Book and Pay is part of the growing number of online payment and booking platforms in the tourism accommodation sector. The first connection to such a service concentrates most of the security risks: temporary password, lack of strong authentication, hastily entered banking details. Understanding what is at stake at this precise stage helps avoid mistakes whose consequences may manifest weeks later.
Strong Authentication and DSP2 Directive: What Book and Pay Must Comply With
Since the implementation of the European DSP2 directive, any platform that processes online payments is subject to the obligation of Strong Customer Authentication (SCA). The principle is based on the combination of at least two factors from three categories: something the user knows (password), possesses (phone, physical key), or is (biometric fingerprint).
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This requirement does not only apply at the time of payment. It also applies to sensitive operations performed from the first connection, such as modifying banking details or adding a payment method. For a cottage or vacation rental owner setting up their account for the first time, this means that a simple username/password combination is no longer sufficient by regulation.
A detailed guide addressing the secure connection to Book and Pay on Immonex precisely describes this initial activation mechanism and the checks imposed by regulation.
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On the Booking.com extranet, for example, activating two-factor authentication via a six-digit code (sent by SMS, phone call, or mobile app) is presented as a standard step from the first access. This trend towards systematic 2FA has been generalizing since 2024-2025 in online accommodation management tools.
Password Manager and First Connection to Book and Pay
The temptation during a first connection is to reuse a password already used on another service. This is the most common scenario in account compromises related to booking platforms.
Password managers (1Password, Dashlane, Bitwarden, among others) directly address this problem. They generate a unique and complex password, store it encrypted, and automatically fill it in during subsequent logins. For owners managing multiple extranets (Booking.com, Airbnb, channel manager), a password manager significantly reduces the reuse of weak passwords and risky manual entries.
Recommended Setup from the First Access
- Create a dedicated entry in the manager even before starting the registration process, to avoid validating a too-simple temporary password
- Enable autofill on the browser used, ensuring that the manager’s extension correctly recognizes the Book and Pay form
- Also store the 2FA recovery codes in the manager (or in a separate vault) to avoid losing access in case of a phone change
Field reports vary on one point: some built-in browsers (Safari, Chrome) offer their own password manager, which creates conflicts with third-party extensions. During the first connection, checking which tool fills the field avoids duplicates or passwords saved in the wrong place.
Concrete Pitfalls When Creating a Book and Pay Account
Several errors frequently recur, and they are not all related to the password.
The email address used conditions the entire security chain. A personal address shared with other public services exposes more than an address dedicated to rental management. If this address is compromised, the Book and Pay password reset procedure itself becomes a vector for attack.
The choice of network at the time of the first connection also matters. Connecting from a public Wi-Fi (hotel, train station, coworking space) during the account activation phase exposes credentials to interception. A VPN or a 4G/5G mobile connection offers an additional layer of protection at this precise moment.
Checks to Perform After the First Connection
- Check the connection history (if the platform offers it) to spot any suspicious sessions before adding a payment method
- Verify that the recovery email address and the 2FA phone number are up to date and accessible
- Ensure that login notifications by email or push are enabled, to be alerted in case of unauthorized access
- Test logging out and then logging back in with the password manager to confirm that everything is correctly saved
Payment Security and Banking Details on Book and Pay
Adding a payment method (bank account, Stripe account, or equivalent) often occurs immediately after account creation. This is an operation that the DSP2 directive classifies among the sensitive actions requiring strong authentication.
Some payment platforms apply payout delays that vary according to the underlying provider. Delays generally range from two to seven business days. This parameter does not depend on Book and Pay itself, but on the payment processor configured on the account.
One point deserves attention: subsequent modification of banking details normally triggers a new identity verification. If this verification does not occur, it may indicate insufficient security on the account, or an inactive 2FA setting that needs to be corrected without delay.
Every modification of banking details must generate a notification sent to the primary email address of the holder. The absence of this notification after a change is a warning signal that needs to be addressed immediately.
The first connection to Book and Pay is not just a simple registration form. It lays the foundations for account security for the entire duration of use. A unique password stored in a manager, 2FA activated from the start, and a dedicated email address form a base that limits the vast majority of risks that vacation rental owners are exposed to on a daily basis.