Why Pre-Registering a Card Is Important
Requiring bidders to register a credit card before bidding:
- Helps guarantee payment at the end of the auction
- Speeds up checkout and invoicing
- Reduces risk of unpaid or abandoned bids
- Creates a seamless bidding experience for participants
- Saves time for your team after the event
This setting is especially helpful for high-value auctions, fundraising galas, or online-only events.
Step 1: Log In to Your Dashboard
- Log in to your auction dashboard.
- Select the event where you want to enforce pre-registration.
- Go to Event Settings.
Step 2: Open the Bidding or Registration Settings
- Find the “Bidding Settings” or “Bidder Requirements” section.
- Look for the option to “Require a credit card on file” or “Pre-register credit card.”
Step 3: Enable Credit Card Pre-Registration
- Toggle the “Require Credit Card on File” option to On.
- This will make it mandatory for all bidders to have a valid credit card saved before they can place their first bid.
- Save your changes.
Step 4: Test the Bidder Experience
- Use a test bidder account to view the registration flow.
- When bidders try to place a bid, they’ll be prompted to add a card if they haven’t already.
- Once the card is on file, they can bid normally.
Step 5: Check Registered Cards in Your Dashboard
- Go to the Bidders or Participants tab.
- You’ll see which bidders have successfully pre-registered a card.
- If a bidder hasn’t, they won’t be able to bid until they do.
Step 6: Process Payments After the Auction
- After the event ends, you can automatically charge cards on file for winning bids.
- This eliminates manual follow-up and ensures quick payment processing.
- Unpaid invoices will be minimized or eliminated.
Pro Tips for Using Credit Card Pre-Registration
- Turn on this setting before opening bidding to avoid confusion.
- Communicate the requirement clearly in your registration instructions.
- Combine this feature with auto-checkout for maximum efficiency.
- For high-value events, consider setting a card authorization or deposit if your platform supports it.
Related Guides
- How to Enable the Pre-Register Credit Card Option
- How to Pay Your Invoice
- How to Send a Copy of an Invoice Receipt
- Manually Assigning Winners
- Sorting and Printing Invoices
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I require bidders to pre-register a card?
Pre-registering credit cards helps ensure payment, speeds up checkout, and reduces unpaid invoices.
Can bidders participate without a credit card?
No. When this setting is enabled, all bidders must add a valid credit card before they can bid.
What happens if a bidder refuses to enter a card?
They won’t be able to place bids. They can still view the auction but must register a card to participate.
Can I enable this after bidding starts?
Yes, but it’s best to enable it before opening bidding to avoid confusion or access issues for existing bidders.
Will the platform charge the card automatically?
Yes. At checkout, you can automatically charge the card on file for winning bids and donations.
Can I make this requirement optional for some bidders?
Not typically. Once enabled, the setting applies to all bidders. If needed, you can manually approve exceptions.
What if a bidder’s card fails?
The system will flag failed transactions. You can contact the bidder or allow them to update their card.
Is card information stored securely?
Yes. Card information is tokenized and stored securely by the payment processor in compliance with PCI standards.
Can I see which bidders have added a card?
Yes. You can view card registration status in the Bidders or Participants list in your dashboard.
Can I combine this with auto-checkout?
Yes. Pre-registering cards plus auto-checkout allows you to automatically charge winners at the close of the auction.
💡 Try this in ChatGPT
- Summarize the article "How to Require Bidders to Pre-Register a Credit Card Before Bidding" from https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/p/help/how-do-i-require-bidders-to-pre-register-a-credit-card-to-be-on-file-before-they-can-bid/ in 3 bullet points for a board update.
- Turn the article "How to Require Bidders to Pre-Register a Credit Card Before Bidding" (https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/p/help/how-do-i-require-bidders-to-pre-register-a-credit-card-to-be-on-file-before-they-can-bid/) into a 60-second talking script with one example and one CTA.
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Tip: Paste the whole prompt (with the URL) so the AI can fetch context.
