> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://onlytraffic.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Pay-as-you-go

> Smaller upfront commitment for CPL campaigns: a 20% deposit covers the start, the rest is billed automatically as fans get delivered.

Pay-as-you-go is an alternative billing mode for CPL campaigns. Instead of locking the full order amount on your balance up-front, only a **20% deposit** is charged at order creation. The remaining 80% is billed automatically as fans are delivered.

It's designed for clients running multiple parallel campaigns who want to keep working capital flexible without losing the predictability of CPL.

<Note>
  Pay-as-you-go is available **automatically** for [Platinum and Diamond tier](/docs/studio-levels) clients. No opt-in needed: when you place a CPL campaign, the system applies it.
</Note>

## How It Works

<Steps>
  <Step title="Place an order">
    Choose an offer, set the number of subscribers, and confirm. If pay-as-you-go is active for your account, the order summary shows the split clearly: how much is charged now and how much is billed later.
  </Step>

  <Step title="20% deposit charged immediately">
    On order creation, **20% of the order value** is deducted from your balance. This deposit secures the campaign start and is recorded in your wallet ledger.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Per-subscriber billing as fans arrive">
    As the contractor delivers fans, the platform charges your balance per delivered subscriber. The first 20% (covered by the deposit) is already paid; charges start once delivery exceeds that.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Order completes">
    When the target volume is reached, the order is closed. Your wallet shows every deduction as a separate line, so the audit trail is complete.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Example

You order **200 subscribers at \$2.55/sub** (total: \$510).

* **At order creation:** \$102.00 charged (20% deposit, covers the first 40 subscribers)
* **As fans arrive:** \$2.55 billed per delivered subscriber, starting from subscriber #41
* **At completion:** the remaining \$408.00 has been billed across the campaign

Your balance is debited gradually instead of all at once. The total cost is identical to prepaid billing.

## Refunds and Cancellation

The deposit is fully protected. If anything goes wrong, you only pay for what was actually delivered.

| Scenario | What happens |
| - | - |
| Cancelled while the order is still in the queue | You cancel it yourself in Studio, the full deposit returns to your balance |
| Stopped after the contractor accepted it | Only through your manager, agreed with the contractor; the deposit is returned minus the cost of fans already delivered |
| Order completes normally | Deposit was applied to the first 20% of fans; nothing extra to refund |
| Contractor under-delivers | Contact your manager: they stop the order and the remaining deposit is refunded |

The Cancel button in Studio exists only for orders in the Waiting status. Once the contractor has accepted the order, they have already planned traffic and budget for it, so an early stop is arranged through your manager (see [How to place a CPL order](/docs/how-to-place-cpl-order#cancelling-an-order)).

<Warning>
  If your balance goes negative, Pay-as-you-go is automatically disabled and **will not re-enable on its own**. Future orders fall back to full prepaid billing at creation. If the negative balance grows significantly, account sanctions including suspension may apply. Keep your balance positive and top up early.
</Warning>

## Where to See It

Pay-as-you-go visibility is built into the order flow:

* **Order page**: when you open an offer, the summary card shows "Charged now" and "Charged later" cells with exact amounts
* **Quick Order**: the same breakdown appears in the multi-offer summary before you confirm
* **Wallet ledger** ([wallet](https://accounts.onlytraffic.com/wallet)): every deposit and per-subscriber chunk shows as a separate transaction, deep-linkable from the order's Payments tab
* **Order Summary modal** → **Payments tab**: full audit trail per order

## Tier Eligibility

| Tier | Pay-as-you-go |
| - | - |
| Bronze, Silver, Gold | Not available, orders use full prepaid billing |
| Platinum, Diamond | Available automatically |

The tier check runs at order creation. If your tier changes (up or down), the new mode applies to your **next** order. In-flight orders continue under the rules they were created with.

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Does pay-as-you-go change the total price?">
    No. The total cost is exactly the same as prepaid billing. Only the timing of payments changes.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I switch to prepaid for a specific order?">
    Currently the mode is account-level. If you have a strong preference for prepaid on certain orders, contact support.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What if my balance runs out mid-order?">
    Charges stop and the campaign pauses until you top up. No subscribers are lost: delivery resumes as soon as the balance is restored.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens if the balance goes negative?">
    Pay-as-you-go is automatically disabled and won't re-enable itself. Future orders fall back to full prepaid billing at order creation. A significantly negative balance can lead to account sanctions, so keep an eye on the balance.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Where is each charge recorded?">
    In two places: the dedicated **Payments tab** of the order summary, and your global **wallet ledger** at accounts.onlytraffic.com/wallet. Each line carries a UUID that links the two, so reconciliation is straightforward.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Place a CPL Campaign" icon="cart-shopping" href="/docs/how-to-place-cpl-order">
    Step-by-step ordering guide
  </Card>

  <Card title="Loyalty Tiers" icon="trophy" href="/docs/studio-levels">
    How tiers and discounts are calculated
  </Card>

  <Card title="Top Up Your Balance" icon="circle-plus" href="/docs/how-to-top-up-balance">
    Add funds for orders
  </Card>

  <Card title="Refund Policy" icon="rotate-left" href="/docs/how-to-refund">
    What happens if an order doesn't go as planned
  </Card>
</CardGroup>


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