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

# Credits

> How credits work, how to buy them, and how to track usage.

Need Alert dispatches are paid with **prepaid credits**. There's no monthly fee and no surprise bill: you only use credits when you notify someone, and you see the cost before confirming.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Viewing the balance and buying credits requires the **Manage billing** permission. The owner always has it.

## How it works

* **1 credit = 1 person notified.** A dispatch to an item with 40 subscribers uses 40 credits.
* **The balance belongs to the chain.** All units share the same balance.
* **Welcome bonus.** When you create your first establishment, your chain gets credits to try things out.
* **Credits don't expire.** The balance stays available until you use it.
* **Charged at dispatch.** The cost is calculated and charged when the alert is sent. An item with no subscribers costs nothing.

Your current balance shows at the top of the dashboard and in each unit's **Credits** section.

## Buy credits

**1. Open Credits and pick a package**

Under **Credit packages**, each package shows how many credits it includes, its price, and the cost per 1,000 notifications, so you can compare them. The packages on sale depend on your chain's region.

**2. Pay on Stripe**

Click **Buy**. You're taken to Stripe's checkout, in the currency of your chain's country. Payment methods depend on the country: card everywhere, Pix in Brazil.

**3. Come back to Need Alert**

When you return, the page shows "Confirming the payment…". This usually takes a few seconds. Once the payment is confirmed, the credits are added to the balance.

If you give up on Stripe, the payment fails, or the session expires, **nothing is charged**. If the payment is still processing, you can close the page: the credits are added as soon as it's confirmed.

## Statement and purchases

The **Statement** tab lists every balance movement, with date, description, amount, and the balance after it. The types are:

| Type | When it appears |
| - | - |
| **Purchase** | A paid package was added to the balance. |
| **Consumption** | A dispatch used credits. |
| **Bonus** | Complimentary credits, such as the welcome bonus. |
| **Refund** | A purchase was refunded. |
| **Refund reversed** | A refund wasn't completed by Stripe and the credits returned to the balance. |
| **Manual adjustment** | A correction made by Need Alert support. |

The **Purchases** tab lists the packages bought and each payment's status: **Awaiting payment**, **Paid**, **Failed**, **Expired**, or **Refunded**.

## Keep a dispatch from failing for lack of credits

* Before each dispatch, the cost is shown on screen. If the balance doesn't cover it, the dispatch isn't sent and you see how much is missing.
* For scheduled dispatches, you get a [warning about 2 hours ahead](https://docs.needalert.app/en/establishments/schedule-alerts.md#balance-warning-before-the-dispatch) when the balance doesn't cover the estimate.


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