🔍 Why the Wrong Card Gets Charged
Search Atlas stores your default payment method separately from the list of cards on your account. When you delete all cards and add new ones, the system may still reference the original default unless you explicitly update it. Adding a new card does not automatically make it the default — you need to set it manually in your billing settings.
🗂️ How to Change Your Default Payment Card
To update your default payment method, navigate to the Billing area via the top-right avatar menu (Plans & Top-ups, Services, Invoices, Activity Log). From there, locate the payment methods or saved cards section. Find the card you want to use as your primary payment method and select the option to make it your default. Save or confirm the change before leaving the page.
Your next invoice will be charged to the card you have set as default.
✅ How to Confirm the Correct Card Is Active
After updating your default, verify within your billing settings that the correct card is marked or indicated as your primary payment method. Only one card can be set as default at a time. If the change does not appear to have taken effect, repeat the steps above and make sure you confirm the selection before navigating away.
➕ Adding a New Card and Setting It as Default Immediately
If you are adding a new card, go to the payment methods area within your Billing settings. Add your new card details and save them. Once the new card appears in your saved cards list, set it as your default payment method. Completing both steps — saving the card and designating it as default — ensures Search Atlas charges the correct card on your next billing date.
🗑️ Removing an Old Card Safely
Before deleting an old card, always set a different card as your default first. If you remove a card without assigning a new default, your subscription may encounter a payment failure on the next billing cycle. To avoid interruption, follow this order:
- Add the new card (if not already added).
- Set the new card as your default payment method.
- Delete the old card.
⚠️ What to Do If the Old Card Is Still Being Charged
If you have already been charged on an unexpected card, here is what to check:
- Confirm the correct card is set as default in your billing settings.
- Check whether the charge occurred before you updated the default — billing runs on a fixed cycle, and changes made after a charge has processed apply to the next cycle only.
- If the charge happened after you set the new default, or if you are unable to locate or change the default card setting, escalate to our support team. When you do, please have ready: your account email, the last four digits of both the old and new cards, and the date and amount of the unexpected charge.
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.