Auto-recharge keeps your program funded without manual work. You set a threshold and a target, and the platform refills the balance when it runs low.
Balance settings
Open a program and go to the Balance tab. The Balance settings card has four settings. Click the pencil icon next to a setting to change it.
Set your recharge threshold higher than your typical daily spending. This gives payments time to settle before the balance runs out.
How auto-recharge works
- The platform checks your program balance every few minutes.
- When the balance drops below your Recharge threshold, a recharge starts.
- The recharge brings the balance back up to your Target balance.
- Payment happens through your Auto-recharge source:
- Invoice — you receive a top-up bill to pay
- Saved payment method — your card or bank account is charged through Stripe
You can add payment methods under Billing → Payment methods.
How a top-up bill is sized
The bill is sized to restore your balance exactly to the target — no more, no less. The platform calculates:
Bill amount = Target balance − Available balance − Funding already in motion
“Funding in motion” includes any unpaid top-up bills already issued, plus payments received but not yet posted. This prevents double-billing: money that is already on its way is never billed a second time.
One outstanding top-up bill at a time
While an unpaid auto top-up bill is open, the platform does not issue another one. The standing bill is the active collection vehicle — the platform continues trying to collect it (by re-sending it or retrying your saved payment method). If the balance keeps falling while a bill is outstanding, the additional shortfall is not billed immediately. Once the standing bill is paid (or expires), the next balance check issues one new bill for the full remaining gap.
Manual top-ups
You can add funds at any time, even when an auto top-up bill is outstanding.
- Fill to target — tops up to your target balance and automatically nets out anything already billed or in transit, so you are never charged twice for the same gap.
- Fixed amount — bills exactly the amount you request, regardless of what is already in motion.
What happens when the balance runs out
If a program balance goes negative and your account does not permit a negative balance, you have 10 days to fund the program. If the balance stays negative for more than 10 days, card sends for that program are paused. You will see this message on the program page:
Program sends are paused because Program Balance is negative. Recharge the program or enable negative Program Balance to resume sends.
To resume sends, fund the program. Pay any open recharge invoice, or ask your iQpay representative about approval for a negative balance. Once the balance is back to $0 or above, the send pause lifts on its own. A program that stays negative past 10 days also has all its restricted cards paused — see Billing & Payments.
If your account is approved for a negative balance, keep your Top-Up Bills paid. Card sends are paused when three or more are outstanding:
Program sends are paused because too many recharge invoices are outstanding. Settle the outstanding recharge invoices to resume sends.