How Text to Pay Works
Three simple steps to get paid faster.
Agent Sends Link
From the FloPay dashboard or via API, your agent creates a payment request and sends a secure SMS link to the customer's mobile number.
Customer Pays
The customer taps the link, enters their card or bank details on a secure hosted checkout page, and submits payment. No app needed.
Payment Confirmed
FloPay processes the payment through your preferred gateway, sends a receipt, and updates your dashboard and webhooks in real time.
Why Text to Pay?
Stop taking card numbers over the phone. Text payments are more secure, more convenient, and get approved more often.
For Your Business
- Higher approval rates than MOTO transactions
- Classified as Customer Initiated (CIT) by card networks
- Reduce chargebacks with authenticated payments
- Never handle raw card numbers—stay PCI compliant
- Agents handle more customers simultaneously
- Schedule payment links for future delivery
For Your Customers
- Pay from their phone in under 30 seconds
- No app to download or account to create
- Secure hosted checkout with encryption
- Pay with credit card, debit card, or bank transfer
- Apple Pay and Google Pay supported
- Instant receipt via text or email
CIT vs MOTO: Why It Matters
Card networks treat text payments differently than phone payments—and that works in your favor.
When a customer enters their card details on a hosted checkout page via a text link, the transaction is classified as Customer Initiated (CIT). When an agent takes card numbers over the phone, it's classified as Mail Order/Telephone Order (MOTO).
CIT transactions benefit from:
- Higher approval rates—issuers trust customer-initiated payments more
- Lower interchange fees—card-present-like classification reduces costs
- 3D Secure eligibility—shift liability to the issuer with strong authentication
- Fewer chargebacks—authenticated transactions are harder to dispute
- Stored credential support—tokenize once, charge again for recurring payments
Text to Pay Features
Everything you need for SMS-based payment collection.
- Twilio-powered SMS delivery
- Configurable payment link expiration (1 hour to 7 days)
- Hosted checkout—no coding required
- Credit card, debit, ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay
- 3D Secure authentication support
- Consent tracking and opt-in management
- Scheduled text payment links
- Agent communication dashboard
- Real-time payment status tracking
- Webhook notifications on payment events
- Tokenize card on file for future payments
- Full REST API for custom integrations
Frequently Asked Questions
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How does the customer receive the payment link?
The customer receives a standard SMS text message containing a secure link. When they tap the link, a hosted checkout page opens in their mobile browser. No app download or account creation is required.
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Is text to pay secure?
Yes. Card data is entered on a PCI-compliant hosted checkout page and tokenized immediately via TokenEx. Raw card numbers never touch your servers or FloPay's servers. All links use HTTPS encryption.
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Do payment links expire?
Yes. You can configure link expiration from 1 hour to 7 days. Expired links display a friendly message and the customer can request a new link.
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What about SMS consent and compliance?
FloPay includes built-in consent tracking and opt-in management. Agents follow a verbal consent script and record customer approval. Customers can reply STOP at any time to opt out. Our system is designed to comply with TCPA and CTIA guidelines.
Contact
Questions about Text to Pay? We'd love to hear from you.