---
title: "Pay an invoice"
description: "Pay a tuition invoice in the NestliCare app with a card or bank account, and set up auto-pay so you never think about it again."
type: guide
updated: 2026-09-15
canonical_url: https://help.nestlicare.com/parents/payments/pay-an-invoice
roles: ["parent"]
platforms: [ios, android, web]
---
When your daycare generates an invoice, you'll get an email and an in-app notification. You can pay it from the email, from the app, or from the web.

## About the invoice email

When your daycare sends an invoice you get an email with the subject **"Invoice #… from [your daycare's name]"**. It shows the amount and due date, and it has a **View Invoice** button.

That button shows you the invoice. It is not a payment link. **You always pay in the app**, using the steps below.

<Callout kind="warning" title="We never email you a payment link">
NestliCare will never send you an email that collects your card or bank details. If you receive one that claims to, it did not come from us. Open the app and pay there instead.
</Callout>

## Pay from the app

1. Open the NestliCare app and sign in.
2. Tap the **Dashboard** tab → scroll to the **Invoices** section (or tap the amount-due card at the top).
3. Any unpaid invoices are at the top, with a yellow **Unpaid** badge.
4. Tap one → **Pay Now**.
5. Review the invoice detail — the total includes your daycare's processing fee, if any.
6. Tap **Continue to payment**.

<ScreenshotWithPointers
  src="/screenshots/parents/payments/pay-invoice-screen.png"
  alt="Pay Invoice screen showing the period, amount, bank account, fee breakdown, and Continue to payment button"
  pointers={[
    { x: 50, y: 12, caption: "Pay Invoice — the invoice period sits at the top" },
    { x: 50, y: 24, caption: "Total amount due with the invoice number underneath" },
    { x: 50, y: 45, caption: "Connected bank account (or card) used for payment" },
    { x: 70, y: 65, caption: "Fee breakdown — your tuition plus the daycare's processing + service fees" },
    { x: 50, y: 94, caption: "Continue to payment — opens the secure Stripe sheet" },
  ]}
/>

7. The secure Stripe payment sheet slides up. Pick a saved method (or add a new one), then tap **Pay**.

<ScreenshotWithPointers
  src="/screenshots/parents/payments/invoice-payment-sheet.png"
  alt="Stripe payment sheet with Pay with Link button, saved bank account, and Pay button"
  pointers={[
    { x: 50, y: 65, caption: "Pay with Link — if you have a Stripe Link account, this is the one-tap option" },
    { x: 72, y: 78, caption: "Saved bank account — tap to select, then hit Pay" },
    { x: 50, y: 88, caption: "Pay button — charges the amount shown including fees" },
  ]}
/>

## Card vs. bank account (ACH)

- **Card** — instant. Convenience fee runs 2.9% + $0.50.
- **Bank account (ACH)** — 3 to 5 business days to settle. Convenience fee is 1%, capped at $6. If the fee is on you, ACH is much cheaper on larger tuition payments.

Ask your daycare which is better for both of you.

### What "$150.00 + $4.79 fee" on a paid invoice means

If your daycare passes the convenience fee on to you, the invoice detail page shows the total you actually paid as two parts:

> **Paid** &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $150.00 + $4.79 fee

The first number is the tuition (matches the invoice **Total**). The second is the convenience fee you agreed to cover at checkout, the same kind of fee you'd see on most online checkouts. Together they're the gross amount your bank or card statement will show. This is normal: you didn't overpay, the breakdown is just split out so the tuition portion is easy to read.

If you don't see "+ fee" on a paid invoice, your daycare absorbed the convenience fee instead of passing it to you.

## Set up auto-pay

To stop worrying about invoices:

1. Save a payment method first, if you haven't already. See [Add your payment method](/parents/payments/add-your-payment-method).
2. On the same **Payments** screen, tap **Enable Auto-Pay**.

Going forward, any new invoice will charge this method automatically on its due date. You'll still get a receipt by email.

<Callout kind="tip" title="Turn auto-pay off any time">
Auto-pay only charges after the due date posted on the invoice — you always have the chance to dispute a bill before it's auto-charged. Just message your daycare if something looks off.
</Callout>

## See a receipt or payment history

Every payment you make is listed in the app, and tapping a row opens the full receipt showing which card or bank account was used. You can download a receipt if you need one for taxes or an employer.

## Troubleshooting

**"Your card was declined."** The card was blocked by your bank. Contact them, or try a different card. We can't override a decline.

**"This invoice has already been paid."** Another parent on the same family paid it. Check the history tab to confirm.

**You were charged but the invoice still says unpaid.** Payments take up to a minute to land. If it's still pending after 5 minutes, email your daycare and we'll look at it together.