Partial capture means collecting only the supported amount from an active security-deposit authorization and releasing the unused balance. For example, a €500 hold with a documented €85 replacement cost should not automatically become a €500 charge.
The payment action is the last step. First confirm that the authorization is still valid, the agreement permits the amount, the evidence connects the issue to this rental and the calculation is itemized.
Partial-Capture Decision Tree
- Is the authorization still active? If no, do not pretend it can still be captured; follow your provider and contract process.
- Was the issue recorded at return? If no, investigate before charging.
- Does the signed agreement disclose this category and calculation? If no, obtain advice rather than improvising a fee.
- Can the amount be supported by an invoice, estimate or disclosed tariff? If no, do not use the maximum deposit as the amount.
- Does the provider support partial capture for this payment? If yes, capture the supported amount and confirm what happens to the remainder.
- Can the customer receive an itemized explanation and evidence? Send it promptly and preserve the complete timeline.
Mollie's manual-capture documentation explains that supported authorizations can be captured fully or partially. For a card partial capture without multiple-capture mode, the uncaptured remainder is generally released, subject to issuer support. Exact behavior depends on the payment method and configuration.
Worked Example: €500 Hold, €85 Supported Damage
| Record | Amount | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Original authorization | €500 | Maximum disclosed security amount |
| Replacement part | €60 | Supplier invoice |
| Agreed labour | €25 | Itemized repair estimate or disclosed rate |
| Partial capture | €85 | Supported total |
| Unused authorization | €415 | Released under the provider flow |
This is an example, not a recommended fee. Do not add administration, downtime, cleaning or replacement charges unless the contract, evidence and applicable rules support them. Betterment also matters: charging the full new replacement cost for an already worn item can be difficult to justify.
Evidence to Gather Before Capture
- signed rental agreement and the exact deposit clause;
- asset-specific pickup condition report;
- timestamped return condition report;
- wide and close photographs identifying the asset and issue;
- customer communications and handover record;
- repair estimate, invoice or published tariff;
- calculation separating damage, tax and any other component;
- authorization ID, amount, status and expiry;
- internal approval identifying who made the decision.
The evidence should form one chronological story. A close-up of a scratch without an identifiable vehicle or pickup comparison is weaker than a matched before-and-after sequence.
Capture, Release or Resolve Another Way?
| Finding | Safer operational response |
|---|---|
| No damage and no amount due | Release the full authorization promptly |
| Supported amount below the hold | Consider partial capture and release of the remainder |
| Supported amount equals the hold | Full capture may be appropriate if permitted and evidenced |
| Claim exceeds the hold | Do not create an undisclosed extra card action; follow the agreement and formal claim route |
| Evidence is contradictory or incomplete | Pause, ask for review and preserve the authorization deadline |
| Authorization expired | It cannot simply be captured afterward; use the permitted contractual/provider route |
Mollie's API reference confirms that an expired authorization can make a capture fail. A deadline is not evidence and evidence does not extend a provider deadline; the operation must manage both.
Tell the Customer Before Confusion Becomes a Dispute
Send the factual issue, clause, itemized amount and evidence. State whether capture is proposed or completed and what happened to the remainder. Avoid emotionally loaded accusations and never alter timestamps or images.
Where the process allows a response before capture, give a clear channel and reasonable deadline. Where immediate action is necessary or already taken, explain the dispute and support route accurately. Local consumer and rental rules differ, so get jurisdiction-specific advice for your policy.
How PayRequest Fits the Workflow
PayRequest security deposits keeps the deposit request and its authorization status in one operational flow. The operator can see the hold countdown and release or capture the authorized payment according to the connected provider's supported behavior.
PayRequest does not decide whether a damage claim is legally valid. Your agreement, inspection evidence, calculation, provider rules and applicable law remain decisive. Use the payment record as the audit spine, then attach the documents that explain why the action occurred.
The governing principle is proportionality: capture the supported amount, not the convenient maximum.