Paying by text with the card on file
Once a donor's card is saved, they can give or pay a pledge by replying PAY — one charge per reply, always with a receipt.
Before you start
- The donor's cell phone is on their profile.
- Their card is on file — saved when they gave through a text link with "Keep my card on file…" ticked, on the phone line, or by staff with "Save for future charges".
- 1
How the card gets on file
The first time, the donor gives through the secure link. The box "Keep my card on file so next time I can just reply PAY by text" is ticked for them.
The giving page a text link opens. - 2
They text DONATE 50 or BALANCE
The reply offers: "Reply PAY to … with your Visa ending 4242".
- 3
They reply PAY
The card is charged once — pressing or sending twice never charges twice. The reply has the receipt number and a copy goes to their email.
- 4
Staff see it
The gift appears under Giving as "Text to give" and in "Recent gifts by phone & text" on Settings → Phone giving line.
Recent gifts by phone and text.
Tips
- Payments toward pledges are applied oldest first.
- Receipts and reminders by WhatsApp can carry a "Pay now" button that does the same — see WhatsApp Pay.
If something isn't working
Reply: "we couldn't take that payment (…)" with a decline reason.
The card was declined. The reply includes a secure link to pay with another card. If it keeps happening, send them a card-update link.
They replied PAY but only got the balance again.
More than 30 minutes passed since the offer. They reply PAY once more.