How do I save a customer's card and charge it later?

A card on file lets you charge a family for a class pack, shirt or other purchase without their card in your hand. They agree to it first, and they get an emailed receipt each time.

Before you begin

• Stripe must be connected. Otherwise the section only says to connect Stripe.
• The customer needs to be in Contacts. To email a link, the contact needs an email address.

Steps

Save a card

1. Open Contacts under Customers, then the person, and scroll to Cards on file.
2. Under Save a card pick one way:
   • Email a secure link to their address. They open Stripe's secure card form and see what you may charge before they save it.
   • Save a card on the card reader (if you have a reader): choose the reader, tick the box to confirm you read the agreement to the customer and they agreed, and press the button. The customer taps or inserts their card.

Charge a saved card

1. In the same section press Charge this card next to it.
2. Choose a Class Pack (its price is used and the pack is recorded) or type an Amount ($) and what it Counts As, with What It's For.
3. Press Charge and confirm. The card is charged right away and the customer gets an email receipt.

You can also charge a customer's saved card on Take a payment: press Add customer, then at Checkout choose Card on file.

What you'll see

• The card shows with its brand and last 4 digits, when it was saved and how (on the reader, or through the secure link).
• Declined or replaced cards give a clear message; for a replaced card, ask for the new card or use Email a secure link (see Cards to update).
• If sales tax is on, tax is worked out as at the front desk.

Troubleshooting

There is no Save a card on the card reader button. No reader is set up: How do I add a card reader?.

The Card on file option is missing at checkout. An owner may have turned it off: How do I choose the ways to pay?.

The card is marked expired. Save a new one by emailing the secure link again.