# Auto-Charge Overview

**Your guide to processing payments for brand new and existing invoices.**

***

Auto-Charge can be used to process payment for existing or brand new invoices upon creation. Below are the steps for each scenario.

***

### **Process payment for an existing customer invoice**

1. Log in to your Alternative portal: [www.alternativepayments.io](https://www.alternativepayments.io/)
2. Go to the "Invoices" tab
3. Select the ellipses beside the invoice you wish to pay and click "Charge"

<figure><img src="/files/VveVNKoCVK09hdS4Wxwz" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

4. Select an existing payment method or add a new payment method by selecting 'Change' and entering their card or bank account details.
5. Choose "Charge now" or "Charge on due date" and click "Charge invoice"

<figure><img src="/files/SSE67yK5NCJz1s6Q1iCx" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
\*\*Partial payments:\*\* You can charge a partial amount on an invoice. When charging, adjust the amount to less than the full outstanding balance. The remaining balance will stay open on the invoice for future payment.
{% endhint %}

\*\*\*

### **Create and process payment for a new customer invoice**

1. Log in to your Alternative portal: [www.alternativepayments.io](https://www.alternativepayments.io/)
2. Go to "Customers" and select "All customers"
3. Select the ellipses beside the customer you wish to create an invoice for and click "Create invoice"

<figure><img src="/files/qPax6PDz7aZecG90RcMJ" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

4. Input the invoice details
5. Select an existing payment method or add a new payment method by entering their card or bank account details
6. Choose "Charge later" or "Email payment link to customer" or "Charge the method on file."
   1. **Charge later**: This will allow you to create the invoice.
   2. **Email payment link to customer**: This will allow you to create the invoice and send an email right away to the customer
   3. **Charge the method on file**: This will allow you to 'Charge now' or 'Charge on the due date' for the invoice.

<figure><img src="/files/O9ezOZZEE7ao4b2FxKCu" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The customer will be emailed a confirmation of payment and they can login to their customer dashboard to review and download a receipt.

{% hint style="info" %}
Want to learn more about managing your customers? Check out these helpful articles:

* [How do I add a customer to my partner dashboard?](/payments-and-invoicing/managing-customers/adding-new-customers.md)
* [How do I edit a customer?](/payments-and-invoicing/managing-customers/editing-customers.md)
  {% endhint %}

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