NewJob payments for UK small businesses
Voco takes the deposit while your customer is still on the phone
Voco takes deposits over the phone without anyone reading out card details. When a caller books a job that needs a deposit, your AI receptionist texts them a secure payment link, waits while they pay on their own phone, and confirms the booking once Stripe says the money has come through. Every payment goes into your own Stripe account. When the job is done, Voco collects the balance from the card saved at the deposit, or with a link.
Customers pay into your own Stripe account. Voco never holds your money.
Voco payments at a glance
- Deposits
- Texted as a secure link during the call, and confirmed once paid
- Your money
- Paid into your own Stripe account, never held by Voco
- Balances
- Collected when the job is done, from the saved card or a link
- Ways to pay
- Cards, including Apple Pay and Google Pay
On the call
How does Voco take a deposit over the phone?
Voco takes a deposit over the phone in four steps: the receptionist books the job, texts the caller a Stripe payment link, waits while they pay on their own phone, then confirms the booking once it is paid.
- 01
The job is booked
Your receptionist books the job as it always does. Your deposit rules decide whether it needs a deposit and how much, never the receptionist.
- 02
The link is texted
The caller gets a text with a link to pay your business on Stripe's own page, sent to the mobile they are ringing from or another UK mobile they give.
- 03
They pay on their own phone
Nobody reads card details out loud. The caller pays by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay while they stay on the line, or later from the same text.
- 04
The booking is confirmed
When they say it is done, your receptionist checks with Stripe and tells them it has come through. Only Stripe saying so counts as paid.
Deposit rules
How much deposit should you ask for?
Voco asks for the deposit you set: a fixed amount or a percentage for each service on your price list, a percentage of the quote for other work, or one you choose on a single job. Pick an amount that covers your time if a customer does not turn up. The guide to connecting Stripe and taking deposits has the steps.
For each service
Set a fixed deposit, such as £30, or a percentage of the price for each service on your price list. Or no deposit at all.For quoted jobs
For work that is not on your price list, set a percentage of the quote.By the customer's history
Let customers who have paid on time before skip the deposit. New customers pay one, and anyone with an unpaid balance, a no-show or a chargeback always does.After a no-show
Ask a customer who did not turn up last time for a bigger deposit, as a percentage of the price.On any single job
Press Ask for payment on a job's card to text a deposit link yourself, for the amount you choose.
Your money
Where does the money go?
Voco sends every payment straight into your own Stripe account, a Standard account you set up on Stripe's own pages, so Voco never holds your money and Stripe pays it into your bank.
Your own Stripe account
You sign in to Stripe, or create an account, on Stripe's pages. Your bank and identity details go to Stripe, never to Voco.Managed in your Stripe Dashboard
Your payouts, refunds, disputes and bank details stay in your own Stripe Dashboard.Payouts on your schedule
Stripe pays into your bank on the payout schedule you choose with them. Stripe's guide to payouts says how long each one takes.Cards only
Customers pay by card, including Apple Pay and Google Pay. Bank transfer and Direct Debit are not offered.
When it's done
How does Voco collect the balance when the job is done?
Voco collects the balance as soon as a job is marked done, either from the card the customer saved when paying the deposit or with a payment link texted to them, the way you chose for that service.
- 01
You mark it done
Press Mark job done on the job's card, then Yes, it's done. Voco shows what is still due first.
- 02
Or whoever did the job does
Send whoever does the job their own private link. They mark the job done from their phone, and can add extra work.
- 03
Or the customer says so
Switch on Ask the customer "is it done?" and Voco texts them an hour after a booked job. A not yet stops the balance and comes to you.
- 04
The balance is collected
From the saved card, never above the total the customer agreed, or by a link. A declined or expired card gets a link instead.
Extra work
What happens if the job needs extra work?
Voco texts the customer what was found, the extra cost and the new total, and nothing more is charged until the customer approves it from the link. If they say no, it comes to you.
Added from the job
Press Add extra work on the job's card, or use the job link, and say what was found and what it costs.Approved first
The customer sees the new total and approves it before anything more is charged.Collected with the balance
Once approved, the extra is collected with the rest of the balance, the same way.
Reminders
Does Voco chase customers who haven't paid?
Voco chases unpaid links on your own schedule, with up to five reminders by text or by a call from your receptionist, and stops the moment the customer pays or gets in touch. Rent is a different job: see chasing late rent.
Your schedule
Set each reminder's wait, from an hour to a week, and whether it is a text or a call. Reminders never go between 7pm and 8am.Then it comes to you
After the last reminder, an unpaid link comes to you on Needs you, and an unpaid deposit's slot is freed up.Balances still owed
For a balance still unpaid after 7, 14, 30 or 60 days, Voco can text, then have your receptionist call two days later.Disputes come to you
Nobody disputing the money, having a hard time or already in touch is chased. A dispute from their bank comes to you, to answer in Stripe.When they ring
If you switch it on, your receptionist mentions an unpaid balance at the end of a call, only to a caller who has proved who they are. It is off by default.
No-shows
Can deposits stop no-shows?
Voco cannot promise every customer turns up, but a deposit taken on the call means a customer who books has paid towards the slot, and your own terms decide what is kept if they do not come.
The slot is held
Choose how long a slot waits for its deposit, from 15 minutes to 24 hours. If it is not paid by then and the reminders have run out, the slot is freed up.Terms they see first
Your cancellation terms are shown to the customer before they pay.A no-show keeps the deposit
Choose whether a no-show keeps all, half or none of the deposit. Press They didn't turn up on the job's card and Voco applies it.A bigger deposit next time
After a no-show, Voco can ask that customer for more next time.
Refunds
How do refunds and cancellations work?
Voco applies your own cancellation terms: a full refund if the customer cancels in time, and all, half or none of the deposit kept if they cancel late or do not turn up.
Your free window
Set how many hours before the job a customer can cancel for a full refund of the deposit.They cancelled
Press They cancelled on the job's card. Voco shows what your terms give back before anything is refunded.Automatic, or ask me first
Choose whether refunds under your terms go on their own or come to you first.Any refund by hand
Press Refund on a payment to give back all or part of it. A full refund gives Voco's fee back.
For letting agents
Can letting agents take holding deposits?
Voco takes holding deposits for letting agents in England, capped at one week's rent under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, and tracks the 15-day deadline for agreeing the tenancy. See Voco for letting agents.
Never more than a week's rent
Voco will not take a holding deposit above one week's rent for the property.The deadline tracked
The card shows the date to agree the tenancy, refund the deposit or keep it, and Voco reminds you two days before.Kept only for a reason the law allows
Such as false information or a failed Right to Rent check. Otherwise, it is refunded.
Cost
What does it cost?
Voco charges 0.5% - 2% of each job payment, depending on your plan and capped per payment, taken from your money and never added to the customer's bill, and Stripe charges its own card fee. See the fee on each plan.
Questions about Voco payments
Something else? Ring 0333 043 6661 and ask Voco directly.
Answers at 2am. Doesn't ask for overtime.
Hear Voco answer a call
Ring 0333 043 6661 and talk to Voco now, or set up your own AI front office today.