thread Re: save card to file without taking payment (api) in Payments Troubleshooting

save card to file without taking payment (api)

CUKL — Sun, 21 Sep 2025 10:54:01 GMT

is it possible to save a card to file (against a customer) without charging them anything? i have tried using the apis but when i set a payment amount of 0, i get a response back that this is below the minimum payment.

my model is to have a customer save their card to file first and then use it at a later stage to make payments.

so the first time they save a card to file, they must not be charged anything.

please help, thanks.

Re: save card to file without taking payment (api)

Twiggy — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 07:58:56 GMT

Hi we have a lot of card on file clients and use retail / appointments and POS. Remember the rate is higher for cards with card on file. I just opened retail app, added a test customer and got this screen - see image. . It did allow me to add a card - though you must get the customer to sign the form. We have only stored card details after an initial transaction.

Sorry if this is the area you get to each time and get the message you mentioned about not high enough transaction.

Re: save card to file without taking payment (api)

CUKL — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 10:49:10 GMT

hi, thanks for the reply. this looks like something that you're doing via the square all or one of their platforms. however, i am enquiring on adding card to file (without taking a payment) via square back end apis and not via their dashboard. so this solution won't work for me. thanks anyways for the response, much appreciated.

Re: save card to file without taking payment (api)

Breffni — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 10:52:07 GMT

Hi @CUKL - thanks for posting 🙂

Yes, as Twiggy mentioned you can do this with any of the Point of Sale apps. Is that what you mean by backend APIs?

With Card on File enabled, you can link payment cards to customer profiles from both the app and your online Square Dashboard. To turn on Card on File:

From the navigation bar at the bottom right of your screen, tap More.
Tap Settings.
Tap Checkout > Customer Management.
Under Save a Card on File :
a. Toggle on the option to save a card in the Customer profile for future use.
b. To save a card after a sale, toggle on After Checkout to show a Save Card button after checkout

I test myself and you have to first create the customer (More > Customers > Create New Customer) and save their details, then go back and edit and you'll see Card On File - Add Card.

You can learn more here.

If it's not the apps you are looking for, then you will likely need to consult our developer documentation.

I hope this helps!

Re: save card to file without taking payment (api)

Twiggy — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 11:18:25 GMT

I don’t know how API and legals work with card on file and GDPR and from a third party - It’s bad enough just storing an email / phone number as a vendor.

From a user point of view the amount of times we have to update clients cards as they either lose / forget their card in a reader - have fraudulent activity on their cards where the bank issue a new card - card on freeze - the bank redesign their logo - and redesigns of cards etc we find it easier to send a payment link and they pay by Apple, google / Android pay especially as the rate is the same. Good like designing.

Re: save card to file without taking payment (api)

CUKL — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 13:07:49 GMT

thanks for all the answers everyone. i have spoken to square support and they have advised that using the apis, it is not possible to save a card on file without first taking a payment, since that's how they verify the card is ok (by taking a payment). then once a payment has been processed, we can then save the card to file via api.