If you’re running cloud services, managing servers, or maintaining any kind of online infrastructure, you already have enough on your plate. The last thing you want is a surprise service interruption because of a missed invoice. At Contabo, we understand that reliability is everything, which is why we offer automatic payments through both credit cards and PayPal.
Whether you’re new to Contabo or you’ve been hosting with us for years, setting up automatic payments is one of the simplest ways to keep your services running smoothly.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how it all works, why it’s worth setting up, and how to get started so you can focus on what really matters: running your projects without disruption.
Why Use Automatic Payments?
Let’s start with the “why.” Automatic payments are designed to take a recurring task off your to-do list. Once it’s set up, you don’t have to think about your invoices or due dates again.
Here’s what you gain:
No More Missed Payments
This is the big one. With automatic billing, your payment is processed before your due date, keeping your servers online and your services uninterrupted.
Worldwide Compatibility
Credit cards and PayPal are accepted across the globe. Whether you’re working in euros, dollars, or another supported currency, you can rely on seamless transactions.
Secure Payment Processing
Your financial data is protected by secure, industry-standard systems. That means no shortcuts when it comes to your privacy and safety.
Credit Card Payments: What to Expect
When you add a credit card to your account, there’s a quick verification step. You might see a temporary €1 (or equivalent in your currency) hold on your account. This is known as pre-authorization.
Why Is Pre-Authorization Necessary?
- It confirms that your card is active and valid.
- It ensures your card is ready to be charged when your next invoice is due.
This small hold is never charged, just temporarily reserved and then released. It’s a standard practice used to make sure everything is ready to go.
Using PayPal Instead? Here’s How It Works
Prefer PayPal? No problem. Setting up automatic payments through PayPal is just as straightforward. You won’t see a pre-authorization hold, but you’ll need to create what’s called a billing agreement.
Once you confirm the billing agreement between PayPal and your Contabo account, payments will be automatically processed when your invoices are due. No manual approval is required after that.
How to Set Up Automatic Payments on Your Account
It only takes a few minutes to get everything in place. Here’s how:
- Log in to your Contabo Customer Control Panel (CCP).
- On the left-hand menu, go to Payment Method.
- Click on Automatic Payment Arrangement.
- Choose your preferred payment option: Credit Card or PayPal.
Depending on your choice:
- If you’re using a credit card, you’ll go through the pre-authorization step.
- If you’re using PayPal, you’ll be redirected to PayPal’s site to authorize the billing agreement.
Once that’s done, your account is ready for automated, worry-free payments.
Need to Update or Troubleshoot Your Payment Method?
Things change, cards expire, banks issue new ones, or you simply want to switch payment methods. No worries. Here’s what to do:
To Update Your Payment Info
- Go to the Payment Method section in your CCP.
- Remove your outdated details.
- Add your new credit card or PayPal information.
To Troubleshoot Failed Payments
If a payment doesn’t go through, here are some common reasons:
- Expired credit card
- Insufficient funds
- Transaction declined by your bank or PayPal
First, double-check your payment information. If everything looks correct and you’re still having trouble, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Support Team. We’re here to help.
Stay Notified and In Control
Even with automatic payments in place, it’s still a good idea to keep an eye on your billing updates. Your CCP sends notifications for upcoming invoices, payment confirmations, and any issues that might need your attention.
These updates are an extra layer of reassurance that your hosting services are running exactly how they should be.
Prefer a Visual Walkthrough?
If you like to follow along visually, we’ve created a tutorial video that walks you through the entire process from setting up your payment method to confirming the setup.
Watch it here:
Final Thoughts
Automatic payments aren’t just about convenience they’re about peace of mind. When you host with Contabo, you deserve to know that your services won’t go offline due to something as simple as a missed invoice.
By setting up automated payments, you’re choosing consistency, security, and more time to focus on your actual work.
If you haven’t enabled automatic billing yet, now’s a great time to do it. And if you ever have questions or run into issues, our team is just a message away.
Happy hosting!