Unlike recurring payments, which are payments for a specific amount that will be automatically generated on a specific day of each month, the Repeat Customer feature allows you to quickly create new checks from repeat customers by supplying just a new check number, check amount, and information that will appear in the Memo field of the check, such as an Invoice or Order Number.
NOTE: In the Banking system, check numbers are not critical. They are used only for tracking purposes. In other words, if a Repeat Customer doesn't want to use/void/waste a real check just to keep his check numbers in sequence - you can use pretty much anything for the check number. We usually start recurring or repeat checks at the number 8000 and go up from there. It would be a rare case where the customer is actually using checks in the 8000 range at the same time.
There are two ways to setup a customer as a Repeat Customer. First, is if they have submitted a check via the system that still appears in the list of new checks on the main control panel screen. Each check in that list has a button to make that customer a Repeat Customer - indicated by the red arrow in the screen shot below:
Simply click on that button to go to the Repeat Customer Verification screen as shown below. If the original check was created via the Phone Order check form, the Email field will be blank. However, since a notification must be sent to the customer for each recurring payment, you must enter an Email address in this field. If the customer does not have an email address, you may enter your own so you receive confirmations of the payments.
To create a new check for a Repeat Customer, or to edit their details or delete them as a Repeat Customer, use the Merchant - Manage Recurring Payments menu option. Note: the "Manage Recurring Payments" option will only appear in your control panel if your account has that optional feature enabled.
The Manage Repeat Customers screen will show you any customers you have setup as Repeat Customers as shown below:
The basic functions of the system apply to the list of Repeat Customers as shown above. The Payer name is a hyperlink to email the customer. The Create Check button is what you use to instantly create a brand new check for the selected customer. The Edit button will allow you to edit any of the data for the customer such as a new checking account number or change of address and the like. The Delete button is used to remove the customer as a Repeat payment. You will be asked to confirm any deletions.
As shown in the image above, you may also create a new Repeat Customer from scratch - whereby you will have to supply all the required data, by clicking on the icon indicated.
Clicking on the Create Check icon will bring up the Create New Check screen as shown below. The only data you need provide is the Check Number (see Note above about check numbers), the Check Amount, and the information that will appear in the Memo field of the new check.
When you click on the Create Check button - the new check will be created instantly and treated as a newly submitted check - meaning that it will instantly appear in the list of new checks in the main Control Panel screen, and that you and the customer will be sent payment confirmation emails.