When you click Refund in a booking's Payment Summary, the How would you like to issue this refund? window asks you to choose one of three refund methods. Each one affects the invoice differently. For step-by-step instructions, see How to Refund a Booking.
Which Refund Method Should I Use?
Refunding a canceled booking? Use Refund as compensation — it's the only method that works once a booking is canceled. See How to Refund a Canceled Booking.
Reverse a charge — to reverse a specific charge in full and return it to the original payment method.
Refund and adjust balance — to refund an amount and lower the booking's remaining balance by the same amount. Use this to refund part of a charge.
Refund as compensation — for a courtesy refund that leaves the invoice unchanged, or to refund a canceled booking.
If you're changing the booking itself — removing a date, experience, or guests, or changing a price — edit the booking first instead, and Brindlechute calculates the refund for you. See How to Handle a Partial Cancellation or How to Override Prices on a Booking.
Reverse a Charge (Affects Invoice Balance)
Reverses a client charge or transaction in full. The whole charge comes off the invoice balance, and the refund goes back to the original payment method. You can't enter a smaller amount. To refund only part of a charge, for example to keep a cancellation fee, use Refund and adjust balance instead so the client's balance stays correct.
In the Reverse a charge window:
Refund settings lists each client who paid on the booking, with their payment methods. Check the box next to each charge you want to reverse.
Check a charge and its Amount to refund fills in automatically. By default it leaves out the processing fee on that payment. Turn on Include processing fees to refund the fee too. That fee is then deducted from your account.
The Summary breaks down what was paid — fees, tax, and balance — and the total Amount to refund.
Booking impact previews the booking balance, balance paid, client credit change, and outstanding balance after the refund.
Click Confirm refund $X.XX to finish.
Reverse a charge isn't available on a canceled booking. Canceling settles the invoice balance, so there's no charge left to reverse. If you see No charges to reverse, use Refund as compensation instead.
Refund and Adjust Balance
Refunds the client and reduces the remaining balance by the refund amount.
When you select this method, Brindlechute asks whether you're adjusting items on the booking:
If you're changing the booking, click Edit booking. After you save your changes, the Confirm update to booking window suggests the refund for you. See Understanding the Confirm Update to Booking Window.
To enter an amount directly, check No, I just want to provide a refund and decrease the invoice balance, click Next, then enter the refund amount for each payment method.
Refund and adjust balance isn't available on a canceled booking — it shows Nothing paid toward the balance yet. Use Refund as compensation instead.
Refund as Compensation (Does Not Affect Invoice Balance)
Refunds any amount you choose without applying it to the invoice. The balance paid and outstanding balance stay the same; the refund appears in your payment totals as a refunded amount. Use it for courtesy refunds, amounts you're settling outside the invoice, or refunding a canceled booking.
In the window, enter the Amount to refund for each client under Refund settings. The Summary shows what was paid and the total you're refunding. Click Confirm refund $X.XX to finish.
The total you refund appears in the Payment Summary as Refunded Amount, including any fees you refund. Fees paid still shows the fees the client originally paid.
Refunding into a Client's Wallet
Refund and adjust balance and Refund as compensation both show a Refund into a client's wallet toggle under Refund settings. Turn it on to send the whole refund into a client's wallet as credit instead of back to the original payment method. See How to Refund into a Client's Wallet.
Reverse a charge can't go into a wallet. A reversal undoes the original charge, so each charge goes back to where it came from.
Split Payments
If more than one client paid on the booking, each client has their own section under Refund settings, listing only their payment methods. Select or enter a refund for each client you're refunding.
Note: Unless you refund into a client's wallet, refunds are processed on the original payment methods. It may take 5–15 business days for the funds to appear on your guest's account. Refunds into a wallet are added to the client's wallet right away.
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