> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ascienth.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Payment Methods

> Add credit cards to your Ascienth account, set a default payment method, and manage billing security. All card data is processed by Stripe.

Keeping a valid payment method on your Ascienth account ensures uninterrupted access to your servers and resources. Ascienth supports several common payment options, and you can store multiple methods on a single account, designating one as the default for automatic monthly charges. This page walks you through adding, managing, and removing payment methods.

## Supported Payment Methods

Ascienth currently accepts the following payment methods:

* **Credit and debit cards** — Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are accepted. Prepaid cards are not supported.
* **PayPal** — Pay once with PayPal

<Note>
  Additional payment methods may be introduced in the future.
</Note>

## Adding a Credit or Debit Card

To add a new card to your account:

1. Log in to [console.ascienth.com](https://console.ascienth.com).
2. Click **Account** on the left side.
3. Navigate to the **Payment Methods** tab.
4. Click **Add Card**.
5. Enter your card number, expiry date, CVC, and the billing name and address associated with the card.
6. Click **Save Card**.

The card will be verified with a small temporary authorization hold (which is released immediately) to confirm it is valid and active. Once verified, the card appears in your payment methods list.

## Setting a Default Payment Method

When multiple payment methods are saved to your account, Ascienth uses the **default** method for all automatic monthly invoice charges. To change which method is set as default:

1. Go to **Account → Billing → Payment Methods**.
2. Find the card you want to set as default.
3. Click **Set as Default** next to that entry.

The default indicator will move to the newly selected method. The change takes effect immediately and will apply to the next billing cycle.

## Removing a Payment Method

You can remove any saved payment method that is not currently set as the default:

1. Go to **Account → Billing → Payment Methods**.
2. Locate the method you want to remove.
3. Click the **Remove** button next to it and confirm the action.

<Warning>
  You cannot remove your default payment method if your account has an outstanding balance or active resources. To remove it, first set another method as the default, or ensure your account has no unpaid invoices and no active servers, floating IPs, or snapshots.
</Warning>

## Payment Security

Ascienth takes the security of your payment information seriously.

<Note>
  All card data is processed and stored by **Stripe**, a PCI DSS Level 1 certified payment processor. Ascienth does not store raw card numbers, CVC codes, or full card details on its own servers. Only a tokenized reference is retained, which allows us to charge your card without ever handling the sensitive data directly.
</Note>

When you enter card details in the Ascienth dashboard, the information is transmitted directly to Stripe over an encrypted TLS connection. Ascienth cannot view your full card number at any time.

## Billing Failure and Retry Policy

If a charge fails — for example, due to an expired card or insufficient funds — Ascienth will automatically retry the payment several times. You will receive an email notification after the first failed attempt so you can update your payment details before a retry occurs.

To avoid service interruption, you should:

* Ensure your card expiry date is kept up to date.
* Make sure your card's billing address matches what is on file with your bank.
* Check that your card has not been flagged for international transactions if your bank is in a different country from Ascienth's billing entity.

For full details on the retry schedule and what happens if payment is not received, see the [Invoices](/docs/billing/invoices) page.

## Updating Card Details

Credit and debit card details — such as the expiry date or billing address — cannot be edited in place. To update a card:

1. Remove the existing card from **Account → Payment Methods**.
2. Add the card again with the updated details using the **Add Card** flow.

If the card you need to update is your only payment method, add the updated version first before removing the old one to avoid a gap in billing coverage.