Can Bidders Pay Right Away

Yes. Bidders are able to pay as soon as bidding ends and their winning bid has been confirmed.

CharityAuctions is designed to make payments simple and fast for both bidders and administrators.

When Payments Become Available

Once your auction closes and the highest bidder is verified, an invoice is automatically generated for that bidder.

At that moment:

• The invoice is ready for payment
• The bidder can pay immediately online
• No additional action from the auction admin is required

Most invoices are paid within minutes of the auction closing.

How Bidders Are Notified

CharityAuctions automatically notifies winners in multiple ways.

After an auction ends, bidders will receive:

• An SMS text message with a secure payment link
• An email notification with the invoice and payment link

These messages make it easy for bidders to quickly complete checkout from any device.

Where Bidders Find Their Invoices

Bidders can always access their invoices directly inside their account.

To view and pay an invoice, bidders can:

1. Log into their CharityAuctions bidder account
2. Open the My Invoices section
3. Select the invoice
4. Complete payment securely online

This allows bidders to return and pay at any time, even if they missed the original email or text message.

Automatic Payment Reminders

If a bidder does not pay right away, the system helps you follow up automatically.

Unpaid invoices trigger:

• Daily reminder emails
• Daily reminder text messages
• Up to three days of automatic follow-ups

These reminders dramatically reduce the number of unpaid invoices and minimize the need for manual outreach.

Admin Best Practices for Unpaid Invoices

While most bidders pay quickly, occasional invoices may remain unpaid.

We recommend that administrators:

• Review unpaid invoices after the auction closes
• Personally reach out to any bidders who have not paid
• Offer assistance if they are having trouble checking out

A quick personal message often resolves outstanding payments.

Immediate Payment for Buy Now Items

Payments work slightly differently for Buy Now purchases.

For Buy Now items, you can choose between two options:

1. Require immediate payment at the time of purchase
2. Allow the item to be added to the bidder’s final invoice

This setting can be configured by the auction administrator depending on how you want payments handled.

Immediate payment is often preferred for online-only auctions or high-demand items.

Automatic Credit Card Charging

CharityAuctions also offers a global setting to automatically charge saved credit cards for winning bids.

This feature is managed separately from standard payment settings and is covered in its own guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can bidders pay as soon as the auction ends?
Yes. Invoices are generated immediately after bidding closes and are ready for payment right away.

Where do bidders find their invoice?
Invoices are located in the bidder account under My Invoices.

How are bidders notified to pay?
Bidders receive both an email and SMS text message with a secure payment link.

What happens if a bidder doesn’t pay?
The system sends automatic reminders by email and text for three days.

Can Buy Now items require instant payment?
Yes. Admins can choose to require immediate payment for Buy Now purchases or add them to the final invoice.

If you need help with a specific unpaid invoice, contact CharityAuctions support with the bidder name and auction details so we can assist you.

Tom Kelly

Tom Kelly, TEDx speaker and CEO of CharityAuctions.com, helps nonprofits raise millions through auctions and AI. He hosts The Million Dollar Nonprofit podcast and inspires leaders to live their legacy, not just leave it.