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 & UTP for Visitor Attractions
Universal Transaction Processing (UTP), in partnership with Barclaycard, provides rapid card processing and unique Faster Processing same-day funding for UK businesses.
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 UTP Account
1 Apply at utpgroup.co.uk for a Virtual Terminal / E-Commerce Gateway merchant facility.
2 Complete underwriting with Barclaycard Payment Solutions.
3. Retrieving Your UTP MID & Secret
1 Log into your UTP Merchant Portal.
2 Note your UTP Merchant ID (MID).
3 In your technical integration details, copy your Secret Key.
4. Entering UTP Credentials in SmartBookings
1 In SmartBookings, navigate to Settings > System Settings (Settings.aspx).
2 Expand Payment Gateways.
3 Tick Enable UTP.
4 Enter your UTP MID and UTP Secret.
5 Click the green Update button.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What credentials do I need to integrate Universal Transaction Processing (UTP) with SmartBookings?
You need your UTP Merchant ID (MID) and your Secret Key, provided in your UTP online gateway welcome notification.
Where do I find my UTP Merchant ID and Secret Key in the UTP merchant portal?
Log into your UTP Virtual Terminal / Gateway portal, navigate to Merchant Profile > Security Settings, and copy your credentials.
How does UTP Faster Processing deliver same-day and next-day funding?
UTP's Faster Processing service settles card transactions into your bank account within hours, ensuring rapid cash flow for busy weekend venues.
Does SmartBookings charge any percentage cut on UTP transactions?
No. SmartBookings adds 0% platform transaction fees. You pay only your UTP merchant rates directly.
Can front-desk staff process walk-in ticket sales on UTP card machines?
Yes. UTP provides physical card terminals for reception desks, operating under the same merchant agreement as your online booking engine.
How does UTP protect our venue against online ticket fraud and card disputes?
UTP incorporates automated fraud filters, address verification (AVS), and 3D-Secure 2.0 bank app verification to block fraudulent transactions.
How do automated refunds work with UTP in the SmartBookings admin portal?
Staff can trigger refunds directly in Booking Summary, crediting the customer's card securely via UTP's API.
Why is SmartBookings the best booking system to use with UTP?
SmartBookings is the premier booking system for UTP 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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