> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.athelas.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Charge Saved Credit Cards

> Batch-charge patients' saved cards for outstanding balances, filtered by amount and charge type.

#### At a Glance

The **Charge Saved Cards** tab lets you charge many patients' saved cards at once. You can specify which patients to include, narrow the list by balance amount and charge type, and charge all of the selected cards in one batch.

#### Best Practices

1. Tell patients while they're in office that you'll **save their card and auto-debit** it when their bill comes due (some practices include this in their intake terms). Prepping patients avoids confusion.
2. Run this **regularly** so balances don't build up too high.
3. Set the **maximum charge** to an amount that won't surprise patients; contact the patient directly before charging very high balances.

#### Walkthrough

1. **Filter charge types** — by default all payment types are included. Open the **Line Items** dropdown to uncheck any you don't want to auto-charge.
2. **Set min and max balance** — include only balances within a range. We generally suggest a minimum of `$20` (to reduce card-fee impact) and a maximum of `$500` (charge larger balances only after contacting the patient).
3. **Select patients** — patients meeting your criteria are opted in on the **Whitelist**. Check any you want to exclude and click **Disable Selected** to move them to the **Disabled** group.
4. **Confirm charges** — click **Confirm**, then confirm you have authorization to charge the cards. Charges begin immediately and appear in the **History** table when done.
5. **Notifications** — charges are accompanied by text and email confirmations to patients.

<Note>
  This tool is **manually triggered** — configuring it does not create automatic recurring charges. (For recurring charges, use a [payment plan](/insights_front_desk/patient_responsibility/setting_up_a_payment_plan).)
</Note>

### FAQ

<Accordion title="Does this charge cards automatically on a schedule?">
  No. You trigger each batch manually. For recurring, scheduled charges, set up a [payment plan](/insights_front_desk/patient_responsibility/setting_up_a_payment_plan) instead.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="How do I exclude a patient from a batch?">
  Check the patient in the Whitelist and click **Disable Selected** to move them to the Disabled group, which won't be charged in that batch.
</Accordion>