Credit Card Dispute Policy

Overview

This article explains how to control which payment methods subscribers can use when they log into AlarmPayments.com. You can allow or restrict credit card and/or ACH debit (checking account) payments on a per-account basis — giving you strategic control over how subscribers pay for different types of invoices.

This setting is managed directly on the subscriber's account and requires supervisor permissions to change.

Why This Matters

Payment method restrictions give you the flexibility to manage processing fees, respond to chargebacks, and maintain recurring charges — all without removing a subscriber's ability to pay online. Specific situations where this is useful include:

• Preventing subscribers from paying large installation invoices with a credit card — avoiding high processing fees — while still allowing online payment via ACH debit to a checking account.
• Maintaining credit card recurring charges while restricting one-time credit card payments.
• Directing subscribers to ACH debit after a credit card chargeback, when credit card industry rules restrict charging the card again.

How Payment Restrictions Work

Restricting Credit Card Payments

When you uncheck Allow Credit Card Payment on a subscriber's account, the following applies:

• The credit card option is grayed out on the AlarmPayments.com portal.
• Subscribers can still pay online via ACH debit to their checking account.
• Credit cards set up for recurring charges continue to work normally.

Re-enabling Credit Card Access

Once a large invoice has been paid — or whenever it is appropriate to restore access — you can re-enable credit card payments by checking the Allow Credit Card Payment option on the subscriber's account.

Common Use Cases

1 — Large Installation Invoices

Scenario: A new subscriber has a $5,000 installation invoice.

Solution:

1. Turn off credit card payments online.
2. Allow ACH debit payments only.
3. Avoid high credit card processing fees on the large invoice.
4. Re-enable credit card payments once the installation invoice is paid.

2 — Credit Card Chargebacks

Scenario: A subscriber initiates a chargeback on a credit card transaction.

Solution:

1. Credit card industry rules restrict charging the card again.
2. Disable credit card payments for that subscriber.
3. Direct them to pay via ACH debit to a bank account.
4. Avoid potential additional chargebacks.

How to Configure Payment Options

Accessing the Setting

1. Open the subscriber's account.
2. Navigate to the Email / Misc Tab.
3. Locate the "Allow Credit Card Payment" checkbox.

Setting Options

Key Benefits

Important Notes

• This setting only affects online payments through AlarmPayments.com.
• Recurring charges set up with credit cards will continue to process normally.
• ACH debit payments remain available even when credit cards are disabled.
• Only users with supervisor permissions can change these settings.

Need Additional Help?

Our Customer Success team is here to assist you.

Phone: 847-405-9517 x1
Email: customer.success@alarmbills.com

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