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 & Opayo for Leisure Venues
Opayo (formerly SagePay, now part of Elavon) is renowned across the UK for its ironclad payment security, reliable uptime, and deep integration with UK acquiring banks (Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, HSBC).
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 an Opayo Account
1 Visit opayo.co.uk and apply for an Opayo Gateway account.
2 You can either connect your existing merchant acquiring bank (e.g. Barclays Merchant Services) or take an all-in-one package with Elavon.
3 Once approved, you will receive login details for MySagePay (the administration console) and your unique Vendor Name.
3. Retrieving Your Encryption Key in MySagePay
1 Log into MySagePay Live.
2 Navigate to Settings > Valid IPs and ensure your SmartBookings server IP is whitelisted (contact support if required).
3 In Settings > Account, locate your 16-character AES Encryption Key (also called the Encryption Password).
4 Note your registered Vendor Name (the lowercase identifier chosen during onboarding).
4. Entering Opayo Credentials in SmartBookings
1 In your SmartBookings portal, navigate to Settings > System Settings (Settings.aspx).
2 Expand Payment Gateways.
3 Tick the checkbox: Enable SagePay (aka Opayo).
4 In SagePay Vendor Name, enter your exact vendor identifier.
5 In SagePay Encryption Key, enter your 16-character encryption key.
6 Click the green Update button at the bottom of the section.
3D-Secure 2 Active: SmartBookings handles 3D-Secure 2 customer verification automatically using Opayo's secure transaction protocols.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What credentials do I need to connect Opayo (formerly SagePay) to SmartBookings?
You require your Opayo Vendor Name and your 16-character AES Encryption Password. These credentials link SmartBookings to your Opayo Form integration protocol.
How do I generate and locate my 16-character AES Encryption Key in the MySagePay portal?
Log into MySagePay (Live), navigate to Settings > Form Details. If an encryption password has not been generated, click 'Generate' to create your unique 16-character key.
Can I connect my existing merchant acquiring bank account through Opayo?
Yes. Opayo functions as a payment gateway connecting to major UK acquiring banks including Barclays, Lloyds Cardnet, Elavon, HSBC, and NatWest, allowing you to keep your existing merchant rates.
Does SmartBookings charge any transaction fees or commission on Opayo payments?
No. SmartBookings adds 0% transaction fees. You deal directly with Opayo and your merchant acquirer, retaining 100% of your customer admission and hire revenues.
How does Opayo Form integration protect our venue from PCI-DSS compliance audits?
Opayo Form encrypts all cardholder payment data on secure Opayo servers, meaning your website never touches raw card numbers and qualifying your business for the simplest PCI-DSS Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ-A).
Can reception staff take phone bookings using Opayo virtual terminal integration?
Yes. Receptionists can use Opayo Virtual Terminal (MOTO) or record card payments directly through Book via Admin to secure telephone party bookings.
How do automated refunds work through Opayo in Booking Summary?
Staff can process refunds in Booking Summary. SmartBookings transmits the refund API instruction directly to Opayo, crediting the customer's card without re-entering card details.
Why is SmartBookings the best booking system to use with Opayo (SagePay)?
SmartBookings is the premier booking system for Opayo (SagePay) 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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