Client Account Portal – User Guide
Introduction
Historically requesting services was via good old fashioned email, text and phone calls. However as we grow and strive to continually improve the level of service we offer, we have introduced an Online Client Account Portal.
In addition to improving the way we handle booking requests, it has a host of other benefits too: From being able to see what services are already booked in, to allowing you to check, in real-time, when your dog was both collected and returned home. The great thing about the developers we use is the product is in continual development, meaning over time, you will see both your Online Client Account Portal and the features available within it improve. This Client Account Portal User Guide will explain how to access and use your account and explain the functions and features available within it.
Accessing Your Online Client Account
After we have received your completed application form, we will setup your own Online Client Account. You will receive a welcome email from us, containing your account number, a direct link to the portal and a link to this this User Guide .
Your individual link will look similar to the one below:
https://2505halodogs.petsoftware.net/clientportal?account=1234567891
(N.B the last 10 digits are your individual account number, i.e. in the example above: 1234567891)
There are 4 ways to access your Online Client Account Portal:
- Clicking the link contained in your welcome email
- Clicking the link contained in any invoice email (issued on the last day of every month)
- Clicking the ‘Client Account Portal Login’ link from the top right of our website
- Clicking the ‘Book Now’ button from the banner of our Facebook page
Whichever method you choose to use, it is worth saving your Online Client Account Portal login page as an icon on your desktop or bookmark for future ease of use. It is usually a very simple process to do, however saving as an icon or bookmark varies from device to device and browser to browser, and is outside the scope of this document.
Logging In For The First Time
-Setting a password
After following any of the 4 methods from ‘Accessing Your Client Account‘ above, to access your account for the first time, the initial screen you will see is the ‘Log in’ screen.
Prior to accessing your account for the first time, you will need to setup a password. Click the link in blue text, ‘Create Password’ which will take you to a new page where you can enter in your 10 digit account number or email address and click the ‘Create Password’ button. An email will be sent to your registered email address (the one entered on the Application Form) with a link to follow, where you can choose and setup a password, doing this will also log you straight into your account.
Logging In On Subsequent Visits
If you have saved the login page as a desktop icon or bookmark, you will now have 5 ways to access your Online Client Account Portal:
- Clicking the link contained in your welcome email
- Clicking the link contained in any invoice email
- Clicking the ‘Client Account Portal Login’ link from the top right of our website
- Clicking the ‘Book Now’ button from the banner of our Facebook page
- Clicking the desktop icon from your desktop or bookmark from your browser
Simply fill out your account number or email address in the top field, your password in the bottom field and click the ‘Login’ button. Many browsers will offer to remember these details for you and auto-complete the fields in future.
Forgotten Password
In the unfortunate event that you forget your password, simply click the blue text ‘Forgotten password?’ From the bottom of the main login page. This will take you to the next page where you can enter your account number or registered email address followed by the ‘Reset Password’ button. An email will be sent to your registered email account allowing you to choose a new password and login.
Your Account
Once successfully logged in, you will see your Account Summary page as the main page / home page.
On the right of the banner you will see your name, your account number and the green Request Services button.
Just under the banner you will see seven clickable text links in black font: Account Summary, Schedule, Invoices, Payments, Your Data, Payments Methods and Log out
-Account Summary Page
The Account Summary is also the default landing page when you login to your account. It shows an overview of your account. It lists any outstanding invoices, the amount, the due date and the ability to pay each invoice separately or pay all of the outstanding for multiple outstanding invoices.
-Schedule Page
This is an important page, as it shows all the services you have currently booked in from a calendar view up to six months in advance. We guarantee that if a service is displayed here, it will be delivered.
Above the calendar is the current month and year you are viewing. Use the blue arrows either side of the date to scroll back and forth between months.
The default view is of the current month, however if you click on a specific day, you have the option to cancel a day (more on this later) or you can see in real time when your dog was both collected and returned home. This function is linked to the team’s mobile devices and incorporates geo-tagging. This means by clicking on the little green map marker next to each time (pick up & drop off), you can see where the device was when the button was pressed, which should be right outside your front door.
-Invoices Page
A list of all invoices for the previous twelve months in PDF format. These can be downloaded and printed if required.
-Payments Page
Lists payments received information, including the payment date, the amount and the relevant invoice number.
-Your Data Page
Another important page. This is essentially the most up to date page for contact details, alternative contact details, and importantly; emergency contact details (if different to what we have already).
It is also the page to detail any house routines you would like us to comply with when collecting or dropping a dog home including any alarm or medication administration or feeding instructions. To change any data, simply click ‘edit’ in blue text next to the relevant section titles.
-Payment Methods, inc Card Management
This is a frequently requested option. On this page you can switch on and off the ability to allow automatic payments (similar to a direct debit feature) from a stored card in your account when a new invoice becomes due. Invoices are issued on the last day of every month. If the ‘Payments may be taken automatically from your stored method of payment.’ box is ticked, a payment attempt will be made against your registered card for the invoice amount. If successful, you will get an email confirmation and receipt. If the payment attempt is unsuccessful for any reason, you will receive an invoice via email as usual.
You will also receive an invoice via email on the last day of the month if the box is left un-ticked. This then leaves you the option to manually pay invoices with any stored card details or alternative methods.. After ticking or un-ticking the ‘Payments may be taken automatically from your stored method of payment.’ box, click the ‘Update Permission’ button for your preference to be updated.
Card Management
At the bottom of the Payment Methods page is a blue ‘Add or Change a Payment Method’ button. Your stored card details can be managed here.
Click the blue button ‘Add or Change a Payment Method’ to add, delete or update a card from your account.
-Log Out Page
Once you have finished with your account, click ‘Log out’. This is especially important if you are using a public or shared computer.
Requesting A Service
Requesting a service is a straight forward 3-step process. In order to make a request for a new booking, click the green Request Services button on the top right of any page in your account. This will open up the following page:
N.B you can scroll the calendar by using the buttons from above the calendar.
-Step One
Click on the date in the calendar you would like the service for.
The selected date will now show underneath the calendar, in the ‘Dates Selected’ field. It will be highlighted in yellow accompanied by a red X to the right of it.
-Step Two
Click on the ‘Service Item’ drop down menu from underneath the ‘Dates Selected’ field. Then select the service you require for the date highlighted in the previous step.
-Step Three
Now you have selected a date and a service, click the blue ‘Add Service’ button which adds the item into a list at the bottom of the page ready to be sent over for scheduling.
[See IMPORTANT below]
Multiple Services For The Same Date
If for example you want to book in day care and a shampoo for the same day, simply follow steps 1-3 above, then repeat from step 2 as the date is still highlighted by the system in the ‘Dates Selected’ field. Remember to select the alternative service from the ‘Service Item’ drop down menu.
[See IMPORTANT below]
The Same Service For Multiple Dates
If for example you want to plan the next month’s day care in advance, simply follow steps 1-3. However whilst at step 1, simply click on all the dates required before proceeding to step 2. You will see all your chosen dates listed under ‘Dates Selected’.
[See IMPORTANT below]
Multiple Services For Multiple Dates
The system works by selecting a date or multiple dates, then selecting a service to assign for the date/s, before adding to a list at the bottom of the page for submitting. So requesting multiple services for multiple dates is quite straight forward. The main thing to remember is once you have selected a date or multiple dates, they will remain selected under the ‘Dates Selected’ field until you clear them by clicking the red X next to them, or the ‘clear all dates’ in blue text.
So for example to book boarding for one dog, Follow steps 1-3 as above, choosing ‘First Day of Holiday With Pick Up 1 Dog’ from the ‘Service Item’ drop down menu. After completing step 3, you must now click the red X, next to the date highlighted in yellow, under ‘Dates Selected’ before repeating steps 1-3 again for the ‘Last Day of Holiday With Return Home 1 Dog’. Using this method will allow you to book as many different services for as many different dates as you require.
[See IMPORTANT below]
IMPORTANT
Once you have chosen your dates and services and compiled a list at the bottom of the ‘Request Services’ page. The final thing to do is click the green ‘Submit Request’ button. This is when your request’s come through to the office for scheduling. You will receive an email both stating your request has been submitted and a confirmation email once we have checked and confirmed your booking.
Cancellations
If you need to cancel a previously booked in service, click Schedule, click the date you wish to cancel from the calendar view and over on the right of the screen you will see a ‘cancel’ button. After clicking the ‘cancel’ button you will notice the service is no longer showing in your calendar and therefore has been automatically cancelled.
Expired Cards
We may send out via email a notice to advise you if your registered card is soon to expire or has expired. To update registered card details, click on ‘Payment Methods’, followed by ‘Add or Change a Payment Method’ where you can delete your old card and add a new one.
Security
Security online is not about getting just one thing right, moreover it is about employing best in class technologies and practices in everything we do. All account data is hosted using the Amazon Elastic Cloud Compute service. This is the same Amazon that you buy all your bits & pieces from online. Data is protected in your account using the very latest security algorithms and encryption receiving “Grade A” test passes via the Quality SSL Labs server test. You can read more about Security Online here.
All debit / credit card data is stored with Stripe. Stripe are world leaders in internet based credit card processing and they treat security of clients data as their number one priority. Their servers are all PCI compliant level 1, which is the highest and most stringent form of certification. All stored data is encrypted and Stripe forces all browsers to interact with their services via securely encrypted HTTPS channels. You can find more information on Stripe’s security here.
General
Both booking requests and cancellations can be made online up till 23:59 on the day before the expected service delivery. However please note weekends and Bank Holidays should be requested by 2pm on the preceding Friday (or the last normal working day for Bank Holidays falling on a day other than a Monday) in order that we can make suitable arrangements for the necessary keys to be issued to the staff on duty over the weekend or Bank Holiday. We will endeavour to accommodate late requests, but ask for these to be occasional opposed to routine due to the associated complexities of key assignment.
If you wish to have the same services on the same days on a regular basis, i.e. Day Care 5 days per week or regular Monday, Wednesday and Fridays for example. We have the ability to set this up as an administrator. Therefore rather than having to keep logging in and requesting the same services on a weekly, or monthly basis, let us know at [email protected] or send us a message and we will set the recurring services up in your account. You will still have the full functionality of all the features available in your account without the need for continually requesting the same services.
All boarding requests must have two dates. The check-in date, i.e. the first day with collection from home, and the check-out date i.e. date to return home. If necessary any days in-between the check-in and check-out dates will automatically be added to the booking after submission.
Please note this system is not fully automated. Every request and cancellation is still acknowledged by a human and scheduled in manually. This means any comments left in the notes field will be read and any errors with a booking will be identified. This is a system to assist us deliver a better service, not to replace us!
View As PDF
If you would prefer to read this User Guide as a PDF, or if you would like to download and keep or print a copy, please click here