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: Retail Merchant Services (RMS / MMS)
Retail Merchant Services (RMS) provides merchant acquiring and payment gateway technology tailored for small-to-medium UK leisure enterprises, trampoline parks, and sports facilities.
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 RMS Account
1 Contact RMS sales via retailmerchantservices.co.uk.
2 Complete merchant onboarding for e-commerce transactions.
3. Retrieving Your RMS Integration Details
1 Log into your RMS Merchant Management System (MMS).
2 Note your RMS Merchant ID (MID).
3 Under technical gateway settings, copy your Secret Key.
4. Entering RMS Credentials in SmartBookings
1 In SmartBookings, navigate to Settings > System Settings (Settings.aspx).
2 Expand Payment Gateways.
3 Tick Enable RMS (Retail Merchant Services).
4 Enter your RMS MID and RMS Secret.
5 Click the green Update button.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Retail Merchant Services (RMS) and how does it integrate with SmartBookings?
RMS is a UK merchant service provider powered by the CardStream payment gateway. SmartBookings integrates directly with your RMS MID and secret key.
What credentials do I need from my RMS welcome pack to connect my gateway?
You need your RMS Merchant ID (MID) and your Signature Secret Key provided in your RMS online gateway welcome email.
Can our venue use RMS countertop and mobile till terminals alongside web booking?
Yes. RMS provides physical contactless card terminals for reception till desks that operate alongside your online web booking system.
Does SmartBookings charge any platform markups on RMS transactions?
No. SmartBookings adds 0% transaction fees. You pay only your agreed RMS merchant charges with zero booking markups.
How does RMS next-day settlement assist leisure cash flow?
RMS offers next-day settlement for card transactions, helping leisure operators maintain healthy cash flow for payroll and supplier expenses.
How does 3D-Secure 2.0 shift chargeback liability on RMS bookings?
Transactions authenticate through bank biometric prompts, fulfilling SCA requirements and protecting venue owners from fraud liability.
How do I issue a customer refund through RMS in Booking Summary?
In Booking Summary, staff can execute 1-click refunds directly back to the customer's card via RMS's gateway integration.
Why is SmartBookings the best booking system to use with RMS?
SmartBookings is the premier booking system for RMS 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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