How Card Payments Work
Accept card payments from your clients - just like a shop does, but online. No card machine needed. When clients pay, the money goes directly to your bank account.
What is this?
RemindToPay partners with Stripe, one of the world's largest payment companies, to handle all card payments securely. When your clients pay by card, the money goes directly to your bank account - usually within 2-3 business days.
Is it safe?
Your security is our top priority. Here's how we keep your information safe:
- RemindToPay NEVER sees or stores your bank details
- Your information goes directly to Stripe's secure servers
- Stripe is certified to the highest security standard (PCI-DSS Level 1)
- Stripe processes payments for Amazon, Shopify, Deliveroo, and millions of businesses worldwide
- All data is encrypted and protected
What you'll need for setup
Have these ready before you start (setup takes about 5 minutes):
Personal details
| Information | Example |
|---|---|
| Legal name | Sarah Johnson (as shown on your bank account) |
| Date of birth | 15/03/1985 |
| Home address | 42 High Street, Manchester, M1 2AB |
| Mobile number | 07700 900123 (for verification code) |
Bank details
| Information | Example |
|---|---|
| Sort code | 12-34-56 (6 digits) |
| Account number | 12345678 (8 digits) |
| Account holder name | Sarah Johnson |
Found on your bank card or statements. Account name must match exactly.
Identity verification (sometimes required)
- • Photo of your passport OR driving licence
- • This is a legal requirement for accepting payments
- • You'll take a photo using your phone camera
How setup works
Click "Connect with Stripe" in your payment settings
You'll be taken to Stripe's secure website (look for stripe.com in the address bar)
Enter your personal details - name, date of birth, address
Add your bank account - sort code and account number
Verify your identity if asked - take a photo of your ID
Return to RemindToPay - you're ready to accept payments!
Tip: Have your passport or driving licence handy in case Stripe asks for ID verification.
After setup - How payments work
When you send a payment reminder:
- 1Your client receives an email with a "Pay Now" button
- 2They click it and enter their card details on Stripe's secure page
- 3Payment is processed instantly
- 4You see the payment in RemindToPay
When you get paid:
- Money arrives in your bank account within 2-3 business days
- Stripe sends payouts automatically - no action needed from you
- You can track all payments and payouts in RemindToPay
Fees - Simple and transparent
- • No monthly fees
- • No setup fees
- • No hidden charges
- • Bank transfers: 0% fees
Option 1: You absorb the fee
Client pays the exact amount on the invoice. The fee comes out of what you receive.
| Client pays | Fee (3% + 20p) | You receive |
|---|---|---|
| £20.00 | £0.80 | £19.20 |
| £50.00 | £1.70 | £48.30 |
| £100.00 | £3.20 | £96.80 |
Example: You invoice a client for a £50 tutoring session. They pay £50 by card. After the processing fee of £1.70, you receive £48.30 in your bank account.
Option 2: Pass the fee to clients
Client pays slightly more to cover the fee. You receive the full invoice amount.
| Your invoice | Client pays | You receive |
|---|---|---|
| £20.00 | £20.80 | £20.00 |
| £50.00 | £51.75 | £50.00 |
| £100.00 | £103.30 | £100.00 |
Example: You invoice a client for a £50 tutoring session. They see "£50.00 + £1.75 card fee = £51.75" at checkout. They pay £51.75 by card. You receive the full £50.00 in your bank account.
You can change this setting anytime in your payment preferences.
Managing your Stripe connection
View your Stripe Dashboard
Access your Stripe Express Dashboard to:
- • View payout history and upcoming payouts
- • Update your bank account details
- • See all transactions
- • Download statements for your records
Update your details
If you change banks or need to update your information:
- 1. Click "Open Stripe Dashboard" in your settings
- 2. Update your details directly on Stripe
- 3. Changes take effect immediately
Disconnect from RemindToPay
You can disconnect Stripe from RemindToPay at any time.
What happens when you disconnect:
- • The link between RemindToPay and Stripe is removed
- • You won't be able to accept card payments until you reconnect
- • Your Stripe account still exists with all your details
- • You can reconnect anytime - just click "Connect with Stripe" again
- • Any pending payouts will still be sent to your bank
Permanently delete your Stripe account
If you want to completely remove your data from Stripe's servers:
What will be deleted:
- • Your bank details, personal information, and transaction history are deleted from Stripe
- • You won't be able to accept card payments
- • To accept payments again, you'll need to complete the full setup process from scratch
- • This action cannot be undone
How to delete:
- • Request deletion from your RemindToPay settings, OR
- • Contact Stripe Support directly: support.stripe.com/express
Data retention after deletion
Even after you delete your account, Stripe is legally required to keep some records:
What Stripe must retain:
- • Basic transaction records
- • Identity verification information
- • Anti-money laundering (AML) records
How long:
- Minimum 5 years from when you close your account
- Up to 7 years for financial transaction records (required by UK Companies Act and HMRC regulations)
Why:
- • UK anti-money laundering laws (Money Laundering Regulations 2017)
- • Financial Services regulations
- • HMRC tax compliance requirements
- • Fraud prevention
This is standard practice for all financial services companies and is not unique to Stripe.
Learn more about Stripe's data retention