# Payment methods

helodata accepts most major payment rails. Add one in **Billing → Payment methods → Add new**.

## What we accept

| Method                        | Notes                                                 |
| ----------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| **Credit / debit card**       | Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB     |
| **Wire transfer (ACH/SWIFT)** | Pro+ plans; instructions on the invoice               |
| **PayPal**                    | All plans                                             |
| **USDT / USDC**               | TRC-20, ERC-20, BSC; manual confirmation up to 1 hour |
| **Alipay / WeChat Pay**       | For CNY billing accounts; coming via local PSP        |

## Adding a card

1. **Billing → Payment methods → Add card**.
2. Enter card details — handled by our PCI-DSS Level 1 PSP, helodata never sees the PAN.
3. The card is verified with a $1 hold that's released immediately.

## Default vs backup

You can store **multiple** payment methods. Mark one as **default** — that's the one charged for subscriptions and auto top-ups. Backups are used only if the default fails.

We recommend at least two on file: a primary card and a backup. A failed default during a renewal cascades into a `403 account-suspended` on the gateway if balance also runs out.

## Wire transfers

For Pro+ plans, wire instructions appear on each pending invoice:

```
Beneficiary:    helodata Inc.
Bank:           ...
Account:        ...
SWIFT/IBAN:     ...
Reference:      INV-2026-05-001234   ← MUST include this exact reference
```

Funds clear in 1–3 business days for ACH, 1–5 for international SWIFT. We email when received and apply to balance.

Wires for amounts >$10,000 typically include a small fee on your bank's side — factor that in.

## Cryptocurrency

USDT / USDC payments are processed via a self-service flow:

1. **Billing → Payment methods → Crypto top-up**.
2. Choose amount → choose chain (TRC-20 cheapest fees).
3. Send to the one-time address shown — **do not reuse**, the address changes per payment.
4. Balance is credited after 1–6 confirmations (typically <1 hour).

Refunds for crypto top-ups are paid back in the same currency, to the source address; allow 3 business days.

## Updating a card

If your card was reissued (same number, new expiry), the PSP usually auto-updates via card-network refresh. Otherwise:

**Payment methods → {card} → Update expiry / CVV** → re-verify with a $1 hold.

## Removing a payment method

Click the trash icon. You can't remove the **last** payment method if you have an active subscription — cancel the subscription first or add a replacement.

## Currency-method matching

Card networks settle in your card's native currency; we display the equivalent in your **default currency** (set in **Address & tax**). Cross-currency charges may incur a small bank FX fee.

For lowest cost: keep your billing currency aligned with your card's currency.

## API

```bash
# List
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer API_KEY" \
     https://api.helodata.com/v1/billing/payment-methods

# Set default
curl -X POST -H "Authorization: Bearer API_KEY" \
     -d '{"payment_method_id":"pm_01HX..."}' \
     https://api.helodata.com/v1/billing/default-payment-method
```

Cards can't be added via API for PCI-DSS reasons — that flow has to go through the hosted dashboard form.

## Common pitfalls

* **Card auto-renewal failure** — most often an expired card. Set a **calendar reminder** for your card's expiry month.
* **Wire without reference** — without the invoice reference in the wire memo, our reconciliation team has to manually match — expect 1–3 days extra to credit.
* **Wrong chain for crypto** — sending USDT-ERC20 to a TRC20 address loses the funds. Double-check the chain before sending.


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