Beating a Dead Horse but it needs to be: Preauthorization

[FarmAndBar]

We need to be able to preauthorize credit cards when running a tab. Period.  We really enjoyed the low buy in and easy menu development and a couple of the other features, but a bar/restaurant needs to be able to run a tab and preauthorize a credit card.  I've gone back and looked at conversations about it and it appears that this has been a CONSTANT request by users that has gone ignored.

I'd like to know why it isn't available.

[#2]

So sorry for the confusion here, @Amanda_Bierock @FarmAndBar and others!

Pre-Authorization recently became available to all users of Square for Restaurants (Free, Premium, and Plus), and you should be able to turn in on by following the instructions in this support article, via the Dashboard and device settings.

Enable and Configure Pre-Authorization Bar Tabs

If you are using Square for Restaurants and aren't able to enable Pre-Auth by following these steps, please reach out to our support team for assistance.

For businesses that use Square Point of Sale, there is not currently a way to access Pre-Authorization.  While we did run a Beta test last year for Pre-Authorization on Point of Sale, it has been discontinued and Square for Restaurants is the only application that currently supports this functionality.

The team developing Pre-Authorization decided last summer to focus their efforts on Pre-Auth within Square for Restaurants and discontinued the Beta and development of Pre-Auth for Point of Sale.

Some testers who participated in the Point of Sale Beta we ran last year may still have access via their open tickets settings on individual devices (like @ryanwanner) but accounts that were not enrolled in that Beta feature last summer can no longer be added.

@nika I hope this context is helpful when these questions come up - it can be confusing because at times we had a POS Beta on the way.  It's understandable when it's been a request for so long 🙂

Andy
Beta Specialist

[#3]

Hello all! We are so excited to let the community know that this feature is now available for Square for Restaurants! For more information on enabling and configuring preauthorization for bar tabs, check out this help article. Respond here if you have any questions, and thanks for your patience while our team built this out. We appreciate you!

️ Kristen
Square Community Manager
Product Engagement

[#4]

Pre-Authorization for Bar Tabs Update ⭐
Hi everyone - I'm Hadley, from the F&B product team. First of all, thank you SO MUCH for continuing to share all the feedback here over the years, we know how important the Bar Tabs feature is. For anyone who is not aware, this feature is currently in beta in the US for Square for Restaurants POS. 

➡️ You can join the beta community here and our beta team will enable feature to your account. You can find the support article for getting set up on RST POS here. 

As a reminder, when a feature is in beta, there is still some engineering work happening to iron out the smaller bugs and optimizing the experience for our sellers and their customers. If you choose to participate in the beta testing, please share any feedback (good or bad 😄) to our beta team at betafeedback@squareup.com so we can learn how it is working for you and your staff.  

Thank you!

[bluescale]

Does square do pre-authorization on credit cards? And how long we can hold it for or pre-authorize it for?

I do renting as my business and needs to put down like a security deposit or like the hotels or rental cars do that place credit card on hold or on file, etc kind of thing.

[Joe]

Hi there, @bluescale 👋Thanks for reaching out and joining us here on the Seller Community! Happy to have you.

I've gone ahead and merged your post into an existing thread of Sellers who were also looking for information regarding card pre-authorization. Take a look at this Best Answer from that same thread - it will offer workarounds and a bit more context.

Let us know if you have any additional questions!

[bluescale]

This post you combined me with is from 2016. 5 Years, I am hoping that Square has improved over the course of 5 year but evidently according to you, Square has not improved at all over 5 years.

[3Peaks]

Just wondering if this an option square will ever offer? We need to be able to have open tab with pre authorizing credit cards. I’d hate to leave square but this is something we have to be able to do.   

[3Peaks]

Still waiting for a timeline on this feature as well.  Currently having to shop for another POS system because Square lacks this option.    Everything else with Square is great but this is a big one.  

[JustinC]

No shareable info yet, but make sure you subscribe to this thread for the latest updates !! @3Peaks

[Jaydien]

We often need to put a hold on a credit card for goods/services that will be paid for at a later time in the near future. For example a bar tab.

Does the app have this ability?

[isabelle]

Hey @Jaydien!

It sounds like you're referring to this feature request. Unfortunately we do not have the ability to put credit card holds on cards for our seller's customers. Sorry about that!

We'll definitely update this thread if/when we hear something abut the development of this feature. 

[WilmingtonBorn]

Is there a way to capture a prior authorization before my Staff arrives at a location? The card is checked to confirm it is valid when scheduling but we need it to capture the amount (ex. $10) since when my Staff tries to checkout the client after the completion of the job, the card is declined and I have to invoice the customer.

[JustinC]

Pre authorization is not supported with Square at this time. Are you using Square Appointments? If so, I suggest requiring prepayment upon booking. 

Let me know if you want to know more. @WilmingtonBorn