Autopay on LivePayments

Automatically charge the card on file for all winning bidders

Autopay is a feature within the LivePayments solution where winning bidders credit/debit card on file will be automatically charged (either instantly, 24 hours, or 72 hours) after they receive the invoice you send via LiveAuctioneers. If you have an alternative payment method in mind for a particular invoice, you're in control and can remove the invoice from Autopay. 

You can only use Autopay if you have LivePayments activated for your account. Gain access to the Autopay feature by enrolling in LivePayments, a payment processing solution.

How does 24-Hour Autopay work?

• If an active bidder (has placed a bid in the last 180 days) without a card on file registers for an auction that has Autopay enabled, they will be prompted to add a card on file
• If a new or inactive bidder (has not placed a bid in the last 180 days) without a card on file registers for an auction that has Autopay enabled, they will be prompted to add a card on file AFTER they place their first bid
  • If a new or inactive bidder wins without a card on file, they will be instructed to pay their invoice through checkout
• 24 hours after you send the invoice, winning bidders with a card on file who have not already paid, and who you have not removed from Autopay, will be charged
  • Any communication had with the bidder (via invoice, phone, email, or other) should reference Autopay and what is to be expected with that
• Your Invoices will update as "Paid" for any invoices paid manually through checkout (using the “Check Out” button) or through Autopay
• If a bidder does not have a card on file, he/she will receive an email message requesting they add their card on file. 
• If a bidder has a card on file, but it’s declined, they will receive an email message that the card has been declined and to update the card. 
• When a payment is not completed with Autopay, we will continue to try to automatically charge their card once every 24 hours. If there is still a balance on the invoice after 48 hours, we send an email to the bidder alerting them that their invoice remains unpaid and that they are at risk of a dispute.
• At this point, it is up to you to add a dispute to this invoice. We will not automatically add a dispute. 
• If you need to add any additional amounts to the invoice after the original amount is paid, the bidder will need to manually pay using the “Check Out” button

How does 72-Hour Autopay work?

• If an active bidder (has placed a bid in the last 180 days) without a card on file registers for an auction that has Autopay enabled, they will be prompted to add a card on file
• If a new or inactive bidder (has not placed a bid in the last 180 days) without a card on file registers for an auction that has Autopay enabled, they will be prompted to add a card on file AFTER they place their first bid
  • If a new or inactive bidder wins without a card on file, they will be instructed to pay their invoice through checkout
• 72 hours after you send the invoice, winning bidders with a card on file who have not already paid, and who you have not removed from Autopay, will be charged
  • Any communication had with the bidder (via invoice, phone, email, or other) should reference Autopay and what is to be expected with that
  • A reminder email will be sent to the bidder prior to the payment being processed
• Your Invoices will update as "Paid" for any invoices paid manually through checkout (using the “Check Out” button) or through Autopay
• If a bidder does not have a card on file, he/she will receive an email message requesting they add their card on file. 
• If a bidder has a card on file, but it’s declined, they will receive an email message that the card has been declined and to update the card. 
• When a payment is not completed with Autopay, we will continue to try to automatically charge their card once every 24 hours. If there is still a balance on the invoice after 48 hours, we send an email to the bidder alerting them that their invoice remains unpaid and that they are at risk of a dispute.
• At this point, it is up to you to add a dispute to this invoice. We will not automatically add a dispute. 
• If you need to add any additional amounts to the invoice after the original amount is paid, the bidder will need to manually pay using the “Check Out” button

How does Instant Autopay work?

Instant Autopay collects payments immediately after invoices are issued to help you ship items sooner and pay consignors faster

• If an active bidder (has placed a bid in the last 180 days) without a card on file registers for an auction that has Autopay enabled, they will be prompted to add a card on file
• If a new or inactive bidder (has not placed a bid in the last 180 days) without a card on file registers for an auction that has Autopay enabled, they will be prompted to add a card on file AFTER they place their first bid
  • If a new or inactive bidder wins without a card on file, they will be instructed to pay their invoice through checkout
• At the end of auction, sellers generate and send invoices and the bidders' cards are charged within minutes of invoice being sent 
  • Any communication had with the bidder should reference Instant Autopay and what is to be expected with that
• Your Invoices will update as "Paid" for any invoices paid manually through checkout (using the “Check Out” button) or through Autopay
• If a bidder has a card on file, but it’s declined, they will receive an email message that the card has been declined and to update the card.
• At this point, it is up to you to add a dispute to this invoice. We will not automatically add a dispute. 
• If you need to add any additional amounts to the invoice after the original amount is paid, the bidder will need to manually pay using the “Check Out” button

I already use LivePayments regularly, do I need to take any action now that I'm using Autopay?

• Yes. If you are using 24-Hour Autopay, you must add a phrase to your Terms & Conditions that reads: "For payment, if you have a card on file with LiveAuctioneers, it will be automatically charged 24 hours after you receive your invoice." LiveAuctioneers will also automatically add the following phrase to your payment and shipping terms as well: “ If you have not contacted “Your house name” to arrange payment within 24 hours of the time that invoice is sent, we will charge the credit/debit card you used to register for the auction for the amount of your invoice.“
• Yes. If you are using 72-Hour Autopay, you must add a phrase to your Terms & Conditions that reads: "For payment, if you have a card on file with LiveAuctioneers, it will be automatically charged 72 hours after you receive your invoice." LiveAuctioneers will also automatically add the following phrase to your payment and shipping terms as well: “ If you have not contacted “Your house name” to arrange payment within 72 hours of the time that invoice is sent, we will charge the credit/debit card you used to register for the auction for the amount of your invoice.“
• Yes. If you are using Instant Autopay, you must add a phrase to your Terms & Conditions that reads: “For payment, cards on file will be automatically charged shortly after the conclusion of the auction.” LiveAuctioneers will also automatically add the following phrase to your payment and shipping terms as well: “This auction uses Autopay by LiveAuctioneers. If you place a winning bid, your card will be charged shortly after the conclusion of the auction.”

How can I remove an invoice from Autopay?

• • • By default, all of your invoices will be opted into Autopay, as shown by the checkmarks to the right of each invoice
    • In order to opt an invoice out of Autopay, press the checkmark to uncheck it. You can opt an invoice out of Autopay at any point (before or after you send the invoice). Once an invoice has been opted out of Autopay, it cannot be opted back in.
      
    • If you hover over the checkmark, you will see this message:                     

What if the winning bidder does not have a card on file?

• If this happens the bidder is likely either new or inactive (has not placed a bid in the last 180 days), they will be able to bid and will be prompted to add a card on file AFTER they place their first bid. If they happen to win without a card on file, they will be instructed to pay their invoice through checkout. 

Will my invoices be marked as paid if they are paid with Autopay?

• Yes, the invoices will be marked as paid as soon as the payment is completed using Autopay

Do I need to opt in to use Autopay?

• No, Autopay is automatically turned on and set up for all auction houses who use LivePayments. This ensure that payments are processed faster with less risk and cost.
• If you do not have LivePayments enabled for your account, you must have LivePayments to have access to the Autopay feature.

How can a bidder add a card on file?

• During registration to your auction
• At any time from their Account Settings page on LiveAuctioneers
• After manually checking out with LivePayments, their card will be saved on file and used for future payments and Autopay
• We remind winners to add a card on file by sending email reminders to do so after winning in your auction

How will the bidder know that their card on file will be charged after I send the invoice?

• We show them a message when they register for your auction 

• Bidders also receive an Autopay reminder in an email when they are approved, win an item, and get an invoice. Any communication had with the bidder (via invoice, phone, email, or other) should reference Autopay and what is to be expected with that. If you opt an invoice out of Autopay after sending it, the bidder will also receive an email letting them know they’ve been opted out.

The bidder experience:

Upon registering for an auction, active bidders (has placed a bid in the last 180 days) are required to add a card on file

New or inactive bidders (has not placed a bid in the last 180 days) will be required to add a card on file AFTER they place their first bid

When placing a bid, bidders will see a notice that their card will be charged (either shortly after auction end, or within 1-3 days of auction end) depending on which Autopay is enabled

Bidders will then be asked to confirm their payment method

Bidders’ cards will be charged within minutes after invoices are generated and sent. 

If you have questions about autopay, are interested in enabling instant autopay, or need assistance, please contact your account manager or email support@liveauctioneers.com.