With Clio Payments you can request your clients to save their payment methods by sending them a link via email, or through a one-to-one intake document or secure message. Saving payment methods is possible prior to even sending a bill or processing a payment.
When your client provides their payment details, use the saved payment method to pay bills, create a payment plan, request a replacement payment method, or update a payment method on a payment plan.
With this feature, you can easily collect trust deposits, be confident that you will be paid by new clients, and maintain a control of billing by being able to view and manage your clients' preferred payment methods. This feature also has the benefit of ensuring that you stay PCI compliant knowing that your clients' payment details are stored to the highest standard.
Don't have Clio Payments and want to manage credit, debit, and eCheck/ACH payments in one place? Contact Clio support to learn more about Clio's built-in payments solution for US customers.
Request payment method
Important: Your client can only store a total of two payment methods. This includes one payment method for debit/credit and one bank account for eCheck payments.
With Clio Payments you can send a link to your client requesting that they store payment details for future bills prior to sending a bill or processing a payment. You can find the link in either the contact or matter dashboard.
Contact dashboard:
- Go to your contact's Dashboard.
- In the Billing information section click the down arrow next to Manage.
- Select Request payment method.
Matter dashboard:
- Go to your matter's Dashboard.
- In the Financial section click the down arrow next to Manage payment methods.
- Select Request payment method.
Send the request payment link to your client:
- Click Copy link.
- Paste it into an email, an intake document, or a secure message.
Tip: Each request payment link has a 29-day expiration date. If the link expires before your client saves a payment method, send them a new link.
- Click Open request link in new window to see a visual representation of what your client will see when they click the link.
- When you send your client the link and they save a new payment method, both you and your client will receive an email confirmation of the saved payment method.
Note: You will only receive an email confirmation if you have billing permissions. Your Firm Administrator can change this setting in Settings > Billing > Bill Settings.
Manually add payment method
Note: You cannot manually add client bank account details for eCheck payments. You need to send your client a request link instead.
You also have the option to manually add and save your client's credit or debit card details. You can only save payment details for one credit or debit card for each client. Adding a new card will replace an existing card. To manually store your client's credit/debit information:
- Go to the contact's Dashboard and click the down arrow next to Manage, or go to the matter's Dashboard and click the down arrow next to Manage payment methods.
- Select Add payment method.
- Complete the credit card details and select Save payment method. If you click eCheck, you will see a message that says you cannot manually enter bank account information.
Important: If you manually add a new card payment method, any previously active request link will expire. If you want your client to enter their own payment method details, send them a new link.
- Both you and the client will receive an email confirmation of the saved payment method.
Note: You will only receive an email confirmation if you have billing permissions. Your Firm Administrator can change this setting in Settings > Billing > Bill Settings.
Set default payment method
If your client has stored one credit card payment method and one bank account for eCheck payments, you can select a default payment method. The default payment method will be the primary method of payment that will be charged. To set a default payment method:
- Go to the contact's Dashboard and click the down arrow next to Manage, or go to the matter's Dashboard and click the down arrow next to Manage payment methods.
- For the payment method you want to set as default, click the down arrow next to Delete and click Set as default.
- You will see DEFAULT in green letters above the default payment method.
Update payment method
Note: Your clients cannot update payment methods. Only firms can do this.
You can edit a credit card payment method through the contact or matter's dashboard or while paying a bill. When you update the payment method, any existing payment plan will also be updated with the new payment details. You do not need to delete the existing payment plan and create a new one.
Important: You cannot update bank accounts for eCheck payments. Only clients can manage bank account information. If your clients wants to change their bank account information, send them a new request link. See the section on Request payment methods to learn more.
Update credit card in contact or matter dashboard:
- Go to the contact's Dashboard and click the down arrow next to Manage, or go to the matter's Dashboard and click the down arrow next to Manage payment methods.
- Select Add payment method.
- Enter the new credit card details and select Overwrite payment method.
Update credit card when paying a bill:
- Click Billing in the left navigation menu or go to the matter's Bills subtab and find your client's bill.
- Click the down arrow next to Send and choose Charge credit card or Record payment.
- Select Credit Card under the Source dropdown and enter the Payment amount.
- Click Billing information at the bottom left.
- In the new window, select Replace with another card.
- Add the new credit card details and click Review payment.
- Check the box next to Store this payment method for future use and select Submit payment.
Delete payment method
Note: Your clients cannot delete payment methods. Only firms can do this.
You can remove a payment method through the contact or matter's dashboard or by opening a client's existing bill.
Delete payment method in contact or matter dashboard:
- Go to the contact's Dashboard and click the down arrow next to Manage, or go to the matter's Dashboard and click the down arrow next to Manage payment methods.
- Click Delete next to the payment method.
- When the warning prompt appears, click Delete payment method.
Delete payment method in a bill:
- Click Billing in the left navigation menu or go to the matter's Bills subtab and find your client's bill.
- Click the down arrow next to Send and choose Record payment.
- Select Credit Card or eCheck under the Source dropdown and enter the Payment amount.
- Click Billing information at the bottom left.
- In the new window, select Remove & Close.
- When the warning prompt appears, select Okay.