> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.dapta.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.dapta.ai/ai-text-agents/channels/add-whatsapp-payment-method.md).

# Add a WhatsApp payment method

Step by step: add a card to your WhatsApp account in Meta so your agent can reply and Meta keeps delivering your messages on a direct line.

On a direct line, Meta charges you for delivering WhatsApp messages. That means **the WhatsApp account itself** needs a payment method. A card somewhere else in your Meta account, for example on your ad accounts, is not enough: the card has to be assigned to the WhatsApp account.

Dapta charges the agent from your credits, and Meta charges delivery to this card. They are two separate things, each in its own place. See [WhatsApp billing](/ai-text-agents/channels/whatsapp-billing-and-meta-charges.md) for rates and currencies.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Is your line a legacy line?** Then there is nothing to do here. On legacy lines delivery is already included in your Dapta credits.
{% endhint %}

## How Dapta tells you it's missing

Since 1 October 2026 Meta also charges for your agent's replies, beyond the first 1,000 free each month per number. So when the WhatsApp account has no payment method, Dapta stops your agent from answering on its numbers and tells you in **WhatsApp numbers**:

* A banner for each WhatsApp Business account: **Agent replies are blocked: add a payment method**. **Add payment method** opens the account in WhatsApp Manager, and **Need help?** books a session with Dapta.
* The account's numbers show **Payment needed** under **Agent replies**, and **Blocked** under **Business-initiated**: templates and sequences cannot send either.
* In a number's details, **Finish setting up** lists **Add a payment method to the WhatsApp Business account**.

Customer messages still reach Inbox while the payment method is missing. Your agent just does not answer them, and no credits are spent on those answers.

{% hint style="info" %}
The screenshots below were taken with Meta Business Suite in Spanish. Meta shows the same screens in your language, so the button names may read slightly differently.
{% endhint %}

## Before you start

| You need                                                | Why                                                                                                    |
| ------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Full control** of the business portfolio in Meta      | Only people with full control can add payment methods and assign them to the WhatsApp account.         |
| A company debit or credit card                          | In this example Meta accepts Visa and Mastercard. Depending on your country it may show other options. |
| Your legal business name, registered address and tax ID | Meta asks for them to issue the invoice.                                                               |

Allow about five minutes. **Dapta cannot add the card for you**: Meta requires the business itself to do it.

***

## Step by step

**Step 1: Open the WhatsApp accounts in your portfolio.**

Go to [business.facebook.com](https://business.facebook.com). Click the gear icon (**Settings**) in the sidebar, then open **Accounts → WhatsApp accounts**.

***

**Step 2: Pick the WhatsApp account you connected to Dapta and check its payment method.**

Select your line's WhatsApp account in the list. It opens on the **Summary** tab. Scroll down to **Payment method**:

* If it says **No payment method found**, the account cannot pay for delivery yet. Go on to step 3.
* If a card is already listed, the account already has a payment method and there is nothing else to do.

Click **Payment settings**.

<figure><img src="https://3835013762-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCy5rSNtQmtqYCGzJlNEB%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-19938d7de7b61ccee1bad7e47885b3272555b682%2Fwhatsapp-payment-01-no-payment-method.png?alt=media" alt="WhatsApp account in Meta Business Suite showing no payment method, with the Payment settings button highlighted"><figcaption><p>The WhatsApp account has no payment method yet. <strong>Payment settings</strong> takes you to its billing.</p></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="warning" %}
If you have several WhatsApp accounts (a test one and a real one, for example), check which one you open. The payment method has to go on the account whose number you connected to Dapta.
{% endhint %}

***

**Step 3: Click Add payment method.**

**Billing and payments** opens directly on the WhatsApp account: its name is at the top, next to the back arrow. Under **Payment methods** you will see that none has been added. Click **Add payment method**.

<figure><img src="https://3835013762-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCy5rSNtQmtqYCGzJlNEB%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1bc405c0e60ea57c78d2f14de75104f2e22a9293%2Fwhatsapp-payment-02-add-payment-method.png?alt=media" alt="Billing and payments for the WhatsApp account, with a zero balance and the Add payment method button highlighted"><figcaption><p>The WhatsApp account's billing. Its name at the top tells you the card is going to this account.</p></figcaption></figure>

***

**Step 4: Check the location and currency, then choose the card.**

In **Add payment information**, check **Business location and currency** (in the example: *Colombia, Colombian peso COP*). Meta calculates and bills delivery charges in that currency, so fix it with **Edit** if it is wrong.

Under **Add payment method**, select **Debit or credit card** and click **Next**.

<figure><img src="https://3835013762-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCy5rSNtQmtqYCGzJlNEB%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-b61fa00f27b5cc6c1c80dacb5afba9b3eaa5670a%2Fwhatsapp-payment-03-location-and-currency.png?alt=media" alt="Add payment information dialog with the business location and currency and the Debit or credit card option"><figcaption><p>Confirm the country and currency before you continue.</p></figcaption></figure>

***

**Step 5: Enter the card details and choose which accounts can use it.**

Fill in the name on the card, the card number, the expiry date (MM/YY) and the CVV.

Then, under **Which accounts can use this card?**, choose one:

| Option                                      | When to choose it                                                                                                                                           |
| ------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **All accounts in this business portfolio** | You want to use the same card for other WhatsApp accounts or other accounts in the portfolio. People with full control can assign it to each account later. |
| **Only this account**                       | You want the card to pay for this WhatsApp account only.                                                                                                    |

Either way, the card is assigned to the WhatsApp account you started from. Click **Save**.

<figure><img src="https://3835013762-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCy5rSNtQmtqYCGzJlNEB%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-3d649703d3aea00f059a9b3aae01b21e30af6bf6%2Fwhatsapp-payment-04-card-details.png?alt=media" alt="Debit or credit card form with the card fields and the choice between all accounts in the portfolio or only this account"><figcaption><p>The card details, and which accounts in the portfolio can use it.</p></figcaption></figure>

***

**Step 6: Fill in the tax information.**

At the top you will see a confirmation that the card was added to the account. Fill in the tax information Meta uses for the invoice:

* **Business name**: your legal business name as registered. It appears on Meta's invoice, but your customers do not see it.
* **Business address**: the registered legal address. If the business is not registered, your postal address.
* Your **tax ID** (NIT in Colombia, for example). Meta marks it optional. Include it if you need the invoice to carry your company's tax ID.

Click **Save**.

<figure><img src="https://3835013762-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCy5rSNtQmtqYCGzJlNEB%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7ed0792a8237191c020eed113127aa487eac04d4%2Fwhatsapp-payment-05-tax-information.png?alt=media" alt="Tax information dialog with the card-added confirmation and fields for the business name, address and tax ID"><figcaption><p>The card is added. The tax information for the invoice is what's left.</p></figcaption></figure>

***

**Step 7: Confirm the card in Billing and payments.**

Back in **Billing and payments**, the WhatsApp account shows the card under **You'll pay with**. Under **Payment methods** it is marked **Default**, with its expiry date and availability.

<figure><img src="https://3835013762-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCy5rSNtQmtqYCGzJlNEB%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-7ef9e557bd3dd114ef7490c4a4b045fe54e1f140%2Fwhatsapp-payment-06-card-saved.png?alt=media" alt="Billing and payments for the WhatsApp account showing the card as the one you pay with and as the default method"><figcaption><p>The card is the WhatsApp account's default payment method.</p></figcaption></figure>

***

**Step 8: Check that the WhatsApp account now has the payment method.**

This is the step that confirms it worked. Go back to **Settings → Accounts → WhatsApp accounts** and open the same account. **Payment method** should no longer say *No payment method found*: the card is listed with its expiry date.

<figure><img src="https://3835013762-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FCy5rSNtQmtqYCGzJlNEB%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-d4aed8c4ae5dd535af59b88e929bdaaa594ec04d%2Fwhatsapp-payment-07-payment-method-on-account.png?alt=media" alt="WhatsApp account summary with Payment method showing a Mastercard"><figcaption><p>Done: the WhatsApp account has its payment method.</p></figcaption></figure>

If the card still does not show under **Payment method**, you added it to the portfolio but not to this WhatsApp account. Start again from step 2, going in through the right account's **Payment settings**.

***

## After you add the card

* **In Dapta**, open the number in **WhatsApp numbers** and click **Check now**. Once Meta reports the payment method, the banner goes away and your agent replies again on its own.
* **Keep the card current.** If it expires or Meta cannot charge it, Meta reports a payment problem and your agent stops replying until it is fixed. Update it on this same screen before it expires.
* **Review the charges** under **Payment activity** and **View transaction history**, on the same **Billing and payments** page.

## What usually goes wrong

| What you see                                                                                                            | What it usually is                                                                                                                                                                  |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Payment settings** is missing, or you cannot add the card                                                             | You do not have **full control** of the portfolio. Ask whoever manages it for access, or ask them to follow these steps.                                                            |
| The card is listed under the portfolio's payment methods, but the WhatsApp account still says *No payment method found* | The card was added from another account and is available, but not assigned. Go in through the WhatsApp account's **Payment settings** and assign it.                                |
| Meta declines the card                                                                                                  | The bank blocked the online or international charge. Authorise it with your bank or use another card.                                                                               |
| The currency is not your business's                                                                                     | Check **Business location and currency** before you save the card (step 4).                                                                                                         |
| **Payment needed** comes back after it was working                                                                      | The card expired or a charge failed. Check **Payment activity** and update the payment method.                                                                                      |
| The banner says **Templates and sequences blocked by a payment issue**                                                  | The account has another payment problem, such as an outstanding balance. Review its payment method and balance in **Billing and payments**, then click **Check now** on the number. |

{% content-ref url="/pages/8yBxnycfBbLwmHztlM7I" %}
[Prepare your Meta account](/ai-text-agents/channels/prepare-your-meta-account.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/anfdTczN1uZyNz5LkS0L" %}
[Connect your Agent with WhatsApp](/ai-text-agents/channels/connect-your-agent-with-whatsapp.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:

```
GET https://docs.dapta.ai/ai-text-agents/channels/add-whatsapp-payment-method.md?ask=<question>&goal=<user_goal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.