Saved cards

Last updated 2 November 2026.

A client paying one of your invoices by card can choose to keep that card on file with your business. You can then charge it for a new invoice in one click, and a recurring invoice can charge it on its own the moment each invoice is created. The client always says yes first, and either of you can remove the card at any time.

What you need

Card payments switched on: connect Stripe in Settings → Client payment options. Saved cards live in your own Stripe account, the same one that takes your card payments.
Offer to save cards for future invoices switched on in the same place (it is on unless you turn it off).
A saved client on the invoice. A one-off name typed onto an invoice cannot keep a card on file.

What your client sees

Under Pay by card on the invoice page there is a box, unticked, reading "Save this card for future invoices from" your business name. Nothing is saved unless they tick it.
They then pay on Stripe's secure checkout page as usual. Stripe confirms the card with their bank, including any security check the bank asks for.
From then on every invoice page from your business shows "Card ending 4242 is saved for future invoices" with a Remove link, even on invoices that are already paid.

What is stored

The card number never reaches Kwikbill. Stripe holds the card; Kwikbill keeps only Stripe's reference for it, the card brand, the last four digits, the expiry month and year, and when the client agreed. One card is kept per client: if they save another card later, the new one replaces the old.

Charging a saved card

On an unpaid invoice, click Charge saved card. Kwikbill shows the amount and the card (for example "Charge £120.00 to the Visa ending 4242?") and charges it when you confirm.
The amount is the balance due, or the deposit when the invoice asks for one and nothing has been paid yet.
A successful charge is recorded as a card payment straight away, the invoice is marked paid (or part paid) and you get the usual payment notification.
On a recurring schedule, choose Collect automatically: By saved card. Each new invoice is created, sent if you have automatic sending on, and charged to the card. If the client has no saved card at that moment, the invoice is created as normal and you get a notification.

Declined cards

If the bank declines the charge, or asks the client to confirm it themselves, nothing is taken. The card is marked declined on the client's page with the reason the bank gave, you get a notification, and the invoice stays open and sent so the client can pay from the invoice link as normal. Kwikbill does not try the card again by itself. The client can save a working card the next time they pay.

Removing a card

The client clicks Remove on any invoice page from your business.
You click Remove in the Saved card box on the client's page.
Either way the card is detached from the client in your Stripe account and can no longer be charged. Payments already made are unaffected.
If you close your Kwikbill account, saved cards are removed along with the rest of your data.

Direct Debit or saved card?

Both let you collect without the client paying each invoice by hand, and a recurring schedule can use one or the other, not both. A saved card is charged at once and suits clients who already pay by card. Direct Debit (see Pay by bank with GoCardless) takes a few working days, comes with advance notice to the client and the Direct Debit Guarantee, and suits regular service contracts. While a Direct Debit collection is on its way for an invoice, the card cannot be charged for it, so nobody pays twice.

Questions

Email support@kwikbill.co.uk. For questions about a specific card payment or payout, your Stripe Dashboard has the full detail.