# Manual payments (bank transfer or iDEAL/Wero) > Pay each billing cycle on your own terms — no mandate, no auto-charges Source: https://emailconnect.eu/help/manual-payments/ EmailConnect offers two ways to pay for a subscription. **Automatic payments** are the default — fast, hands-off, and recommended for most customers. **Manual payments** are an alternative for customers who'd rather not grant a recurring mandate and prefer to pay each cycle deliberately. This article explains how manual payments work, who they're for, and what to expect. ## At a glance | | Automatic payment | Manual payment | |---|---|---| | Methods | Credit/debit card · SEPA Direct Debit | Bank transfer · iDEAL · Wero | | Mandate required | Yes (one-time setup) | No | | Renewal | Charged automatically | You complete a payment link each cycle | | Notice before renewal | None needed | Payment link emailed 3 days before expiration, reminder 1 day before | | Subscription continues | As long as the payment method works | Only after each manual payment is received | | Best for | Most customers | Customers who prefer to stay in control of every charge | ## Automatic payments When you start a paid subscription, EmailConnect (via our payment processor [Mollie](https://www.mollie.com/)) sets up a mandate against your chosen method: - **Credit or debit card** — Visa, Mastercard, Amex - **SEPA Direct Debit** — any EU bank account After the first payment, each subsequent monthly or annual renewal is charged automatically. You don't need to take action. If a payment fails (expired card, insufficient funds), we notify you and retry; you can update the payment method from **Settings → Billing**. This is the default option at checkout and what most customers use. ## Manual payments If you'd rather not authorise recurring charges, choose **"Pay with bank transfer or iDEAL instead"** at checkout. This option is only shown when you have no card or SEPA mandate stored on your account. With manual payments: - **No mandate is created.** We hold no direct-debit authority and cannot pull money from your account. - **Three days before each renewal**, we email you a secure payment link, followed by a reminder one day before. The link takes you to Mollie to pay. - You complete the payment using **iDEAL** (Netherlands), **Wero** (rolling out across the EU), or a **regular SEPA bank transfer**. - Once the payment is received, your subscription is extended for the next cycle and your service continues without interruption. - If the payment doesn't arrive before the expiration date, your subscription ends and your account moves to the free plan. See [If a payment is late](#if-a-payment-is-late) below. You stay in full control of every transaction. Nothing is ever pulled from your account. ### Supported manual methods - **iDEAL** — instant transfer from any Dutch bank - **Wero** — pan-European account-to-account payments (replacing iDEAL in the long term) - **SEPA bank transfer** — works from any EU bank account; usually credited within 1–2 business days ### Timeline of a manual renewal 1. **T–3 days**: payment link emailed to your billing address 2. **T–1 day**: reminder email with the same kind of link 3. **T–0**: subscription expiration date; the emailed links stop working at this moment 4. **Payment received** → subscription extended for the next month or year We recommend paying as soon as you receive the link — especially for SEPA bank transfers, which can take a business day to settle. You can also renew early at any time with **Renew / extend** in **Settings → Billing**. ### If a payment is late If no payment has been received by the expiration date, the subscription ends and your account is downgraded to the free plan. This is not a pause: - Domains, webhooks and aliases above the free-plan limits are **permanently deleted**. - Paid features are switched off, such as custom webhook headers, payload templates, storage connections and spam filtering. The reminder emails show what would be removed from your account. If you started a bank transfer that is still being processed, we wait for it to settle before downgrading (for up to 30 days after the expiration date). To upgrade again after a downgrade, start a new subscription from **Settings → Billing**. Deleted domains, webhooks and aliases are not restored. ## Switching between automatic and manual Switching an existing subscription between automatic and manual payment is not available in **Settings → Billing**. Contact support at support@emailconnect.eu and we'll help you switch. Don't remove your stored card or SEPA mandate to switch to manual payments. Your subscription stays on automatic renewal, so the next charge fails and the subscription is eventually cancelled. No payment link is sent in that case. ## Frequently asked ### Is there a price difference between automatic and manual? No. The plan price is identical regardless of payment method. ### What happens if I miss a manual payment? Your subscription ends on the expiration date and your account moves to the free plan. Domains, webhooks and aliases above the free-plan limits are permanently deleted. To upgrade again, start a new subscription from **Settings → Billing**. See [If a payment is late](#if-a-payment-is-late). ### Can I pay annually with manual payments? Yes. Annual subscriptions work the same way: one payment link per year, sent three days before renewal, with a reminder one day before. ### Can I use manual payments for credits? Credit purchases are one-off transactions and can be paid by any supported method, including iDEAL, Wero, and bank transfer, at the time of purchase. ### Why offer this at all? Some customers — particularly in regulated environments, treasury-managed organisations, or businesses that don't issue corporate cards — prefer to authorise each payment explicitly. Manual payments give them that control without sacrificing the subscription model. ### Is iDEAL safe? iDEAL is the standard Dutch online payment method, used by all Dutch banks. Wero is its pan-European successor, operated by the European Payments Initiative. Both authenticate you through your own bank. --- Need help? Reach out to [support@emailconnect.eu](mailto:support@emailconnect.eu). See also: [Pricing and payment options](https://emailconnect.eu/help/pricing-payment-options/).