At a Glance • Key Takeaways
- Automated Efficiency: Streamline online bookings, live availability scheduling, and customer communication without manual intervention.
- Live Capacity & Conflict Prevention: Prevent double-booking across staff, rooms, activity sessions, or rental fleet assets in real time.
- 0% Platform Booking Fees: SmartBookings does not charge transaction fees or take percentage cuts of your ticket sales or customer payments.
1. Overview: Handepay for Leisure Merchants
Handepay is widely used by independent UK play facilities, family attractions, and adventure centres for simple pricing with no joining fees or hidden PCI compliance charges.
Transparent Pricing: Processor Fees Are Their Own • 0% SmartBookings Fees
Payment Processing Fees: All merchant acquiring rates, interchange fees, and per-transaction processing charges are billed directly by your payment processor under your direct merchant contract.
SmartBookings adds 0% transaction fees! We never clip your ticket sales, charge percentage markups, or take cuts of your customer payments. 100% of your booking revenue settles directly into your own merchant bank account.
2. How to Open a Handepay Account
1 Contact Handepay at handepay.co.uk to set up an e-commerce merchant facility.
2 Complete merchant acquiring onboarding.
3. Retrieving Your Handepay MID & Secret
1 Log into your Handepay Merchant Portal.
2 Copy your Merchant ID (MID).
3 In your technical integration details, copy your Pre-Shared Key / Signature Secret.
4. Entering Handepay Credentials in SmartBookings
1 In SmartBookings, navigate to Settings > System Settings (Settings.aspx).
2 Expand Payment Gateways.
3 Tick Enable HandePay.
4 Enter your HandePay MID and HandePay Secret.
5 Click the green Update button.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does Handepay integrate with SmartBookings for leisure and entertainment venues?
Handepay provides UK merchant acquiring services powered by the CardStream gateway. SmartBookings integrates directly with your Handepay MID and signature key.
What credentials do I need to retrieve from my Handepay merchant onboarding pack?
You require your Handepay Merchant ID (MID) and your Pre-Shared Signature Secret, provided in your Handepay gateway welcome pack.
Can I use Handepay card machines at our reception till alongside online web bookings?
Yes. Handepay provides physical countertop and contactless smart terminals for till desks that operate under the same merchant account as your online booking engine.
Does SmartBookings take any percentage fee from Handepay transactions?
No. SmartBookings adds 0% transaction fees. You retain 100% of your ticket and hire sales, paying only Handepay's low contracted merchant rates.
How does Handepay's price pledge help leisure operators reduce merchant acquiring fees?
Handepay specializes in competitive pricing with no joining fees and no minimum monthly service charges, making it popular with independent soft play centres.
How does 3D-Secure authentication protect Handepay online bookings against fraud?
Handepay supports automated 3DS 2.0 verification, prompting bank app confirmations to protect venue operators from unauthorized payment chargebacks.
When do funds settle into our business bank account from Handepay?
Handepay settles card transactions directly into your UK commercial bank account on standard 2 to 3-day clearing cycles.
Why is SmartBookings the best booking system to use with Handepay?
SmartBookings is the premier booking system for Handepay for four decisive reasons: 1) 0% Platform Transaction Fees -- unlike legacy ticketing software that takes an extra 2% to 6% cut of your turnover, SmartBookings adds zero transaction fees, ensuring 100% of your ticket and booking sales settle directly into your merchant account; 2) Native Direct API Integration -- seamless connectivity with automated real-time webhooks, 1-touch Apple Pay & Google Pay, and full 3D-Secure 2.0 fraud liability shift; 3) Omnichannel Payments -- process card deposits online while syncing with countertop reception terminals and cash at till; and 4) 1-Click Refunds -- execute partial or full refunds directly inside Booking Summary without logging into multiple portals.
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