Package payments, UNPAID, PARTIAL, PAID

When you issue a package, you decide how it's paid for. Sometimes the customer pays in full at issue time, sometimes she pays an instalment, sometimes you let her pay as she uses the sessions. Bookinda tracks this with three statuses: UNPAID, PARTIAL, PAID.

The three states

UNPAID

The package was issued but the customer hasn't paid anything yet. She can still book and redeem services from it (if your settings allow), but the system tracks the outstanding balance.

PARTIAL

The customer has paid some but not all of the package price. The remaining balance is tracked. Common when she pays in instalments or put down a deposit.

PAID

The customer has paid the full package price. No outstanding balance. Most packages should end up here.

Setting payment status when issuing

When you issue a package (template or custom), one of the form fields is "Payment status". Pick the right one:

• PAID: customer is paying right now in full. The till opens automatically for the cash collection.
• PARTIAL: she's paying a deposit. Enter the amount paid, the rest is tracked.
• UNPAID: she's not paying anything now. Often used when the package is a goodwill gesture or you trust her to pay later.

Collecting payment later

If a package was issued UNPAID or PARTIAL, you can collect more money any time:

1. Open the customer's profile, Packages tab.
2. Click the package.
3. Click Add payment.
4. Enter the amount, payment method, save.

The status auto-updates: PARTIAL → PAID once the full price is collected, or stays PARTIAL if there's still a balance.

Where outstanding balances show up

• Customer profile: the package shows the remaining balance prominently.
• Customer credit tab: if the package balance is significant, it counts as a debt.
• Outstanding balances report: filter by package debts to chase up unpaid customers.
• Pre-redemption warning: when staff tries to redeem an UNPAID session, the system asks "this package isn't paid, redeem anyway?". Configurable to be a hard block or a soft warning.

Use case scenarios

Scenario 1: Full payment up front

The standard case. Customer wants 5x cuts, 12% off. She pays the discounted total at the till. Status: PAID. Done. She redeems sessions over the next year, no further payment needed.

Scenario 2: Instalments

A customer wants a "12x facials" package at 60,000 Ft total, but can't pay it all today. You agree to 4 monthly instalments. Initial issue: PARTIAL with 15,000 Ft paid. Each month, she comes in, you collect another 15,000 Ft. After 4 months, status flips to PAID.

Scenario 3: Pay-as-you-go

Some salons let regulars pre-buy a 10-pack on credit. Customer redeems sessions, pays at end of month. Issue UNPAID, then "Add payment" each time she pays. Eventually PAID once the full balance is settled.

Scenario 4: Pre-paid corporate package

A corporate client buys a 50-session staff wellness package, paid by bank transfer. The owner issues PAID after the bank transfer clears, even though no till transaction happened.

Scenario 5: Goodwill freebie

A stylist's mistake cost a customer her favorite hair color. Owner issues a 3-session goodwill package, status PAID with 0 amount and a note "Goodwill, free". She redeems with no further charge.

Tips

• Default to PAID when possible: chasing up debts is friction. Get the money up front when you can.
• Hard block UNPAID redemption (in Settings → Packages) if customers consistently exploit it. The blunt rule is "no pay, no play".
• Run the outstanding balances report monthly: identify customers who are dragging out payment, follow up.
• Don't let small outstanding balances accumulate: if a customer owes 4,000 Ft, ask for it at her next visit. Letting it pile up means it eventually gets written off.
• Document goodwill packages: a PAID-with-0-amount package is fine, but always note in the package "Goodwill, [reason], approved by [owner]". Otherwise it looks like a missed payment in audits.