Beating a Dead Horse but it needs to be: Preauthorization

[FarmAndBar]

We need to be able to preauthorize credit cards when running a tab. Period.  We really enjoyed the low buy in and easy menu development and a couple of the other features, but a bar/restaurant needs to be able to run a tab and preauthorize a credit card.  I've gone back and looked at conversations about it and it appears that this has been a CONSTANT request by users that has gone ignored.

I'd like to know why it isn't available.

[#2]

Pre-Authorization for Bar Tabs Update ⭐
Hi everyone - I'm Hadley, from the F&B product team. First of all, thank you SO MUCH for continuing to share all the feedback here over the years, we know how important the Bar Tabs feature is. For anyone who is not aware, this feature is currently in beta in the US for both Square Point of Sale as well as Square for Restaurants POS. 

➡️ If you use Square POS, here are instructions on how to get started beta testing. 

➡️ If you use RST POS, you can join the beta community here and our beta team will enable feature to your account. You can find the support article for getting set up on RST POS here. 

As a reminder, when a feature is in beta, there is still some engineering work happening to iron out the smaller bugs and optimizing the experience for our sellers and their customers. If you choose to participate in the beta testing, please share any feedback (good or bad 😄) to our beta team at betafeedback@squareup.com so we can learn how it is working for you and your staff.  

Thank you!

[Helen]

@SHEMP There isn't a way to collect a damage deposit with Square at this time. I've added your post to this thread where we're tracking this popular feature request. 

[SHEMP]

Ok, thank you.

[KoraKora]

Adding a card to file is not a quick process and requires many sub levels of entry. When we are busy at our Cafe, there isn't time for that. How can we save credit card information for open tabs with a swipe like bartenders do? Seems like an easy fix, but I am not a programmer.

[Helen]

@KoraKora You're right, you can swipe a card to open a ticket but it won't save your customer's card information on file or pre-authorize their card. To close the sale they need to provide their card.

I don't have a timeline to share for when this will be available but I'll share your experience with the product teams so they can see that it would be a useful feature for coffee shop owners too! 

[plnkdh]

Really? I can not believe that there has been zero motion on getting this functionality.

[kringros]

I would love this option as well.

[occoquanoptical]

My average transaction is over $500. Often times customers want to just pay a portion of the total and pay the rest at a later date. Is there an option for that? I've looked into the "open tab" or sending an invoice but I want to just be able to come back to a charge at a later date and have them pay their balance then. Is this possible? 

[Helen]

This reply was created from merging an existing thread: I want my customers to be able to leave a deposit and pay the balance at a later date.

Thanks for your post @occoquanoptical. I'm afraid there isn't a way to accept a deposit or partial payment with Square at this time.

I've merged your post in to this thread so we can let you know if this feature is available in future. 

[Islandp2015]

Yes, I currently do a 75% deposit and remaing balance due on a later date.

This would be great if Square could offer this feature.

I also collect a damage/secuirty deposit.  Since Square doesn't have that feature to hold funds, I decide to collect this deposit 21 days pior to the date of service.  This way the refund is done closer to service date and refund doesn't affects my books as much.  But yes, if Square could accomadate busniesses that do need to put ahold on funds, that would make my life a bit easier.

Thank you!

Small Busniess Owner

[TheHumanJib]

It has been 2 YEARS since this question was asked, and their answer is still "not currently at this time." It is obvious Square does not concern themselves with this ongoing request from many of their customers. Imagine how many potential customers Google this question, and then decide to go with another merchant service without leaving a comment. Well, I'm leaving a comment saying this is a need for my business that I have patiently been doing without for several years, and it's time that I find a company that offers that feature.