How to Update Your Payment Method on UniLink (Change Credit Card or Bank)

Step-by-step instructions for adding a new card, setting it as default, removing the old one, and handling failed payments before your account is suspended.

Keeping your payment method up to date on UniLink ensures uninterrupted access to your paid plan. Cards expire, banks reissue cards after fraud incidents, and billing details change — all of these situations require you to update your payment method before a charge fails. This guide covers adding a new card, making it default, removing the old one, handling failed payment scenarios, and using PayPal as an alternative to a credit or debit card.

What Updating Your Payment Method Covers

UniLink uses Stripe to process all subscription payments. When you update your payment method, you are adding a card to your Stripe customer record associated with your UniLink account. The card details — number, expiry, CVV — are entered directly into a Stripe-hosted field and never touch UniLink's own servers. This means UniLink never stores your raw card data.

You can have multiple payment methods on file at the same time, but only one can be designated as the default. The default method is the one Stripe charges at each billing renewal. If the default card fails, Stripe does not automatically fall back to a secondary card — you need to manually update the default to the working method.

PayPal is available as an alternative payment method in regions where UniLink supports PayPal billing. If you prefer not to use a credit or debit card, you can link your PayPal account during the payment method setup flow. PayPal billing agreements work the same way as card billing — PayPal is charged automatically at each renewal without requiring you to approve each payment manually.

How to Get Started

1. Have your new card ready — Find the new card number, expiry date, and CVV before opening UniLink. You will need all three during the add-card step.
2. Check your billing status — Go to Settings → Billing and look for any failed payment notices or warning banners. Address failed payments as soon as possible to avoid suspension.
3. Log in to UniLink — Open the Dashboard at unilink.us and sign in with your credentials.
4. Navigate to Billing — Click your profile avatar → Settings → Billing.
5. Open Payment Method — Click the Payment Method section or the Edit button next to your current payment method.
6. Add the new method — Enter your new card details or connect PayPal in the payment method form.
7. Set as default and remove the old card — After adding, make the new method default and optionally remove the expired or old card.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open Settings — Click your profile avatar in the top-right corner of the Dashboard and select Settings from the dropdown.
2. Click the Billing tab — Select Billing in the Settings sidebar. The Payment Method section shows your current card on file with the last 4 digits and expiry date.
3. Click Add Payment Method — This opens the Stripe-hosted card input form. The form is embedded in the UniLink page but processes securely through Stripe — look for the Stripe logo in the form footer.
4. Enter your card details — Type the card number, expiry month and year, and CVV. For PayPal, click Use PayPal instead and follow the OAuth flow to link your PayPal account.
5. Save the new method — Click Save Card (or Connect PayPal). The new method appears in your payment methods list with a label showing the last 4 digits and expiry.
6. Set as default — Click Set as Default next to the new payment method. A "Default" badge appears next to it, confirming it will be used for the next billing charge.
7. Remove the old method — Click Remove next to the old card. Confirm the removal in the dialog. You cannot remove the default method while it is the only one on file — add the new card first, set it as default, then remove the old one.

Key Settings Explained

How to Get the Most Out of It

Failed payments follow a specific retry schedule. When a charge fails at renewal, Stripe immediately retries. If that retry fails, Stripe waits and retries again at days 3, 5, and 7 after the initial failure. Each retry attempt sends an automated email notification to your account email address. UniLink also displays a persistent warning banner in the Dashboard during the retry window.

If all retries are exhausted without a successful payment, the account enters a suspended state. A suspended account means your paid features are locked and, in some configurations, your public page may be taken offline until the overdue payment is resolved. To resolve a suspension, update your payment method in Settings → Billing → Payment Method, then click Retry Payment to trigger an immediate charge attempt with the new method.

PayPal is a good alternative if you prefer not to store a card with UniLink. PayPal billing agreements are set up once and then charged automatically at each renewal — you are not prompted to approve each payment. If you want to cancel a PayPal billing agreement, do so both in UniLink (by removing the PayPal method from Settings → Billing) and in your PayPal account under Payments → Automatic Payments to fully terminate the agreement.

If you need to update your billing address — for example, for tax or invoicing purposes — this is separate from the payment method. Billing address and VAT ID (if applicable) are managed in Settings → Billing → Billing Information, not in the Payment Method section. Invoices generated after you update the billing information will reflect the new details; past invoices are not retroactively updated.

Troubleshooting Common Issues