Payment Methods

Manage your credit cards and payment options to ensure smooth billing for subscriptions and wallet top-ups.

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💳 Understanding Payment Methods

What are Payment Methods?

Payment methods are the credit or debit cards you save in Forest SEO for:

• 💎 Subscription billing
• 💰 Wallet top-ups
• 🔄 Auto-reload payments
• 📧 Invoice payments

Why Save Payment Methods?

Benefits:

• ⚡ Faster checkout
• 🔄 Automatic subscription billing
• 💰 Seamless wallet top-ups
• 🛡️ Secure storage via Stripe
• 📱 Quick mobile payments

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🔒 Security & Compliance

PCI-DSS Compliance

Forest SEO uses Stripe for payment processing, ensuring:

Security Features:

• 🔐 PCI-DSS Level 1 — Highest security standard
• 🛡️ Encrypted Storage — Cards encrypted at rest
• 🔒 TLS 1.2+ — Secure data transmission
• ✅ 3D Secure — Additional authentication when required
• 🚫 Zero Card Storage — Forest SEO never sees full card numbers

What We Store

Forest SEO Stores:

• ✅ Last 4 digits of card
• ✅ Card brand (Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
• ✅ Expiration date
• ✅ Cardholder name
• ✅ Card country

Forest SEO NEVER Stores:

• ❌ Full card number
• ❌ CVV/CVC code
• ❌ Card PIN

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➕ Adding Payment Methods

Prerequisites

Before adding a payment method:

1. ✅ Complete Billing Address

   • Navigate to Billing → Overview
   • Fill out address form
   • Include country and postal code

2. ✅ Valid Credit/Debit Card

   • Must be active and not expired
   • Must have sufficient funds
   • International cards accepted

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Step-by-Step: Add Card

Step 1: Open Add Card Form

1. Go to Dashboard → Settings → Billing
2. Select Payment tab
3. Click Add Payment Method button
4. Sidebar opens with secure Stripe form

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Step 2: Enter Card Details

Required Information:

Stripe Elements Form:

Real-Time Validation:

• ✅ Card number format checked
• ✅ Expiration date validated
• ✅ CVC length verified
• ✅ Card brand detected (Visa, MC, Amex)
• ⚠️ Errors shown immediately

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Step 3: Verification (3D Secure)

Some cards require additional authentication:

3D Secure Flow:

3D Secure Methods:

• 📱 SMS code
• 📲 Mobile app approval
• 🔐 Bank authentication page
• 🔑 Hardware token (rare)

Timeout: Most banks allow 5 minutes for authentication.

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Step 4: Confirmation

After successful addition:

✅ Immediate Updates:

• Card appears in payment methods list
• Last 4 digits displayed
• Card brand icon shown
• Expiration date visible

📧 Email Notification:

• Card addition confirmed
• Security notification sent
• Review if you didn't add it

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💳 Accepted Payment Methods

Card Networks

Card Types

Accepted:

• ✅ Credit cards
• ✅ Debit cards
• ✅ Prepaid cards (with billing address)
• ✅ Virtual cards
• ✅ Business cards

Not Accepted:

• ❌ Gift cards
• ❌ Anonymous prepaid cards
• ❌ Cards without 3D Secure (some)

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⚙️ Managing Payment Methods

View All Cards

Payment Methods List:

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Set Default Payment Method

What is a Default Card?

The default payment method is automatically used for:

• 💎 Subscription renewals
• 🔄 Auto-reload top-ups
• 📧 Invoice payments
• 💰 Manual wallet top-ups (pre-selected)

How to Set Default:

1. Find the card in payment methods list
2. Click Actions menu (⋮)
3. Select Set as Default
4. Confirmation appears
5. ⭐ Default badge applied

Best Practice: Always maintain a default payment method to avoid billing interruptions.

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Update Card Information

What Can Be Updated:

To Update Expiration:

1. Contact support with card details
2. Or add new card and remove old one

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Remove Payment Method

When to Remove:

• Card expired or lost
• Closing account
• Replacing with new card
• Security concern

How to Remove:

1. Locate card in payment methods list
2. Click Actions menu (⋮)
3. Select Remove Payment Method
4. Confirm removal
5. Card removed from account

Important Notes:

⚠️ Cannot Remove Default: Must set different default first
⚠️ Active Subscription: Requires alternative payment method
⚠️ Pending Charges: Wait for charges to complete first

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🔄 Payment Method Usage

Subscription Billing

How Subscriptions Charge:

Billing Cycle:

• First charge: Immediate on subscription
• Recurring: Same day each month
• Retries: 3 days, 7 days if failed
• Grace period: 14 days total

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Wallet Top-Ups

Manual Top-Up Flow:

1. You click "Top Up Wallet"
2. Select amount ($50)
3. Choose payment method (or use default)
4. Confirm top-up
5. Card charged immediately
6. Credits added to wallet

Payment Method Priority:

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Auto-Reload (Coming Soon)

Automatic Wallet Top-Ups:

When enabled, auto-reload will:

1. Monitor wallet balance
2. Trigger when balance < threshold
3. Charge default payment method
4. Add funds automatically
5. Send email notification

Example Configuration:

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⚠️ Troubleshooting

Issue 1: Card Won't Add

Symptoms:

• Error when submitting card
• Form validation fails
• "Card declined" message

Common Causes & Solutions:

Steps to Fix:

1. ✅ Verify billing address is complete
2. ✅ Check card details are correct
3. ✅ Ensure card is active and funded
4. ✅ Try different browser
5. ✅ Disable browser extensions
6. ✅ Contact support if persists

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Issue 2: Can't Set Default

Symptoms:

• "Set as Default" button grayed out
• Action doesn't work
• Error message appears

Causes:

1. Card already default — No action needed
2. Payment method failed verification — Re-add card
3. Pending transaction on card — Wait for completion

Solution:

• Verify card is not already default (⭐ badge)
• Ensure card was successfully added
• Wait for any pending transactions
• Try removing and re-adding card

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Issue 3: Failed Subscription Payment

Symptoms:

• Subscription marked "Past Due"
• Email about failed payment
• Features disabled

Resolution Steps:

Action Plan:

1. Day 1: Received failure notification

   • Check default payment method
   • Verify card is active and funded
   • Update if needed

2. Day 3: Automatic retry

   • System retries charge
   • Email sent with result

3. Day 7: Features suspended (if still failed)

   • Add alternative payment method
   • Manual retry option available

4. Day 14: Subscription cancelled (if unresolved)

   • Reactivation required
   • Must update payment method

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Issue 4: Unexpected Charge

Symptoms:

• Charge you didn't authorize
• Wrong amount
• Duplicate charge

Steps:

1. Review Transaction History

   • Check Billing → Subscription → Invoices
   • Verify charge matches your activity
   • Look for subscription renewals

2. Check Email Receipts

   • Every charge sends email
   • Contains transaction details
   • Compare to bank statement

3. Common Explanations:

   • Subscription renewal (monthly)
   • Pro-rated seat charge (added member)
   • Wallet top-up (maybe auto-reload)
   • Pending authorization (not final charge)

4. If Still Unclear:

   • Screenshot bank statement
   • Note transaction date/amount
   • Contact support with details
   • Include transaction ID from email

Support Response Time: Usually within 24 hours for billing issues.

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🔐 Security Best Practices

1. Use Strong Authentication

Recommendations:

• ✅ Enable 3D Secure on cards
• ✅ Use cards with SMS verification
• ✅ Keep bank contact info updated
• ✅ Monitor bank app notifications

2. Monitor Account Activity

Regular Checks:

• 📧 Review payment confirmation emails
• 💳 Check bank statements monthly
• 🔍 Review transaction history in Forest SEO
• ⚠️ Report suspicious activity immediately

3. Keep Payment Methods Updated

Maintenance:

• 🔄 Update cards before expiration
• 🗑️ Remove old/unused cards
• ✅ Keep billing address current
• 📧 Update email for receipts

4. Protect Your Account

Account Security:

• 🔐 Use strong password
• 🔑 Enable 2FA if available
• 🚫 Don't share login credentials
• 💻 Log out on shared devices

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💰 Payment Method Limits

Card Limits

Transaction Limits:

Card Quantity

How Many Cards:

• Minimum: 1 (required for subscription)
• Recommended: 2-3 (backup methods)
• Maximum: 10 per account

Why Multiple Cards:

• ✅ Backup if primary fails
• ✅ Different limits on different cards
• ✅ Business vs. personal separation
• ✅ Backup card for auto-reload

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🎯 Payment Method Best Practices

1. Maintain Multiple Cards

Recommended Setup:

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2. Set Appropriate Default

Choose Default Based On:

• ✅ Highest credit limit
• ✅ Best rewards program
• ✅ Most reliable card
• ✅ Primary business card

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3. Regular Maintenance

Monthly Tasks:

• ✅ Review all saved cards
• ✅ Check expiration dates
• ✅ Remove unused cards
• ✅ Update primary if needed
• ✅ Verify billing addresses

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4. Monitor Failed Charges

Set Up Alerts:

• 📧 Email for failed payments
• 📱 SMS from bank for declines
• 🔔 Dashboard notifications enabled
• 💳 Bank app push notifications

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you need my billing address?

Required for:

• Card verification
• Fraud prevention
• Tax compliance
• 3D Secure authentication
• Stripe requirements

Can I use someone else's card?

Generally yes, but:

• ✅ With cardholder permission
• ✅ For business accounts (company card)
• ⚠️ Be prepared to verify ownership
• ⚠️ Some banks may decline

Best practice: Use your own card or authorized business card.

What if my card expires?

Before Expiration:

• 📧 Stripe sends reminder email (30 days before)
• 📧 Forest SEO sends reminder (14 days before)
• ✏️ Update card info or add replacement

After Expiration:

• ❌ Subscription payments will fail
• ⚠️ Grace period begins
• ➕ Add updated card with new expiration
• ✅ Billing resumes automatically

Can I use a prepaid card?

Yes, if:

• ✅ Has full billing address
• ✅ Supports online payments
• ✅ Has sufficient balance
• ✅ Supports 3D Secure

May not work:

• ❌ Anonymous prepaid cards
• ❌ Gift cards
• ❌ Cards without billing address

How do refunds work?

Refund Processing:

• 💳 Refunds go to original payment method
• ⏱️ Processing time: 5-10 business days
• 📧 Email notification when processed
• 🏦 Appears as credit on card statement

Can't Refund If:

• Card removed from account
• Card expired or cancelled
• Contact support for alternative

Do you support PayPal?

Not yet! Currently only credit/debit cards via Stripe.

Coming soon:

• PayPal support
• Apple Pay
• Google Pay
• Bank transfers (EU)

Is my card information safe?

Absolutely!

• 🔐 Stripe handles all card data
• 🛡️ PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant
• 🔒 End-to-end encryption
• ✅ Industry-leading security
• 🚫 Forest SEO never sees full card numbers

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🔗 Related Documentation

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💡 Pro Tips

Tip #1: Add backup payment methods BEFORE your primary card expires to avoid service interruptions.

Tip #2: Use a card with rewards/cashback for Forest SEO subscriptions to earn on your monthly charges.

Tip #3: Set your most reliable card as default, not necessarily your primary personal card.

Tip #4: Review saved payment methods quarterly and remove cards you no longer use.

Tip #5: Enable bank notifications for all Forest SEO charges to monitor spending in real-time.

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🎬 Quick Actions

Ready to manage payment methods? Choose your path:

• ➕ Add Payment Method — Save your first card
• ⭐ Set Default Card — Choose primary payment
• 🗑️ Remove Old Card — Clean up unused cards
• 💎 Subscribe Now — Start Premium plan

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Questions? Contact support at [email protected] or visit our Help Center.