Who pays what, and when
Private or open match, with one, two or four players, at a club that takes payment online or at the front desk: here's what gets paid, when, and what happens when a match doesn't fill up.
Authorization first, charge before the match
At a club that takes payment online, a share paid by card is settled in two stages. That's what lets a match fill up without anyone fronting money for the others. At a club that takes payment at the front desk, nothing is charged online: you pay on site.
Your share is authorized
Your card is verified and the amount of your share is set aside. Nothing is charged yet, even if your bank may show the amount as a pending transaction.
The charge goes through on its own
At charge time, the authorization turns into a payment. Each club sets this delay, between 1 and 24 hours before the match: one hour, unless it has chosen otherwise. If you book after that time has passed, your card is charged straight away.
Before it, everything is reversible
Until charge time, cancelling is free: the authorization is released. After, your share is due and is no longer refunded.
Private match: you book the court. Open match: everyone pays their share.
You pay for 2 spots or the whole court
Nobody from outside can join, and you play with whoever you like. When booking, you choose “2 spots”, your team, or “4 spots”, the whole court. With 2 spots, the other two are paid at the club: the other players can't pay their share in the app. With 4 spots, nobody else has anything to pay.
Each player pays their own share
You pay yours by posting the match, others pay theirs by joining, and all shares paid by card are charged at the same time. You never pay for a player you don't know: the only share you can pay on top of yours is that of the partner you name when the match is soon.
A private match counts toward rankings only if all four players are named: without them, there's no score to enter.
Step by step, in our guides: Book your first private match · Create an open match and share it · Join an open match
You're one, two, or already four
You're on your own, the match is still a way off
open match
Until the club's fill deadline (between 2 and 48 hours before the match, depending on the club), you can post on your own and pay only your share. The other three spots are offered to players within the level range you chose.
You're on your own, the match is soon
open match
Once that deadline has passed, an open match needs two shares: you name a second player and pay their share, so they play for free. The last two spots remain open.
There are two of you
private or open
In private, you pay for “2 spots” and the match stays closed. In an open match, your partner joins through the match link and pays their share, or you pay it if the match is soon; the other two spots stay open.
There are three or four of you
private match
You pay for “4 spots”, the whole court, and split it among yourselves however you like. Or you pay for “2 spots” and the rest is paid at the club. The match stays closed.
Online or at the front desk: the club decides
At a club that takes payment online
Your share is authorized at booking, then charged at the time set by the club, straight to the club's Stripe account. When your card is charged, you get an email receipt, “Payment confirmed”. A card authorization only lasts 7 days, so such a club opens each slot 7 days before its start time, no earlier.
A separate balance for each club
Topped up by card, it is deducted straight away at booking, with no prior authorization. It belongs to the club where you topped it up, isn't transferable and doesn't expire. It can only be used at a club that takes payment online. Cancelling in time gives it back, and when a club refunds a match it cancels, it does so in club credit.
A new club's setting
Until a club turns on online payment, you book in the app, your booking is confirmed straight away and you pay at the club: the screen shows “To pay at the club” and nothing is charged online. You don't choose this, the club does. At a club that takes payment online, spots nobody paid for in the app, such as the other two of a 2-spot booking, are also paid at the club.
What you get back, case by case
You cancel before charge time
Free, whether you cancel a private match or leave an open match. The authorization is released, or your club credit is given back. In an open match, your spot reopens and the match carries on without you.
You cancel after charge time
Your share is paid and is no longer refunded. Leaving an open match frees your spot for another player; cancelling a private match frees the court.
The player whose share you paid leaves
Only their place is released, never yours. Before charge time, their share isn't charged or is refunded to you (at the desk, you only have your own place left to pay), and the match, incomplete again, is offered to other players: if it isn't full at charge time, it is cancelled at no cost. After that, their share is still due and the match goes ahead. Either way, an email lets you know.
The open match stays incomplete
If it doesn't have its four players at charge time, it is cancelled automatically. Nothing is charged: authorizations are released, club credit is given back, each player in the match receives a “Match cancelled” email, and the slot goes back to the club. The one exception: an open match created after its charge time had already passed is not cancelled automatically.
You created the open match and you cancel it
You can't just drop out: cancelling cancels the match for everyone. Before charge time, nobody pays anything. After, the other players are refunded, to their card or in club credit depending on what they used, but your share isn't. No email goes out: let the players in the match know yourself.
The club takes payment at the front desk
Nothing was charged online, so there is nothing to refund: cancelling frees your spot or the court. If you cancel at the last minute, let the club know.
The club cancels your match
A club can cancel a booking, for example when a court becomes unavailable. An authorization not yet charged is released; if the club refunds a share already paid, it is always in club credit, never to your card.
The club sets the delays and how it takes payment
A new club takes payment at the front desk; it switches to online payment whenever it wants, with a connected Stripe account. In the “Fill-up and card charge” screen, it sets two delays. The “Fill-up call”, between 2 and 48 hours before the match (4 hours for a new club): from then on, an open match needs two shares, and its free spots get the “Urgent discount” (20% by default). The “Card charge”, between 1 and 24 hours before the match (one hour by default): that is charge time, and the time an incomplete open match is cancelled. A late charge gives matches time to fill up; an earlier charge locks in revenue sooner. Online payments arrive directly on the club's Stripe account, without going through us and with no commission: on a €28 booking, the club receives €28, minus Stripe's own fees only (around €0.25 + 1.5% for a standard European card).
What we get asked the most
When is my card charged?+
Not at booking: the amount is only authorized. The charge goes through automatically at the time set by the club, between 1 and 24 hours before the match (one hour before, unless the club has chosen a different delay). If you book after that time has passed, your card is charged straight away. At a club that takes payment at the front desk, nothing is charged online.
Can I book an open match on my own?+
Yes, until the club's fill deadline (between 2 and 48 hours before the match, depending on the club): one share is enough. After that, you need to pay for two shares and name the player for the second one.
What happens if nobody joins my match?+
Once the fill deadline has passed, the free spots are offered at a discount. If the match still doesn't have its four players at charge time, it is cancelled automatically: nothing is charged, authorizations are released, club credit is given back, and each player in the match receives a “Match cancelled” email.
Who pays what in an open match?+
Each player pays their own share. Whoever opens the match pays theirs when posting it, plus that of a partner they name if the match is soon; others pay theirs when joining. Shares paid by card are charged at the same time.
Do I get refunded if I cancel?+
Before charge time, yes: the authorization is released, or your club credit is given back. After, your share is no longer refunded. One exception protects the players of an open match: if its creator cancels it after charge time, they are refunded, the creator is not.
Can I pay at the front desk instead of online?+
You don't choose, the club does. If it takes payment at the front desk, everything is paid on site and nothing is charged online. If it takes payment online, you pay by card or with your club credit; only the spots nobody paid for in the app, such as the other two of a 2-spot booking, are paid at the club.
Can I use my club credit at any club?+
No, it's tied to the club where you topped it up, isn't transferable, and can only be used if that club takes payment online. It doesn't expire, though.
Which emails will I receive?+
When you book a match, a confirmation email (or the receipt straight away, if your card is charged immediately). When your card is charged, a “Payment confirmed” receipt. If an open match is cancelled automatically, a “Match cancelled” email. Joining an open match sends no confirmation, and a cancellation by a player or by the club sends no email: follow your matches in “My Matches”.