
• the cancellation policy, which determines the conditions under which a fee can possibly be requested.

Which payment method can a host choose?

For a professional host

A professional can offer online payment or payment on-site depending on how their listing is set up. Online payment requires an active Stripe Connect account and the verifications requested by Stripe.

For a private host

A private host offering a stay uses payment on-site. The accommodation price is paid directly by the traveler to the host.

The declared status must always match the reality of the activity. It should not be chosen solely to access a different payment method.

How to choose between online payment and on-site payment?

Online payment might be suitable if you want to:

• confirm the payment of the stay before arrival;
• reduce the payments to collect to be done on-site;
• track earnings and future payouts from your host area;
• use Stripe Connect to receive the net amount from bookings.

On-site payment might be suitable if you want to:

• cash payment directly from the traveler at your establishment;
• keep your usual payment habits at check-in or check-out;
• offer a process suited for occasional activity;
• use, when the process allows, a guarantee card against certain late cancellations or no-shows.

The best choice depends on your status, your organization, and how you welcome travelers.

Who keeps the card data?

Payments, connected accounts, and card verifications are handled by Stripe. GoMyRoof does not receive or store the full card number or its security code.

GoMyRoof only keeps the technical references necessary to track the operation, as well as the limited information provided by Stripe, such as the card type or its last digits when available.

A host should never ask the traveler to send their full card number or security code via message, phone, or email.

What happens after a refund?

For an online payment, a confirmed refund is sent back to the payment method used at the time of booking if the network allows it. Its appearance in the traveler's account then depends on their bank.

For an amount collected directly on-site, the corresponding refund is generally handled by the host, since they themselves received the payment.

A refund should only be marked as completed in the dashboard once the technical operation has actually been confirmed. Any applicable fees are shown separately and should not be confused with the amount returned to the traveler.

GoMyRoof receipt and accommodation invoice

After a confirmed online payment, GoMyRoof can provide the traveler with a receipt confirming the recorded transaction.

This receipt does not necessarily replace the invoice for the accommodation service. Since the accommodation is provided by the establishment, the host remains responsible for the document they must give to the traveler according to their status and the rules that apply to them.

On their side, the host can find in their account the commission invoices, any credits, and other documents issued by GoMyRoof.

The tourist tax stays separate

The tourist tax is not included in the price handled by GoMyRoof. It is shown separately and is still payable directly to the host.

The establishment is responsible for calculating it, taking into account any exemptions, collecting it, and remitting it to the competent authority.

Check your process before publishing

Before activating an announcement, take a few minutes to check:

1. that your status as an individual or professional is correct;
2. that the chosen payment method matches your organization;
3. that your Stripe Connect account is active if you offer online payment;
4. that the cancellation policy is understandable;
5. that the terms of the guarantee card are clearly displayed;
6. that the currency and the price payable on-site or online are correct;
7. that the arrival and departure times are up to date.

It’s also useful to check the listing like a traveler would. The payment method should be clear before confirmation, without having to look for the information across multiple pages.

Key points to remember

Online payment covers the stay before confirmation. Payment on-site is collected directly by the host. A guarantee card secures certain conditions of an on-site payment, but it doesn’t mean that the price of the stay has already been charged.

In any case, only the statuses confirmed by Stripe and recorded by GoMyRoof allow an operation to be presented as successful. This distinction protects the traveler, the host, and the platform against double payments and misunderstandings.

Sources and references

1. GoMyRoof — Secure Payments
2. GoMyRoof — Terms for Hosts
3. GoMyRoof — Platform Transparency and How It Works
4. GoMyRoof — Host Area