Collecting cards on file from clients

A card on file is what flips a customer from manual invoicing into instant billing.

You have two ways to get a card on file: send the customer a link and let them enter it themselves, or send a one-tap card capture link while you're on the phone or standing in their driveway. Either way the card is stored by Stripe, not by Mowzey, and reused automatically the next time a job completes.

Why a card on file matters

A card on file is the single thing that turns Mowzey from a scheduler-with-invoicing into a cash machine. With it:

  • Completed jobs charge the customer automatically — see How instant billing works.
  • Subscriptions can renew without you touching anything.
  • You stop spending Sunday afternoons sending invoices and reminders.

Without a card on file, customers get a Stripe-hosted payment link in an email and pay one invoice at a time — which works, but the cash takes days instead of seconds.

Option 1: Customer self-onboarding

Best for new customers, or anyone you'd rather not put on the spot about a credit card.

1
Open the customer's profile and click Send invite. Mowzey emails them a link to their client portal.
2
The customer opens the link, creates a quick login, and lands on a Stripe-hosted page that asks for a card.
3
When they save it, you'll see Card on file appear on their profile. From that moment on, completed jobs bill instantly.

Option 2: Send a card capture link

Best when you're already on the phone with the customer or standing in their driveway after the estimate. Skips the client-portal signup step.

1
Open Settings → Customers and pick the customer.
2
Click Send card capture link. Choose email or text message.
3
The customer taps the link, lands on a Stripe-hosted page that asks for a card, and saves it. Takes them about 30 seconds.

Pro tip

A good moment to send the link: right after you wrap an estimate. "I'll text you a quick link to put a card on file so we can get you on the route." Most customers say yes.

How card data is handled

Card numbers are entered directly into a page hosted by Stripe — they never touch Mowzey's servers and they're never visible to you. Mowzey stores only a token, the last four digits, and the brand (Visa, Mastercard, etc.). This is the same setup Stripe provides to large e-commerce platforms and it keeps you out of PCI compliance scope.

What you'll see in Mowzey

On a customer's profile, the saved card shows as Visa ending 4242 with an expiration date. That's all the info Mowzey has access to. If you need the full transaction history for that card, open the customer in your Stripe dashboard.

When a card expires

Stripe runs an automatic card updater on most major issuers. When Visa, Mastercard, Amex, or Discover reissue a card with a new number or expiry, Stripe quietly swaps in the new details and the saved card keeps working — usually without anyone noticing.

When the updater can't fetch the new card (smaller issuers, closed accounts, customer requested a stop), the next charge fails. Mowzey handles that automatically:

  • The customer gets an email with a link to update the card.
  • The invoice is marked as failed and shows up in your overdue list.
  • You can resend the update link from the customer's profile, or capture a new card directly.

See Handling failed payments for the full retry sequence.