Understand virtual credit cards (VCCs)
Learn about virtual credit cards from booking channels, including how to view balances and charge them.
Table of Contents
Some booking channels, like Booking.com, Expedia, and Agoda, issue virtual credit cards (VCCs) when the guest has already paid the channel. The channel then sends the VCC to Sirvoy along with the booking. This is how you receive your earnings: by charging the VCC for your share of the booking total.
VCC are limited in value and can only be charged during a specific time window, usually starting on the check-out date.
The easiest way to manage VCCs is by using both Sirvoy Vault and Stripe together:
- Enable Sirvoy Vault to automatically store VCC details.
- Set up Stripe to charge the card stored in Sirvoy Vault directly in the booking.
Notes:
- If the VCC amount doesn’t match the booking total, it could be due to commissions, taxes, or discounts withheld by the channel. Reach out to them for clarification.
- Stripe may notify the guest when you charge a VCC. If the channel applied a discount, the amount shown might not match what the guest actually paid. You can disable these notifications in your Stripe settings.
Channel-specific notes
Here’s how VCCs work with each major booking channel:
Booking.com
- Booking.com will only collect payment and send you VCC details if you enable alternative payment methods in your Booking.com account.
- VCCs are only available in certain countries. Check with your Booking.com account manager.
- Non-refundable bookings have their VCC activated at check-in (sometimes even earlier).
If you're using Stripe and Sirvoy Vault, Sirvoy will show the VCC balance and activation date inside the booking.
- A zero balance isn’t unusual. Booking.com doesn’t always send balance updates.
- You can safely charge the card after the activation date, even if the balance shows zero.
Expedia
- Expedia offers two payment options:
- Hotel Collect – guests pay you directly.
- Expedia Collect – guests pay Expedia, and you receive a VCC.
- Expedia VCCs exclude commission, so the value in Sirvoy matches the VCC amount.
Agoda
- Whether Agoda sends VCC details to Sirvoy depends on your Agoda payment settings. For more information, contact Agoda or see Agoda’s documentation.
- Cards starting with 553397 can’t be charged with Stripe, you’ll need another payment method.