Some countries — including India — have banking regulations that prevent off-session authorization holds on guest cards. This means the standard flow where a security deposit hold is scheduled days before check-in will not work for cards issued in these countries.
BetterSTR automatically detects restricted cards and adjusts the deposit flow so your property stays protected without any manual intervention.
What Changes for Restricted Cards?
The standard deposit flow works like this:
Guest verifies their card (with a $1 test charge, immediately refunded)
A hold is scheduled and placed automatically X days before check-in (off-session)
Host captures or releases the hold after checkout
For restricted cards, step 2 cannot happen off-session because the guest’s bank requires them to be present and authenticate. Instead:
Guest verifies their card as normal
When the guest visits their guide within 36 hours of check-in, the deposit hold is placed on-session (while they’re on the page)
Everything else — capture, release, transaction history — works identically
Default Behaviour (No Action Needed)
This is the default and works automatically. The guest is asked to return within 36 hours of check-in to authorise the hold. The hold lasts 7 days and auto-releases if not captured.
Important: If you don’t capture money from the guest’s card within the 7-day hold window, the hold expires and you would need the guest to return and re-authorise. For this reason, inspect the property and capture or release promptly after checkout.
What Does the Guest See?
If a guest with a restricted card opens their guide more than 36 hours before check-in, they’ll see a message explaining that their card provider requires the deposit to be taken closer to check-in. They will need to return within 36 hours of check-in to complete the deposit step before they can access the guide.
When they return within the 36-hour window, the deposit step appears and they authorise the hold right there on the page.
Option: Charge Instead of Hold
If you prefer not to rely on the guest returning within 36 hours, you can enable “Charge deposit for restricted card countries” in your property settings. When enabled:
The deposit is charged (not held) when the guest visits within 36 hours of check-in
The guest sees clear messaging that the deposit will be charged and refunded after checkout
You must manually refund the deposit after checkout if no damages occurred
Both Stripe fees and a BetterSTR platform fee apply — 3% for Premium Guide users or 7% for free users. Standard holds are always free.
How to Enable the Charge Option
For all properties:
Go to Property Defaults
Scroll to Guest Verification / Security Deposits
Toggle on “Charge deposit for restricted card countries”
For a single property:
Go to Property Settings for the property
Scroll to Guest Verification / Security Deposits
Change the setting from “Use Default” to “On”
Which Countries Are Affected?
| Country | Reason |
|---|---|
| India | RBI e-mandate regulations require on-session authentication for recurring/off-session card charges |
This list is updated as new regulations are identified. The system automatically applies the correct flow based on the card’s issuing country — no action is needed from you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to do anything?
No. BetterSTR detects the card country automatically and adjusts the flow. The only optional action is enabling the charge mode if you want to guarantee the deposit is taken.
Can the guest still see the guide?
No. The guide remains blocked until the deposit is completed. The guest will see the verification overlay with a message to return within 36 hours of check-in.
What if the guest doesn’t return within 36 hours?
The deposit hold won’t be placed. If you have charge mode enabled, you can send the guest their guide link and ask them to complete the deposit step. The hold/charge only happens when the guest is actively on the page.
Is there a fee for holds?
No. Security deposit holds are always free. A platform fee (3% Premium / 7% Standard) only applies if you enable the charge mode for restricted countries.
How do I know if a guest has a restricted card?
The card’s issuing country is stored on the verification record. You’ll see the deposit status as “Card Verified” without a scheduled hold date — this indicates the deposit will be handled on-session.