Campspot Reservation Deposits: FAQ

Learn how to setup different Deposit rules to support your Park's Deposit Policy(s).

Deposits: What are they?

A deposit can be used in a few different ways depending on your Park's policies. Consider the following scenarios (click on a underlined to skip to that section below):

  • My guests have to pay a deposit of the value of one night to confirm their reservation. I want this charge to be automated and refundable if the guest meets my cancellation requirements. (Payment Policy)
  • My long-term reservations are required to make a deposit of $500 to confirm their reservation (Payment Policy) along with a $200 refundable electric deposit (Reservation Surcharge). I want both of these to be automated.
  • I offer a rental for fire rings and cable boxes. I to ensure the guests brings these back or they will lose a $100 deposit for these rentals. This charge should be manual and refundable upon return. (Miscellaneous Charge)

Learn more about each deposit method below.

Payment Policy

Campspot's Payment Policy rules calculate the minimum amount due at time of booking to confirm a reservation. By setting up a deposit using Payment Policy, the deposit is:

  • Automatically applied to reservations
  • Can be used for future reservations or paid towards balance if reservation is cancelled
  • Will be used as payment for the invoice upon Check In
  • Will be refunded based on the Cancellation Policy in place

Learn more about setting up a Payment Policy.

Reservation Surcharges

Using Campspot's Reservation Surcharges to set up an additional deposit, enables you to further define other deposit requirements to be automatically applied to a booking. For example, using this rule you can apply an automated utility deposit, damage deposit, cleaning fee, etc. By setting up a deposit using Reservation Surcharge, the deposit is:

  • Automatically applied to reservations
  • Can be used for future reservations or paid towards balance
  • No alert/reminder to remove from invoice before check-out
  • Removed from reservation upon cancellation

Learn more about setting up a Reservation Surcharge for deposits.

Miscellaneous Charges

Use a Miscellaneous Charge to set up an deposit that is manually applied to an invoice. This deposit type is expected to be refundable and is manually applied to a reservation invoice. Consider using this deposit for equipment rentals, for example. By setting up a deposit using a Miscellaneous Charge, the deposit is:

  • Manually added to confirmed reservations
  • Can be used for future reservations or paid towards balance
  • Must be voided from invoice before check-out - alert/reminder provided at check-out
  • Remains on reservation upon cancellation and must be removed separately

Learn more about setting up a Miscellaneous Charge for deposits.


Q: How can deposits be moved to future reservations?

Reservation deposits can be used for future stays without having to charge your guest a second deposit. In order to use a deposit for a future stay, the future stay should already be booked. If the future stay is not yet booked, steps 3 and 4 from below should be completed after the booking is confirmed.


The steps to complete this are as follows:

  1. Make the deposit on the current reservation $0 or void it. This will create an overpayment on the reservation which will be indicated by a negative balance on the invoice.
  2. Refund the overpayment to the guest's User Credit.
  3. In the new reservation, check that the deposit is listed as an invoice item. Depending on which set up method was used for the deposit, it may be automatically added to the reservation or you may have to manually add it.
  4. After confirming the deposit is on the new reservation, go to the Billing Tab and click Pay at the top. Use the User Credit Payment Method and apply the deposit money to the new reservation.

For additional support, check out these articles:

Reservation Surcharges: Setup

Miscellaneous Charges: Setup