With Clio Payments, you can request and store a client's payment method for use with payment plans, scheduled bills, and trust replenishment. Storing a payment method reduces collection friction and removes the need for clients to re-enter their details on every invoice. Firm users can also add, update, and remove a stored method on a client's behalf. Managing stored methods carefully protects client financial data and keeps your billing accurate.
Note: Storing and requesting client payment methods is available to firms with Clio Payments activated.
Important: US firms can store two payment methods per client: one card and one bank account for eCheck. Canadian firms can store one credit card per client. Clients can use prepaid cards for one-time payments, and prepaid card details cannot be stored for future use.
Request payment methods
You can send your client a secure link to store their payment details by email, text, document, or a Clio for Clients secure message. You can also send this request before you send a bill or process a payment. The link appears in both the contact and matter dashboards.
Note: When a client saves a payment method, the client receives an email confirmation, and you receive one when online payments notification emails are enabled for your user group or permission level. Each request link expires after 29 days. If the link expires before the client saves a method, send a new link.
Request via contact dashboard
- Go to the contact's Dashboard.
- Scroll to the Billing information section.
- Click the down arrow next to Manage and select Request payment method.
- Click Copy link.
- Optional: Click Open request link in new window to see a visual representation of what the client will see.
- Paste the link into an email, document, secure message, or text message, and send it to the client.
Request via matter dashboard
- Go to the matter's Dashboard.
- Scroll to the Financial section.
- Click the down arrow next to Manage payment methods and select Request payment method.
- Click Copy link.
- Optional: Click Open request link in new window to see a visual representation of what the client will see.
- Paste the link into an email, document, secure message, or text message, and send it to the client.
Manually add payment methods
You can manually enter and save a client's credit or debit card details. Adding a new card replaces any card already on file. When you save a new payment method, both you and the client will receive an email confirmation. If you do not have billing permissions, you will not receive the confirmation email.
Important: Manually adding a card expires any active request link for that client. You can add card details manually. To store a bank account for eCheck, send a request link instead.
- Go to the contact or matter Dashboard.
- Click the down arrow next to Manage (contact) or Manage payment methods (matter).
- Select Add payment method.
- Complete the credit or debit card details.
- Click Save payment method.
Tip: Clients can securely store a payment method when they pay a bill by checking Securely store my payment method for future use before they submit the payment.
Set the default payment method (US only)
When a client has one stored card and one stored bank account for eCheck, you can set a default. Bills charge to the default method first.
- Go to the contact or matter Dashboard.
- Click the down arrow next to Manage (contact) or Manage payment methods (matter).
- Click the down arrow next to Delete and select Set as default.
Update payment methods
Firm users update a client's stored card details. Clients manage their own bank account information for eCheck, so send a new request link when a client needs to update eCheck details.
- Go to the contact or matter Dashboard.
- Click the down arrow next to Manage (contact) or Manage payment methods (matter).
- Select Add payment method.
- Enter the new credit or debit card details.
- Click Overwrite payment method.
Delete payment methods
Important: When a client revokes authorization for a payment method, delete the method from your saved methods, remove any payment plan that uses it, and work with the client to add a replacement for any outstanding bills or active plans.
Delete via contact or matter dashboard
- Go to the contact or matter Dashboard.
- Click the down arrow next to Manage (contact) or Manage payment methods (matter).
- Select Delete.
- When the warning prompt appears, click Delete payment method.
Delete via bill window
- In Clio Manage, click Billing, or go to the Bills subtab in a contact or matter, and find the client's bill.
- Click the down arrow next to Send and select Record payment.
- Select Credit Card or eCheck as the payment source.
- Click Billing information.
- Select Remove & Close.
- When the warning prompt appears, select Okay.
Up next
Set Up and Manage Payment Plans: Use stored payment methods to automate recurring charges toward outstanding balances.