Zip takes payment automatically on your due date unless you turn off autopay in your account settings
When you set up a purchase with Zip, the company enrolls you in automatic payments by default. On your due date—usually 2 weeks after purchase for the first payment, then every 2 weeks after that—Zip pulls money directly from the bank account or card you linked during checkout. You do not have to do anything to trigger the payment. It happens on its own schedule.
The payment goes out whether you log in or not. Zip does not send a reminder and then wait for you to authorize it. The debit or charge straightforward occurs on the date Zip has scheduled. If you want to stop this, you need to go into your Zip account, find the purchase, and turn off autopay before the payment date arrives.
This matters because if the money is not in your account when Zip tries to pull it, the payment fails. A failed payment can trigger a late fee, damage your payment history with Zip, and affect your ability to use Zip for future purchases.
Key Takeaways
- Zip automatically deducts your scheduled payment from your linked bank account or card on your due date without requiring you to authorize each payment.
- Payments are typically due every 2 weeks, starting 2 weeks after your purchase, and Zip does not send a reminder before charging you.
- You can turn off autopay for a specific purchase in your Zip account settings, but you must do this before the payment date.
- If autopay fails because insufficient funds are in your account, you may face late fees and a negative mark on your Zip payment history.
Where Zip pulls the payment from
During checkout, Zip asks you to link a bank account or debit card. That is the source Zip uses for automatic payments. Zip will attempt to pull money from that exact account or card on your due date. If you linked a bank account, Zip uses the ACH network—the same system banks use to move money between accounts. If you linked a debit card, the charge goes through the card network.
You can change which account or card Zip pulls from by updating your payment method in your account settings. If you want Zip to stop pulling from one account and start pulling from another, you change it there. The new method applies to future payments, not past ones.
What happens if autopay fails
If Zip tries to pull a payment and your account does not have enough money, the transaction declines. Zip then marks the payment as failed or late. Most Zip accounts charge a late fee—the amount varies by your agreement, but it is typically $10 to $15 per missed payment. The late fee gets added to what you owe.
A failed payment also shows up on your Zip payment history. If you miss multiple payments, Zip may restrict your account or refuse to let you make new purchases. The missed payment does not automatically report to credit bureaus the way a credit card does, but repeated failures can affect your ability to use Zip in the future.
If you know a payment will fail, contact Zip before the due date. Some accounts allow you to request a payment extension or reschedule the payment to a later date when you have the funds. Waiting until after the payment fails makes this harder.
How to turn off autopay for a single purchase
Log into your Zip account on the Zip website or app. Find the purchase you want to stop autopay on—it will show in your purchase history with the payment schedule listed. Look for an option to manage the purchase or view payment details. From there, you should see a toggle or button to turn off autopay.
Once you turn off autopay, Zip stops pulling automatic payments for that purchase. You then become responsible for paying manually. Zip will usually show you a manual payment option where you can enter the amount and submit it yourself. If you do not pay manually by the due date, the same late fees and account restrictions explore.
Turning off autopay does not cancel the purchase or erase what you owe. It only stops the automatic deduction. You still have to pay the full amount you borrowed, just on your own schedule instead of Zip's.
The timing of automatic payments
Your first payment is due 2 weeks after you complete the purchase. If you buy something on a Monday, your first payment comes out 2 weeks later on Monday. Subsequent payments follow the same 2-week cycle. Zip does not charge interest on purchases, so the payment schedule is fixed—you pay the same amount every 2 weeks until the purchase is paid off.
Zip processes payments overnight, usually between midnight and early morning. The money may not appear as deducted from your account until the next business day, but Zip considers the payment made on the due date itself. If the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, Zip typically processes the payment on the next business day, though the due date does not shift.
Changing your payment method or account
If you want Zip to pull from a different bank account or card, go to your account settings and update your payment method. The change takes effect for the next scheduled payment. Zip will not re-attempt a failed payment from an old account; it moves forward with the new method.
If your linked account or card is closed or expired, Zip will try to charge it anyway on the due date. The payment will fail. Update your payment method as soon as you know your old account is no longer available. The sooner you update it, the sooner Zip can pull the next payment successfully.
What autopay means for your budget
Autopay is convenient because you do not have to remember to pay, but it also means money leaves your account on a fixed schedule whether you are ready or not. If you have multiple Zip purchases, each one has its own payment schedule. You need to track when each payment is due so you do not overdraft your account.
Some people turn off autopay and pay manually so they have more control over when money leaves their account. Others keep autopay on but set a phone reminder a few days before the due date to make sure the funds are there. Either way, the responsibility is yours to may support the payment does not fail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pause an autopay payment if I do not have the money right now?
Some Zip accounts allow you to request a payment extension or pause before the due date. Contact Zip through the app or website to ask about your options. If you wait until after the payment fails, you will likely owe a late fee and have fewer options available.
Does Zip send a reminder before autopay takes the payment?
Zip does not send a mandatory reminder before the payment is deducted. You can set your own phone reminder or calendar alert. Some Zip users receive email notifications, but these are not may provide and should not be your only way of tracking when payments are due.
What if I want to pay off my Zip purchase early?
You can pay more than the scheduled amount at any time through your Zip account. Paying early reduces the total amount you owe and may shorten your payment schedule. Autopay will continue on the original schedule unless you manually adjust it or pay the full balance.
Will a failed autopay payment hurt my credit score?
Zip does not report to the three major credit bureaus for on-time payments, so a single missed payment typically does not show up on your credit report. However, repeated failures or accounts sent to collections may be reported. Your Zip payment history affects whether Zip lets you borrow again in the future.
Can I set up autopay if I turned it off?
Yes. Go to your purchase details and toggle autopay back on. Zip will resume automatic payments on your next scheduled due date. Make sure your linked payment method is current and has sufficient funds before you re-enable it.