Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Parked Funds is a platform that helps rental businesses manage payment holds (security deposits) and post-hire charges using Stripe. You create payment links for customers, manage authorization holds, and collect post-hire charges. All without changing your booking system.

No. Parked Funds does not replace your booking system. We focus on payment holds and post-hire charges. Your booking system handles reservations, availability, and customer management. Parked Funds handles the payment workflows that booking systems don't.

You keep using your existing booking system. We add payment hold and post-hire charge management on top.

Security deposit holds (payment holds) use Stripe's payment authorization features. When a customer completes a payment link, they authorize an amount to be held on their card. The funds are reserved but not charged. If the vehicle is returned in good condition, the hold is released and the customer is never charged. If you need to charge the hold (e.g., for damage), you can capture it manually from your dashboard.

Parked Funds uses Stripe to create and manage these holds. All payments and holds go through your Stripe account, so you stay in control of your funds.

Yes. Parked Funds helps you create and collect post-hire charges for damage, cleaning, tolls, late returns, or other fees that come up after a rental ends. You have two options:

• Start with an incident: If you're not sure about a charge or want the customer's input first, create an incident. The customer receives an email with a secure link to respond and explain. After reviewing their response, you can either close the incident (no charge) or convert it to a post-hire charge.
• Create a direct charge: If you're confident about the charge amount and reason, create a post-hire charge directly. The customer receives a review email and can approve and pay or dispute the charge.

All charges are linked to booking references, making it easy to track and manage. Starting with an incident helps reduce disputes by collecting the customer's side of the story first.

Post-hire incidents are pre-charge cases that let you gather information from customers before deciding whether to create a charge. Use incidents when:

• You're not sure if a charge is warranted
• You need the customer's explanation or context
• You want to reduce disputes by hearing their side first
• The situation is unclear and needs investigation

When you create an incident, you can request a customer response. They receive an email with a secure link where they can provide an explanation and upload photos. After reviewing their response, you can either close the incident (no charge) or convert it to a post-hire charge. This "incident-first" approach helps reduce disputes because customers feel heard and are more likely to accept charges when they've already provided their explanation.

If a customer disputes a post-hire charge, they can submit a dispute directly through the review page. They select a reason (e.g., "I don't believe the damage occurred", "The amount is incorrect"), provide details, and upload evidence files (photos, PDFs). You'll receive a notification and can review the dispute with all the evidence in one place. All communication, timestamps, and evidence are logged in the audit trail to help you resolve disputes quickly and professionally.

Parked Funds works hard to reduce chargebacks through transparent workflows, customer consent tracking, and evidence-ready dispute resolution. Our chargeback reduction suite includes pre-authorised consent tracking, cooling-off periods, evidence capture, and one-click dispute bundle exports to help you win chargeback cases with banks and payment processors.

No. Parked Funds does not store card details. All payments are processed through Stripe, which is PCI-compliant and handles all card data securely. Stripe stores payment methods (with customer consent) so you can charge post-hire fees without the customer being present. Parked Funds never sees or stores card numbers, CVV codes, or other sensitive payment data.

Parked Funds works for rental businesses of all sizes, from small fleets to larger operations. Our free tier includes 10 payments per month, which is perfect for getting started. As you grow, you can upgrade to plans with more included payments. There are no limits on bookings or storage. You only pay for payments processed.

Yes. Parked Funds works on mobile devices. You can create payment links, view holds, create post-hire charges, and manage everything from a phone or tablet. The interface is responsive and works well on mobile browsers.

Parked Funds connects to your existing Stripe account. All payments and holds go through Stripe, so you stay in control of your funds. Parked Funds acts as a workflow layer on top of Stripe, handling the mechanics specific to rental businesses (like linking payments to booking references, managing post-hire charges, and creating audit trails).

If you don't have a Stripe account, you can create one during setup. Stripe is a trusted payment processor used by millions of businesses worldwide.

Parked Funds is designed for vehicle and equipment rental businesses that need to manage payment holds and post-hire charges. This includes car rental companies, van and campervan rental, equipment and machinery hire, and trailer rental. If you need to secure deposits and collect post-rental charges, Parked Funds can help.

Setup takes just a few minutes. You create an account, connect your Stripe account (or create a new one), and you're ready to start creating payment links. There's no complex configuration or integration required. You can start using Parked Funds immediately.

Payment authorizations can expire after a certain period (often 7 days in Stripe). If a hold expires during a rental, you lose protection. Parked Funds helps you manage this by linking all holds to booking references, so you can see which holds are active and which have expired. You can also create new payment links if needed to re-authorize a hold.

Yes. You can upload your logo, set your brand colors, and customize email templates. Payment links and emails will use your branding, so customers see a consistent, professional experience that matches your business.

No. Parked Funds is built in New Zealand, but it's designed to work anywhere Stripe is supported. If you can use Stripe in your country, you can usually use Parked Funds for holds, deposits, and post-hire charges.