Using a Saved Card for Automatic Payments

Availability: all plans

A saved card can pay for an installment plan or a recurring invoice automatically on each due date. Each time you switch this on, you confirm that the customer authorized that specific arrangement, and the wording you confirm is recorded. This guide explains how that works, what you can and cannot see of the customer's card, and what happens if the customer changes the card.

Before you start

The customer needs a saved card (see the guide on saving a card) and you need a connected payment processor.
Agree the arrangement with the customer first. You are responsible for their authorization and for keeping evidence of it. ServiceVisit records your confirmation but does not verify it.
You need permission to create installment plans, or to create recurring invoices.

Steps

On an installment plan.

Open the unpaid invoice and select Set Up Installment Plan.
Tick Enable Automatic Payments. It is unavailable until a payment processor is connected.
Choose the card under Payment Method.
Tick the confirmation: "I confirm that the customer authorized: Use the selected card for automatic charges under this installment agreement on the displayed amount, count, dates, and cadence."
Select Create Installment Plan. Nothing is charged until the customer accepts the plan. The installment guides cover the rest.

On a recurring invoice.

Open the recurring invoices page and find the plan in the Automatic Payment column. It shows No card on file if the customer has none.
Pick the card, then tick the confirmation that the customer authorized the recurring charge. The wording states the amount, frequency and name of the plan, until the customer cancels.
Select Turn on automatic payment. The column then shows On with the card's brand and last four digits, and any declined attempts are counted there.
To stop, select Turn off and confirm. Invoices keep being sent.

What you can and cannot see

You see the card's brand, last four digits, expiry, the date it was added and which processor holds it. You never see the full card number. The customer can see which cards you hold, and how each was authorized (by them, with their in-person signature, or by your attestation).

If the customer changes the card

If the customer replaces a card, plans using it carry on with the new card, and you are notified.
If the customer removes a card, automatic payments on any plan using it stop. The balance and schedule do not change, and the customer is reminded when each installment is due. You are notified and the plan moves to collecting directly, so you will need another method for later payments, or a new card and a fresh confirmation.
You can remove a card yourself only when no active automatic installment plan relies on it.

Tips

Confirm the exact amount, count and dates with the customer before ticking the box. The wording is tied to what the page displays.
A card past its expiry month shows Expired in the customer's Payment Methods. Ask the customer for a new card before the next due date.

If something goes wrong

"Payment method is required for automatic payments" means no card was chosen.
"Confirm the customer's authorization before enabling automatic payments" means the box is not ticked.
If recurring-invoice charges keep being declined, the column shows how many attempts were declined, and a reason appears if automatic payment was switched off.

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