Autopay FAQ

Have questions about Autopay? You’re in the right place. Below, we’ll cover how it compares to recurring payments, what to expect for your maximum bill amount and timing, and how to update a rule as your needs change.

In this guide, you can learn more about:

• Understanding Autopay
• Payment amount and timing
• Managing your Autopay rule

Understanding Autopay

• What is Autopay and how does it work?
  • Autopay is a per-vendor rule that automatically pays a vendor’s approved bills as they arrive. 
  • You choose the payment method, delivery method, maximum bill amount, and timing just once, and then Melio handles the rest.
  • See How to set up Autopay for a vendor to get started.
• How is Autopay different from recurring payments?
  • Recurring payments pay a fixed amount to your vendor on a set schedule.
  • Autopay reacts to bills from a specific vendor as they come into your Melio account, paying whatever the bill’s amount is, up to your maximum bill amount. 
• Which vendors can I set up Autopay for?
  • Any domestic vendor with a delivery method on file. 
  • Autopay isn’t available for international vendors.
• Who can set up or manage Autopay?
  • Any user with the Owner, Admin, Accountant, or Contributor role. 
  • Users with the Approver or Viewer role can see a rule’s status but can’t make changes.
• Can I use Autopay on the Melio mobile app?
  • Autopay can be set up and managed on a desktop or mobile web browser only. 
  • It isn’t available in the Melio app. 

Payment amount and timing

• Will Autopay ever pay more than my maximum bill amount?
  • No. A bill that comes in over your maximum bill amount goes to your dashboard for you to pay manually. 
  • A bill over your maximum bill amount is never paid in part.
• Does Autopay pay bills that were already in my dashboard before I created a rule for my vendor?
  • No. Autopay only pays bills that arrive after you set it up. 
  • It doesn’t go back and pay any bills that were already open and waiting.
• What happens if a bill arrives already past due?
  • A bill up to 30 days past due is still paid automatically. 
  • A bill more than 30 days past due goes to your dashboard for manual review instead.
• What happens if my payment date falls on a weekend or holiday?
  • Melio shifts it to the next business day.
• Can I use expedited delivery method options with Autopay?
  • No. Autopay only supports standard delivery speeds. 
  • For more information, see When will my payment arrive?
• Does Autopay skip approval workflows?
  • Autopay only pays bills that have cleared bill approval.
  • If the person who set up the rule is subject to a payment approval workflow, Autopay payments follow it. This means they require approval whenever the workflow calls for it.

Managing your Autopay rule

• Can I change my maximum bill amount, payment method, or delivery method later?
  • Yes. See How to manage a vendor’s Autopay rule for the full steps. 
  • Keep in mind that changing your payment method or delivery method requires you to reauthorize Autopay for that vendor.
• If I edit my rule, does it affect a payment that’s already scheduled?
  • No. Changes apply to the next bill only.
  • Anything already scheduled keeps its original details.
• Can I pause Autopay temporarily?
  • Not at this time. You can cancel Autopay for a vendor and set it up again later if your needs change.
• What happens if I cancel Autopay for a vendor?
  • Future bills from that vendor stop being paid automatically, and the rule’s settings are cleared. 
  • Any payment already in progress or scheduled is still delivered.
  • Your payment history for that vendor is unaffected.
• What happens to my Autopay rule if I delete the vendor?
  • The vendor’s Autopay rule is canceled too.
• What happens to my Autopay rule if the person who set it up leaves the company or changes roles?
  • Nothing changes for the rule itself. Autopay belongs to your business, not to the person who set it up, so it keeps running as normal. 

That’s it! You now have everything you need to set up, manage, and make the most of Autopay.