Hookset automatically sends balance reminder emails to guests as their payment due date approaches, reducing the need for manual follow-up.
Reminder Schedule
Three reminder emails are sent before the balance due date:
| Timing | Email | |--------|-------| | 30 days before | First reminder with balance amount and payment link | | 14 days before | Second reminder, more urgent tone | | 7 days before | Final reminder, noting the approaching deadline |
Reminders are only sent for bookings that have an outstanding balance. If the guest pays before a reminder is scheduled, it is skipped.
What Guests Receive
Each reminder email includes:
- Booking summary (package, dates, reference number)
- Amount due
- Balance due date
- Stripe payment link (if Stripe is connected)
- Lodge contact information
Auto-Charge on Due Date
If the Charge full balance if within window setting is enabled in Settings > Policies and the guest has a card on file (from a previous Stripe payment), Hookset attempts to charge the remaining balance on the due date.
If the charge succeeds, the booking advances to Confirmed. If it fails, a payment failure notification is sent to the lodge owner.
Configuring the Due Date
The balance due date is calculated as check-in date minus balance_due_days. Configure this in Settings > Policies. The default is 30 days.
For example, with balance_due_days set to 45 and a check-in of August 1, the balance is due by June 17, and reminders go out on May 18, June 3, and June 10.
Disabling Reminders
To stop automatic reminders, go to Settings > Notifications and toggle off Balance due reminders. Manual invoice sending from the booking detail page still works regardless of this setting.