Your damage deposit with Swikly

When you collect your damage deposit through Swikly, your guests now see clear, dedicated copy on their payment pages explaining exactly what happens with their card — that it's only verified through a pre-authorization, with no amount debited or blocked.

Overview

If one of your properties collects its damage deposit through Swikly, Smily displays a dedicated message to your guests that accurately describes how Swikly works. This article explains what that message says, where guests see it, and why it helps your bookings run more smoothly.

How the Swikly deposit works

With Swikly, the damage deposit is handled through a secure card verification rather than a real charge or hold:

1. A guest books one of your properties that requires a damage deposit collected through Swikly.
2. Before arrival, the guest's card is verified through a pre-authorization.
3. No amount is debited and no amount is blocked on the card.
4. The guest's credit limit is not affected — their available funds stay fully usable.

The pre-authorization simply confirms the card is valid and that the deposit could be covered if needed. It is not a charge.

What your guests see

The dedicated Swikly copy appears on both payment pages a guest interacts with:

• The booking payment page
• The My Payments page

On both pages, guests see this message:

This property requires a damage deposit of [amount]. Before your arrival, your card will be verified through a pre-authorization — no amount will be debited or blocked, and your credit limit will not be affected.

The message automatically shows the exact deposit amount set for your property, so guests know precisely what is being verified.

Why this helps you

• Fewer guest questions and support requests — the copy explains the pre-authorization clearly, so guests don't reach out worried about charges or held funds.
• Accurate expectations — guests understand no money is taken or blocked, which reduces confusion at booking and on arrival.
• A smoother booking experience — clear, reassuring messaging helps guests complete their booking with confidence.
• No setup required — the dedicated Swikly copy displays automatically whenever a property collects its damage deposit through Swikly.

Languages supported

The Swikly deposit message is displayed in all the languages your payment pages support: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Norwegian, and Slovenian. Each guest sees it in the language of their payment page.

Frequently asked questions

• Do I need to enable this for my properties?

  No. The dedicated Swikly copy appears automatically on the payment pages whenever a property collects its damage deposit through Swikly.

• Will my guest be charged or have funds blocked?

  No. With Swikly, the guest's card is only verified through a pre-authorization. No amount is debited or blocked, and their credit limit is not affected.

• Where exactly does the guest see this message?

  On the booking payment page and on the My Payments page. The deposit amount shown is the amount configured for your property.

• Which languages is the message available in?

  English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Norwegian, and Slovenian. Guests see it in the language of their payment page.