Managing Payment Methods

Managing Payment Methods

This comprehensive guide teaches you how to add, update, delete, and manage payment methods in your Zonitel account. You'll also learn about security practices, payment method verification, troubleshooting issues, and best practices for keeping your payment information safe.

Overview

Your payment methods are the foundation of keeping your Zonitel service running smoothly. Whether you use credit cards or bank transfers, managing these details securely and efficiently ensures uninterrupted communication for your business.

Supported Payment Methods

Credit Cards

We accept the following credit cards:

• Visa - All versions (standard, rewards, business)
• Mastercard - All versions (standard, rewards, business)
• American Express - All card types

Processing time: Immediate to 1 hour
Best for: Quick payments and immediate transactions

ACH (Automated Clearing House)

Direct bank account transfers from your checking or savings account.

Processing time: 1-2 business days
Best for: Regular recurring payments and lower fees
Supported accounts:

• Personal checking accounts
• Personal savings accounts
• Business checking accounts
• Business savings accounts

Currently Not Supported

We do not currently accept:

• PayPal
• Apple Pay or Google Pay
• Wire transfers
• Checks or money orders
• Cryptocurrency

Note: Contact info@zonitel.com if you need alternative payment arrangements.

Adding Your First Payment Method

Step 1: Log In to Your Account

1. Go to office.zonitel.com
2. Enter your credentials
3. Click Sign In

Step 2: Navigate to Payment Methods

1. Click Billing & Accounts from your dashboard
2. Select Payment Methods
3. Click Add Payment Method

Step 3: Choose Your Payment Type

Select one of the following:

Option A: Credit Card

• Click Add Credit Card
• Continue to "Adding a Credit Card" section below

Option B: Bank Account (ACH)

• Click Add Bank Account
• Continue to "Adding a Bank Account" section below

Adding a Credit Card

Information You'll Need

Have the following details ready:

• Card holder name (as it appears on the card)
• Card number (16 digits for Visa/Mastercard, 15 for Amex)
• Expiration date (MM/YY format)
• CVV (3-digit security code on back; 4 digits for Amex)
• Billing ZIP code
• Card type (select from dropdown)

Step-by-Step: Adding a Credit Card

1. Go to Billing & Accounts > Payment Methods
2. Click Add Payment Method
3. Select Credit Card
4. Fill in the form:

   Field	Instructions
   Name on Card	Exactly as it appears on your card
   Card Number	16 digits (no spaces)
   Expiration Date	MM/YY format (e.g., 12/26)
   CVV	3 or 4-digit security code
   Billing ZIP	5-digit postal code
   Nickname (Optional)	E.g., "Main Office Card" or "Business Card #1"

5. Click Verify Card

Card Verification Process

After you enter your card information:

1. Address Verification: We verify the ZIP code matches your card issuer
2. Micro-Transaction: A $0.01 charge appears briefly (immediately reversed)
3. Verification Complete: Card is approved for use
4. Confirmation Message: "Card successfully added"

Time required: 2-5 minutes

What Happens Next

Your card is now:

• Saved in your account
• Available for manual payments
• Available for Auto-Pay selection
• Stored securely with encryption

Adding a Bank Account (ACH)

Information You'll Need

Gather the following before starting:

• Account holder name (as it appears at your bank)
• Bank name (e.g., Chase, Bank of America)
• Routing number (9-digit code; found on checks or bank website)
• Account number (8-12 digits; found on checks)
• Account type (Checking or Savings)

Finding Your Bank Details

On your check:

• Routing number is the 9-digit code on the bottom left
• Account number is to the right of the routing number

Online:

• Log into your bank's website
• Go to account details or settings
• Look for "routing number" and "account number"

Step-by-Step: Adding a Bank Account

1. Go to Billing & Accounts > Payment Methods
2. Click Add Payment Method
3. Select Bank Account (ACH)
4. Fill in the form:

   Field	Instructions
   Account Holder Name	Name on the account (must match)
   Select Your Bank	Search from the list or enter manually
   Routing Number	9-digit code from your check or bank
   Account Number	8-12 digits, found on checks
   Confirm Account Number	Re-enter for verification
   Account Type	Choose Checking or Savings
   Nickname (Optional)	E.g., "Main Business Account"

5. Click Save Account

ACH Verification Process

After submission:

1. Submission Confirmation: Account marked as "Pending Verification"
2. Micro-Deposit: Two small deposits ($0.10-$0.49 each) appear in your account (2-3 business days)
3. Verification Code: You receive an email with verification codes
4. Enter Codes: Log back into Zonitel and enter the verification codes
5. Account Activated: Your bank account is now ready for payments

Total time: 3-5 business days

Why Micro-Deposits?

Micro-deposits verify you have access to the bank account and prevent fraudulent setup. The amounts are immediately reversed after verification.

Managing Multiple Payment Methods

Adding a Second or Third Method

You can add multiple payment methods for flexibility:

1. Repeat the "Adding a Credit Card" or "Adding a Bank Account" steps
2. Each method receives a nickname automatically (based on card/account type)
3. Edit nicknames to distinguish them: "Personal Card," "Business Card," "Emergency Card," etc.

Setting Your Primary Payment Method

Your primary method is used by default for:

• Auto-Pay charges
• System-initiated payments
• Automatic top-ups (if enabled)

To set as primary:

1. Go to Billing & Accounts > Payment Methods
2. Find the method you want as primary
3. Click Set as Primary
4. A blue checkmark indicates it's now primary
5. Confirmation email sent

Using Different Methods for Different Payments

1. For Auto-Pay: Uses your primary method automatically
2. For Manual Payments: You can choose any saved method during checkout
3. To switch methods for a payment:
   • During the payment process, click Change Payment Method
   • Select your preferred method
   • Click Confirm

Updating Payment Method Information

Updating a Credit Card

If your card details change (new expiration date, address change):

1. Go to Billing & Accounts > Payment Methods
2. Find the card you need to update
3. Click Edit
4. Update the following if needed:
   • Expiration date
   • CVV (if card was reissued)
   • Billing ZIP code
   • Nickname
5. Click Save Changes
6. If it's your primary method, the system will verify the changes

Updating a Bank Account

If your bank account information changes:

1. Go to Billing & Accounts > Payment Methods
2. Find the account you need to update
3. Click Edit
4. You can update:
   • Account holder name
   • Routing number (if you switched banks)
   • Account number
   • Account type
   • Nickname
5. Click Save Changes

Note: If you change the routing or account number, the account will need to be re-verified with micro-deposits.

When to Update Your Payment Method

• Credit cards: When expiration date is 2 months away
• Bank accounts: If you close the account or switch banks
• Billing address: After moving your business
• Nickname: Anytime for better organization

Deleting Payment Methods

Before Deleting

Ensure:

• You have at least one other valid payment method on file
• It's not your primary payment method
• You won't need it for future payments

How to Delete a Payment Method

1. Go to Billing & Accounts > Payment Methods
2. Find the method you want to delete
3. Click the Delete button (trash can icon)
4. Confirmation message: "Are you sure you want to delete [card/account]?"
5. Click Confirm Delete

Instant removal: The payment method is immediately removed from your account.

What Happens After Deletion

• The method is no longer available for payments
• It cannot be re-added using the same information without re-verification
• Your account balance and transactions are unaffected
• Your service continues normally

Cannot Delete Your Only Payment Method

If you only have one payment method:

• The delete option will be greyed out
• Add a new method first, then delete the old one

Payment Method Security

How Zonitel Protects Your Information

Encryption:

• All data is encrypted using 256-bit SSL encryption (bank-grade security)
• Your card and account numbers are never stored in plain text

Compliance:

• Complies with PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
• Meets NACHA ACH requirements for bank transfers
• Regular third-party security audits

Tokenization:

• Your payment methods are "tokenized" (converted to secure codes)
• Even Zonitel staff cannot see your full card/account numbers

Best Practices for Payment Security

1. Never share your payment details via email, phone, or chat
2. Use a secure connection: Only access your account from secure networks
3. Update regularly: Change passwords every 90 days
4. Monitor notifications: Check payment confirmation emails immediately
5. Review statements: Verify all charges on your monthly invoices
6. Update expiration dates: Don't wait until a card expires to update it
7. Delete old methods: Remove payment methods you no longer use
8. Use unique passwords: Never reuse passwords from other accounts

What to Do If Your Payment Method is Compromised

If you suspect fraud:

1. Go to Billing & Accounts > Payment Methods
2. Click Report Suspicious Activity
3. Select the affected payment method
4. Describe the issue
5. Submit the report

Immediate actions:

• Contact your bank or card issuer directly
• Request card replacement or account freeze
• Delete the compromised method from your Zonitel account
• Add a new, secure payment method
• Review recent transactions for unauthorized charges

Troubleshooting Payment Method Issues

Card Addition Fails with "Address Verification Error"

Cause: ZIP code doesn't match card issuer's records

Solution:

1. Double-check the ZIP code on your billing address
2. Verify with your card issuer if there's a recent address change
3. Try adding the card again
4. If still failing, contact your bank to confirm their records

Bank Account Won't Verify

Cause: Routing or account number is incorrect, or account is closed

Solution:

1. Verify the routing number (visit your bank's website)
2. Confirm the account number matches exactly
3. Ensure the account is active and in good standing
4. Wait for the micro-deposits to appear (2-3 business days)
5. Enter the exact amounts to complete verification

Can't Receive Verification Code Email

Cause: Email address not verified or email filtered to spam

Solution:

1. Check spam/junk folder
2. Go to Account Settings > Verify Email if needed
3. Request a new verification code
4. Add billing@zonitel.com to your contacts to prevent filtering

Payment Method Suddenly Declined

Cause: Card expired, insufficient funds, or account closed

Solution:

1. Check card expiration date (update if needed)
2. Verify sufficient funds in account
3. Contact your bank to confirm account is active
4. Update or replace the payment method
5. Try a different payment method

Cannot Delete a Payment Method

Cause: It's your only payment method or it's set as primary

Solution:

1. Add a new payment method first
2. Set the new method as primary
3. Then delete the old method

Payment Method Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many payment methods can I add? A: You can add up to 10 payment methods per account.

Q: Is there a fee for adding a payment method? A: No. There are no fees for adding, updating, or deleting payment methods.

Q: Can I use someone else's payment method? A: No. Payment methods must be registered to the account holder. For business accounts with multiple authorized payers, contact info@zonitel.com to discuss options.

Q: Will my payment information appear on my Zenitel invoices? A: No. Invoices only show the last 4 digits of your card/account number for security.

Q: What if I need to use a payment method from a different country? A: Currently, we accept US-based cards and bank accounts only. Contact support for international payment options.

Q: Can I pay through my business accountant or bookkeeper? A: Yes, if you authorize them with their own payment method. Keep in mind they'll have access to your account, so use caution.

Q: How long until a deleted payment method is completely removed? A: Immediately from your account. Any pending transactions using that method will fail and require a new payment method.

Q: Can I set different payment methods for different invoice line items? A: No. Each payment uses a single payment method, but you can choose which method for each payment you make.

Advanced: Payment Method Preferences

Automatic Payment Method Rotation

If your primary payment method fails:

1. First attempt: Primary method
2. Second attempt (if failed): Next method in your list
3. Third attempt (if failed): You receive an alert to update payment methods

You can set the order by going to Payment Methods > Set Fallback Order.

Payment Method Notifications

Control how you're notified about payment methods:

1. Go to Account Settings > Notifications
2. Enable/disable alerts for:
   • Expiring cards (30 days before expiration)
   • Failed payment attempts
   • New payment method additions
   • Successful payments

Need Assistance?

Our support team can help with payment method questions:

• Call us: (833) 966-4835
• Email: info@zonitel.com
• Text/WhatsApp: (833) 966-4835
• Live Chat: Available through your account portal
• Support Hours: 24/7 (English & Spanish)

We're here to help you manage your payments securely and efficiently.