Frequently asked questions

What problem does GrabMySlot solve?

No-shows cost you time, fuel, and money. GrabMySlot makes sure customers have skin in the game by requiring a deposit when they book — so your time is respected and you're compensated if they don't show.

How does the deposit work?

Customers pay a small deposit when booking. If they show up, it's applied toward the job total. If they cancel within your policy window, it's refunded automatically. If they no-show or cancel late, you keep it — no awkward conversation required.

Do I control the deposit amount and policy?

Yes — completely. You set the deposit amount, your cancellation window (e.g. 24 hours), and whether you frame it as a deposit applied to the bill or a standalone trip charge. Each booking page can have its own settings.

Will charging a deposit scare customers away?

In practice, it filters out bad customers — not good ones. Serious customers understand that your time has value and are fine with a reasonable deposit. The ones who push back are usually the ones most likely to waste your time anyway.

How does this fit into my current workflow?

It's designed to be minimal: share your booking link, customers pick a time and pay the deposit, you show up knowing they're committed. No back-and-forth texting, no chasing payments. Everything else — reminders, calendar updates, cancellations — is handled automatically.

Do I need to install anything?

No. GrabMySlot is entirely web-based. It works on your phone, tablet, or computer. Your customers don't need to install anything either — they book through a simple link.

How do I get started?

Sign in with Google, connect your Google Calendar, complete Stripe onboarding to receive deposits, then create your first booking page. Share the link and you're live. Most contractors are set up in under 10 minutes.

When do deposits reach my bank account?

Deposits go directly to your Stripe Express account the moment a customer pays. Stripe's standard payout schedule is 2 business days to your bank. You can view and adjust your payout schedule in your Stripe Express dashboard.

Can I customize my availability?

Yes. You set your working hours, available days, and buffer time between jobs. GrabMySlot reads your Google Calendar in real time, so personal appointments and existing bookings are automatically excluded from your available slots.

What if a customer disputes a charge?

GrabMySlot logs every action on every booking — every SMS sent, every email, every status change, every cancellation — with precise timestamps. Your cancellation policy is shown to customers before they pay. This audit trail is printable directly from your booking detail view and gives you strong documentation for any dispute.

What if I need to cancel on a customer?

If you cancel a confirmed booking, the deposit is automatically refunded to the customer in full. GrabMySlot's cancellation policy only protects you from customer no-shows — it never allows you to keep a deposit for your own cancellations.

What types of contractors is GrabMySlot for?

Any independent service professional who travels to customers, books time slots, and gets burned by no-shows: plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, roofers, landscapers, locksmiths, appliance repair techs, painters, pest control, and more.

What does GrabMySlot cost?

There is no monthly subscription. GrabMySlot charges 3% of each deposit collected. Stripe's standard processing fee (2.9% + 30¢) is separate and goes directly to Stripe. If you're not collecting deposits, you pay nothing.

What is Window scheduling and how does it work?

Window scheduling lets you offer arrival windows instead of exact times. For example, you can offer a 'Morning' window from 8am–noon and an 'Afternoon' window from 1–5pm. Customers pick a window and their confirmation says 'between 8am and noon on Tuesday.' You arrive whenever is convenient within that block. Multiple bookings can fit in the same window based on your job duration and buffer time — you control the order.

Can I add employees or subcontractors to my GrabMySlot account?

Yes. Go to Dashboard → Team and invite them by email. They'll receive an invitation, sign in with their own Google account, and connect their Google Calendar. Once active, you can create team booking pages that pull availability from everyone — customers are assigned to the next available team member automatically. You can also reassign any booking to a different team member from your dashboard.

How does round-robin assignment work for team bookings?

When a customer books through a team page, GrabMySlot assigns the job to the next team member in rotation who is free during that slot. For example, with three technicians — Alice, Bob, and Carol — bookings cycle through them in order. If Alice has a conflict, the system moves to Bob. You can always reassign manually from the booking dashboard.

Can team members see each other's bookings?

No. Each team member can only see their own assigned bookings in their dashboard. Financial reporting — earnings, net payouts, platform fees — is visible to the team owner only. The owner can see all bookings across all team members.

Why is my Google Calendar not syncing?

If you see a calendar warning on your dashboard, sign out and sign back in with Google to refresh your calendar access. Your availability pulls from your primary Google Calendar on each sign-in.

Why do I need to pay a deposit to book?

Your technician is reserving travel time and a slot in their schedule specifically for you. The deposit ensures they're not losing income if an appointment falls through — it's the same reason hotels and airlines require payment upfront.

Is my deposit refundable?

Yes, if you cancel within the contractor's cancellation window. Each contractor sets their own policy, which is displayed clearly before you pay. Typically: cancel more than 24 hours ahead and you get a full refund. Cancel late or don't show and the contractor keeps the deposit.

What happens to my deposit after the appointment?

If you show up and the job happens, your deposit is applied toward your final bill — you pay less at the end. It's not an extra charge on top of the job cost.

What if I need to cancel or reschedule?

You can cancel or reschedule from the link in your confirmation email or text message. If you cancel within the contractor's free cancellation window, your deposit is refunded automatically within a few business days. Rescheduling is always free — your deposit carries over to the new appointment.

Is my payment information secure?

Yes. All payments are processed by Stripe, one of the world's leading payment processors. GrabMySlot never stores your card details — they're handled entirely by Stripe's PCI-compliant infrastructure.

What if the contractor doesn't show up?

If the contractor cancels on you, your deposit is refunded in full automatically. The deposit system is designed to create accountability on both sides — not just yours.

Why is booking online better than calling or texting?

Online booking gives you instant confirmation, a clear record of your appointment time and policy, and automatic reminders by text so you don't forget. No waiting for a callback, no miscommunication about the time, and everything is documented.

I got a text reminder — do I need to do anything?

No action needed if your appointment is still on. The reminders are just to make sure you don't forget. If something has changed, use the link in the text to reschedule or cancel.

Do all contractors charge the same deposit?

No. Each contractor sets their own deposit amount and cancellation policy. You'll see the exact amount and terms before you enter any payment information.

Who do I contact if I have a problem with my booking?

Your first step is to contact the contractor directly — they control their own booking policies and schedule. If you need help with a payment issue or can't reach the contractor, you can contact GrabMySlot support at support@grabmyslot.com.