What is Card on file?
Card on file is storing a client's payment method, tokenized through the payment processor, for later charges: no-show fees under a disclosed policy, membership billing, one-tap checkout, and self-checkout flows. The clinic never holds raw card numbers; the processor's token stands in for them.
How it works in an aesthetic clinic
A client books online and saves a card. Checkout becomes one tap, the membership renews automatically, and a no-show inside the policy window incurs the disclosed fee without an awkward phone call. PCI burden stays with the processor because only tokens ever touch the clinic's system, and the stored card also powers dunning when a renewal fails.
Card on file vs a booking deposit
| Card on file | A stored payment method, charged only when policy events occur |
|---|---|
| A booking deposit | Money actually collected at booking, applied to the service or forfeited |
Why it matters for clinic operators
Card on file professionalizes policy enforcement: fees stop being confrontations and become terms the client already accepted. Disclosure discipline at booking is what keeps the charges dispute-proof.
On the platform: Payments & POS
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