Letting customers pick a new time

Send one link and let the customer say when suits, instead of playing phone tag over a reschedule.

How it runs, start to finish

You open the booking and start a re-time. That texts the customer a private link from your business number: “Hi Sam, Ace Plumbing has sent you a link to pick a time that suits you”, then the link. The link is also on screen, so you can copy it if you would rather send it yourself.

They open it and pick a date and a time.

You get told, and you either confirm their time or suggest a different one back.

If you suggest one, they can tap Accept, and that is the point the booking actually changes.

You can only start a re-time on a booking that is attached to a job. If it is not, you will be told the booking cannot be tracked.

What the customer sees

A short page headed “Pick a time” with your business name, a date box and a time box. That is all. Worth knowing, because it surprises people: the page does not show your availability and does not offer a list of free slots. The customer types the time they want, and the check happens when they submit.

If they pick something in the past, or outside your trading hours, or a slot that is already taken, they are told straight away and can try again.

Picking a time does not book it

When the customer proposes a time, nothing in your diary moves. Their screen says “Thanks, time sent” and tells them you will confirm shortly. The decision stays with you.

The one case that commits by itself is the customer accepting a time you suggested. That is your decision already made, so it goes straight through.

What happens on the way through

If the job already had a booking, that booking is moved to the new time.
If it did not, a new booking is created and the job moves to Booked.
If you require a deposit before booking and it has not been paid, no booking is made. The deposit link is texted automatically and the time waits until it is paid.

The customer gets a confirmation text either way, along the lines of “the time you picked is confirmed: Thursday 14 August, 9:00 am. See you then!”

What you are told

A text to your notification number: “Customer proposed a new time” with the time, who it was, and a link to review it.
The same thing as a dashboard notification, so it is waiting for you next time you open the app.
When they accept a time you suggested: “Sam accepted the new time”. If a deposit is outstanding it says so plainly: the deposit link has been sent and the booking locks in once it is paid.

There is no email on this one. If you have not saved a notification number in Settings, the text cannot be sent, so save one.

How long the link lasts

Seven days, and the clock restarts every time either of you proposes or counters, so an active back and forth never times out mid-conversation.
It also lapses once the last suggested date has been and gone.
One live link per job. Closing the job cancels it.
An expired, cancelled or finished link shows a neutral card asking the customer to contact you, with no detail about the booking.

Closing a job →

Closing cancels a live pick-a-new-time link, along with everything else still running on the job.

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