How to best manage customer credits

[LipsAmore]

Howdy,

Im trying to work out the best way to manage customer credits.  I have come up with an option that will work if we were able to create azero invoice.

1. Create an invoice assigned to the customer

2. Create a discount item of 'customer credit' and assign the credit amount

3. Place description in the invoice message re: credit ie, return of lipstick on 23/1/18. (helps keep everyone reminded of the credit reason)

4. The invoice will automatically be recorded as zero.

5. set the due date (ie have 3 months to redeem)

6. send the invoice

this will ensure the customer has a record of the invoice and their credit amount.

next time the customer orders you reopen the invoice and edit it and add in the purchased items and the discount will automatically be applied.

i really really really want to be able to do this please (unelss someone else has a genius solution) but the sticking point is not being able to create a zero invoice (why cant we??!)

Any ideas folks?

Thanks

[VanKalkerFarms]

For house credits what I do is issue them a gift card or an E-Gift card.  I like the E-gift card as it is linked to their email address and you don't have to have the customer remember their physical card.  you can ring up the e-gift card and apply a 100% discount so you can load it and have no money exchange hands to make the transaction.