🔍 Overview

When you upgrade your OTTO sites quota, Search Atlas uses a consolidated billing model. This means you pay the full price of your new plan tier — not your current plan price plus an additional upgrade fee. Understanding this prevents confusion when you see multiple charges or a refund appear on your statement.

💳 How OTTO Quota Upgrade Billing Works

Here is exactly what happens when you upgrade your OTTO sites quota:

1. You select a higher quota tier — for example, moving from a lower quota tier to a higher one (the exact tier prices depend on your plan - check your Billing page for current figures).
2. Search Atlas charges the full new tier price — the full new tier price. This single charge covers your entire updated quota going forward.
3. Your previous charge is not added on top — the new tier price replaces, rather than stacks on, your previous plan cost.

In short: you owe the full new tier price going forward - the old tier price is not added on top of it.

⚠️ What Happens When an Upgrade Payment Is Refused

If your upgrade payment is declined or refused, here is what you can expect:

• The failed charge attempt is automatically reversed or refunded — no money is taken for the upgrade.
• Your account remains on your existing plan until the upgrade payment succeeds.
• Any refund for a failed charge typically appears on your statement within 3–10 business days, depending on your bank or card provider.

A refused upgrade does not mean you owe both the old and new plan amounts. You continue to owe only your current active plan rate until a successful upgrade is processed.

📊 Common Billing Scenario: Current Charge Plus a Refused Upgrade Charge

This is one of the most frequently asked billing questions. Here is a clear breakdown:

• current plan charge — this is your existing active plan payment. It stands regardless of the upgrade attempt.
• Upgrade charge refused and refunded — the upgrade did not go through, so no additional amount is owed for it.
• What you owe — only your current active plan charge. The refund means the upgrade was never completed.

If you want to retry the upgrade, simply navigate to Avatar → Billing → Plans & Top-ups (Billing), open your plan settings, and attempt the upgrade again with an updated or verified payment method.

🛠️ Steps to Retry a Failed Quota Upgrade

1. Click your Avatar, then go to Billing → Plans & Top-ups (Billing).
2. Open your Plans & Top-ups page.
3. Verify that your payment method on file is correct and has sufficient funds or credit available.
4. Select the desired OTTO sites quota tier and confirm the upgrade.
5. You will receive a confirmation once the payment is successfully processed.

💡 Tips to Avoid Upgrade Payment Issues

• Check your card limit — ensure your card can accommodate the full new tier charge before attempting the upgrade.
• Notify your bank — some banks flag subscription upgrades as unusual activity. A quick call or app notification to your bank can prevent a block.
• Use a backup payment method — adding a secondary card in your billing settings gives Search Atlas a fallback if the primary card is declined.
• Check for pending refunds first — if a refund from a failed attempt is still pending, your available credit may appear lower than it actually is.

🙋 Still Have Billing Questions?

If your statement shows unexpected charges, a refund has not appeared after 10 business days, or you are unsure what your account currently owes, our team can pull up your full billing history and clarify every line item.

If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.