Cards on file let Relay automatically charge saved customer payment methods for invoices and quick requests, available on Grow Plan and Scale Plan subscriptions.
Who can use cards on file?
Cards on file is available to Relay customers on the Grow Plan or Scale Plan. Starter Plan subscribers cannot save customer payment methods.
The feature is designed for businesses that:
Send recurring or subscription-style invoices
Charge customers on predictable schedules
Want to reduce late payments and manual collection follow-up
How do you save a customer's card on file?
You have two ways to save a customer card in Relay.
Request a saved card before you send an invoice.
Open the Contacts section in Relay.
Select the customer you want to save a card for.
Send a card-on-file request. Your customer receives a secure link to enter their card details.
Let your customer save their card at checkout.
When your customer pays an invoice or quick request, they can select "Save this card for future payments" on the payment screen. That card becomes their saved payment method for future charges.
Only one card can be active per customer at any time. Saving a new card replaces the previous one.
When does Relay charge a saved card?
Relay automatically charges the saved card the day after an invoice is issued or the day after a quick request is created. That one-day gap gives you time to cancel or edit the invoice before the charge runs.
What happens if a saved card charge fails?
If the automatic charge does not process, Relay sends your customer a secure payment link by email so they can complete the payment manually. The invoice status changes to Failed in your Relay dashboard so you can follow up.
Common reasons a saved-card charge fails:
The card was declined by the issuer
The card expired after it was saved
The card was reported lost or stolen
The customer's bank flagged the transaction as suspicious
How is saved card data protected?
Card data is encrypted and tokenized by Adyen, a payment processor certified at PCI DSS Level 1 (the highest tier of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard). Relay never stores complete card numbers.
Only a tokenized reference to the saved card is held against your Relay account, which means neither you nor Relay can view the full card number.
Can customers update or remove their saved card?
Yes. Customers can update or remove their saved card at any time through the secure billing portal linked in their Relay payment emails. Removing a saved card stops future automatic charges immediately.
What does it cost to use cards on file?
Cards on file uses Relay's standard card processing rates for invoices and quick requests. There is no separate charge for saving a card and no additional charge for running automatic billing.
For the full breakdown of processing rates by plan, see Invoice Payment Fees and Plan Comparison in Relay.
What notifications will your customer receive?
Customers receive three email notifications tied to their saved card:
An upcoming charge notice before Relay attempts the charge
A payment confirmation when the charge processes successfully
A payment failure notice with a manual payment link if the charge does not process
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