---
title: "Update your payment method"
description: "Add a new card or bank account, remove an old one, and turn auto-pay on or off."
type: guide
updated: 2026-04-27
canonical_url: https://help.nestlicare.com/parents/payments/update-your-payment-method
roles: ["parent"]
platforms: [ios, android, web]
---
Your daycare charges the payment method saved on your account. Keep it current so you don't miss a tuition cycle, get hit with late fees, or lose your auto-pay setup.

## See your current payment method

1. Open the app → **Me** tab (bottom-right).
2. Scroll to the **Payment Method** section.

<ScreenshotWithPointers
  src="/screenshots/parents/payments/payment-methods.png"
  alt="Payment Method section on the Me tab"
  pointers={[
    { x: 50, y: 25, caption: "Payment Method row — shows current method like 'Visa •••• 4242' or 'Bank Account •••• 6789' with a checkmark" },
    { x: 50, y: 50, caption: "Auto-Pay row — shows 'Off' or 'Active' with timing text underneath when enabled" },
    { x: 50, y: 75, caption: "Add Payment Method / Connect Bank Account button when none is saved yet" },
  ]}
/>

## Add a new card or bank account

1. Tap **Add Payment Method** (or **Connect Bank Account** if your daycare is on Adyen).
2. A secure Stripe or Adyen sheet opens. Enter your card, or log in to your bank.
3. Tap **Save**.

Nothing is charged during setup — we just store the method for future invoices.

## Card vs bank account (ACH)

- **Card**: Instant. Convenience fee runs 2.9% + $0.50.
- **Bank account (ACH)**: 3 to 5 business days to settle. Cheaper, 1% capped at $6. If your daycare passes the convenience fee to you, ACH saves real money over a year on larger tuition payments.

Ask your daycare which they prefer.

## Remove an old method

1. On the Me tab → **Payment Method** section, tap **Remove Payment Method**.
2. Confirm the alert.

If auto-pay is on, the **Remove** button is hidden — you have to cancel auto-pay first (see below), then you can remove the method.

## Set up auto-pay

1. Make sure you have a payment method saved.
2. Tap **Enable Auto-Pay** in the Auto-Pay section.
3. The **Enable Auto-Pay** sheet opens.

### Pick a charge timing

- **Same day** — charge on the day the invoice is issued
- **1 day after** — 1-day buffer to dispute
- **3 days after** — 3-day buffer (a safe default for most families)
- **1 week after** — 7-day buffer, useful if you want time to review

<Callout kind="tip" title="3 days is the sweet spot">
Most families pick 3 days after. It's long enough to spot an error on the invoice ("wait, I wasn't there on the 14th?") and short enough to never actually go past due.
</Callout>

4. Read the authorization text (it's an ACH mandate if you're using a bank account — required by US law).
5. Toggle **I have read and agree to the authorization above.** on.
6. Tap **Enable Auto-Pay**.

You'll see a success view: "Auto-Pay Enabled!" and the Me tab's Auto-Pay row now shows **Active** with the timing you picked.

### What you'll see on each invoice while waiting

When auto-pay is set up, your invoices show one extra line near the **Pay Now** button:

> 🔄 Auto-pay scheduled for May 4

That tells you exactly when your card will be charged automatically. The invoice **won't** show the red "OVERDUE" badge during the wait, even if its displayed due date has already passed — auto-pay is doing exactly what you agreed to and will charge on the scheduled day.

The **Pay Now** button stays available the whole time. You can pay early if you want (going on vacation, want to clear the books, etc.) — paying early just makes the auto-pay step a no-op.

<Callout kind="info" title="Why is the due date earlier than the scheduled charge?">
Your daycare sets when the invoice is "due" — separately from when auto-pay charges. If those don't line up, you'll see "Auto-pay scheduled for [date]" instead of "OVERDUE". You're not late.
</Callout>

## Cancel auto-pay

1. On the Me tab, in the Auto-Pay section, tap **Cancel Auto-Pay**.
2. Confirm.

Future invoices will require manual payment. Existing unpaid invoices are not affected — they stay unpaid until you pay them.

## Troubleshooting

**"This card was declined."** Your bank blocked the charge. Call them, or try a different card — we can't override declines.

**ACH setup says "micro-deposits pending."** Normal for bank accounts — Stripe makes two tiny deposits to your bank, and once they land (1-2 business days), you confirm the amounts to verify the account. You'll get an email with instructions.

**Auto-pay didn't charge an invoice.** Check the payment method is still valid (the card didn't expire). Auto-pay tries to charge each invoice up to **3 times** before stopping — if all 3 attempts fail, you'll get a notification ("Auto-pay attempts stopped") and your daycare gets one too. Update your payment method, then your daycare can either let the next billing cycle pick up automatically or mark the stuck invoice paid manually if you settled another way.

**On web I see "Connect Bank Account" but I already linked a card on the iPhone app.** This was a bug we fixed on April 27, 2026. If you still see it, refresh the page or sign out and back in. The web Payments page now correctly shows your saved card (e.g. "Visa •••• 1605").

**"Remove Payment Method" button isn't showing.** Auto-Pay is currently on. Tap **Cancel Auto-Pay** first, then the Remove button appears.

**I'm on "limited access" and don't see Payment Method.** Limited-access family members (grandparents, sitters with app access) can't manage payments. The primary parent handles billing.