How to Use Parent Payment Methods for Children

Before You Begin

• Login to your account at https://app.joinzipper.com/auth/login
• Ensure you have owner or admin permissions
• Both parent and child customer accounts must exist, and a guardian relationship must be set up between them

Steps

Step 1: Verify or create the guardian relationship

1. Go to Contacts > Customers, search for and open the child’s customer profile
2. Scroll to the Family Accounts section and confirm a guardian is linked

If no guardian is linked:

1. Click Add guardian, search for and select the parent’s account
2. Enable payment permissions, then save

Step 2: Use a parent payment method at checkout

When booking or purchasing on behalf of a child:

1. Select the child as the customer/registrant and proceed to checkout
2. In the payment method dropdown, parent payment methods appear labeled “Parent: [Name]”
3. Select the parent’s method and complete the purchase

Both parent and child receive receipts.

Step 3: Use a parent payment method at Point-of-Sale

1. Search for and select the child as the customer, add items, then proceed to checkout
2. Select a parent payment method from the options and complete the transaction

Step 4: Charge a cancellation fee to a parent payment method

1. Open the child’s booking, click Cancel → Cancel with fee
2. Select a parent payment method and confirm

How Parent Payment Methods Work

When a guardian relationship is established, the parent’s Stripe customer ID is linked. At checkout, the system retrieves payment methods from both accounts and labels parent methods clearly. Charges are processed to the selected method; receipts are tracked for both accounts.

Parent payment methods cover: class registrations, event registrations, appointments, product purchases, and cancellation fees for the child.

Multiple guardians can be added — all their saved payment methods become available.

Troubleshooting

Parent payment methods not appearing at checkout? Confirm the guardian relationship exists, the guardian has saved payment methods, and payment permissions are enabled on the relationship.

Payment failed on a parent’s card? The card may be expired or declined — ask the parent to update their payment method or try a different one.

Parent wasn’t notified of a charge? Verify the parent’s email is valid in their profile, email notifications are enabled, and check spam.

Can’t find the option to charge a cancellation fee to the parent? Confirm the guardian relationship is configured and you are viewing the child’s booking (not the parent’s).

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Need a hand?

Email our team at support@joinzipper.com and we'll usually reply within a few hours.

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