Security Deposits and Damage Claims
A security deposit protects a property against guest damage. In Argonautas it is usually a pre-authorization hold on the guest's card, not an actual charge: money is reserved but never captured unless you file a claim. If no claim is made, the hold is released and the guest is never charged.
You manage the deposit from the Security Deposit card on the booking's detail page.
Deposit Statuses
The card shows where the deposit stands:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | No hold placed yet. |
| Hold Active | A pre-authorization hold is live on the guest's card. |
| Released | The hold was let go; the reserved funds are freed. |
| Claimed | You charged against the deposit for damage (partial or full amount). |
| Expired | The hold lapsed on its own (see below). |
| Failed | A hold or charge attempt did not succeed. |
Holds Lapse on Their Own
Card networks cap how long a pre-authorization can sit -- typically about six days. On a longer stay, the hold lapses before checkout even though nothing went wrong. When that happens the status moves to Released or Expired, and the reserved funds return to the guest automatically.
A lapsed hold is normal and expected on long stays. It does not mean you have lost the ability to charge for damage.
Claiming for Damage
The Claim Damage button opens the Claim Damage Deposit dialog, where you enter an Amount (up to the original deposit) and a Reason describing the damage.
How the claim is collected depends on the state of the hold:
- The hold is still live. The claim captures from the funds already reserved. Because the money was set aside at check-in, this cannot be declined.
- The hold has lapsed, but the card is still on file. The claim runs a fresh charge against the retained card. This is a real sale, so -- unlike capturing a live hold -- it can be declined by the guest's bank. If it is, you'll see the deposit status reflect the failure and can follow up with the guest.
This is the key improvement: as long as a card was kept on file, you can still claim for damage after the hold has lapsed. The Claim Damage button stays available in that case, and the card's message reads "The hold is no longer active, but the card is still on file -- you can charge for damage below." If no card is on file, the deposit is truly closed and no claim option appears.
Releasing a Hold
If the stay ends with no damage, use Release Hold to free the reserved funds immediately rather than waiting for the hold to lapse on its own. Release Hold is only offered while a hold is live -- there is nothing to release once it has already lapsed.
Key Concepts
- Pre-authorization hold -- Reserved funds on the guest's card, not a charge. Released after checkout if no claim is filed.
- Lapsed hold -- A hold that expired on its own because the stay outran the card network's authorization window. Normal on long stays.
- Claim against a live hold -- Captures already-reserved money; cannot be declined.
- Claim against a lapsed hold -- A fresh charge on the card still on file; can be declined by the bank.
- Card on file -- The retained payment method that makes a post-lapse claim possible. Without it, a lapsed deposit cannot be claimed.
Common Questions
The hold disappeared before the guest even checked out -- did something break? No. On stays longer than about six days the pre-authorization lapses on its own; that is a card-network limit, not an error. You can still claim for damage if a card is on file.
Can I still charge for damage after the hold is gone? Yes, as long as the card is still on file. The claim runs as a fresh charge instead of capturing a reserved hold. Because it is a new charge, the bank can decline it.
What's the difference between claiming on a live hold and a lapsed one? A live-hold claim draws on money already reserved and always succeeds. A lapsed-hold claim is a brand-new charge and can be declined, exactly like any card payment.
How much can I claim? Up to the original deposit amount. The claim dialog caps the amount at the deposit.
Related
- Booking Lifecycle -- The booking detail page where the Security Deposit card lives.
- Guest Payments -- How the deposit appears to the guest.
- Booking Statuses -- The booking's own status, separate from the deposit's.