How to charge or authorize a patient's card

Last updated: October 13, 2026

Use this guide to take a card payment for a patient or to save and authorize a card for possible future use. These are separate actions: charging a card collects money now; authorizing a card does not create a payment.

Charge a patient's card

  1. Sign in to Solv and open the patient's booking facesheet.

  2. Select Payment > Collect Payment.

  3. Choose how you want to take payment:

    • Card on file to use a card already saved to the booking.

    • Enter a new card if the patient is providing card details.

    • Choose the terminal option if the patient will tap or insert a card on the reader.

  4. Review the amount and payment details with the patient, then submit the payment.

  5. Wait for the success confirmation. The payment will appear in the booking's payment history, and the invoice balance will update.

For a terminal payment, keep the payment screen open while the patient uses the reader. Wait confirmation of the results before leaving the screen.

Save and authorize a card without charging it

Use this option when you need to save a card to the patient's booking for a future eligible payment, but do not intend to charge the patient now.

  1. Open the patient's booking facesheet and select Cards.

  2. Add the patient's card, or select the card already listed.

  3. Select Authorize and complete any on-screen prompts.

  4. Confirm that the card is authorized for the booking. A card appearing in the Cards tab does not, by itself, confirm that it has been authorized.

Only save or authorize a card for future use when the patient has agreed to that use and your clinic's consent process has been followed.

Important to know

  • Authorizing a card does not charge it. To collect payment now, use Collect.

  • A saved and authorized card does not guarantee that a future invoice will be charged automatically. Autocollect must be enabled for the location, and invoice eligibility is determined when the invoice is created. Adding a card later does not automatically enroll an existing invoice in autocollect.

  • Some contactless or mobile-wallet transactions may not provide a reusable card for future payments. After a terminal payment, check the Cards tab rather than assuming the card was saved. Do not run the payment again just to try to save the card.

  • Enter card details only in the secure payment flow. Do not send or store card numbers in email, chat, or patient notes.

If something doesn't look right

  • If the card is listed but not authorized, select Authorize in the Cards tab and verify the status again.

  • If a payment is pending on the terminal, stay on the payment screen until the provider app confirms the result. Check the payment history before retrying to avoid charging the patient twice.

  • If the payment fails or the card cannot be authorized, confirm the patient and booking are correct, then follow your clinic's payment support process. Do not retry repeatedly if the payment status is unclear.