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

# Requesting payment in conversations

> Send payment request links directly inside any conversation channel — SMS, email, WhatsApp, Instagram, or Facebook Messenger — in HoopAI.

You can request payment from a contact without leaving the conversation. HoopAI lets you send a payment link directly through any connected channel — SMS, email, WhatsApp, Instagram DM, or Facebook Messenger — so collecting payment becomes part of the natural conversation flow.

***

## How to send a payment request

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the conversation">
    Navigate to **Conversations** and open the contact you want to charge.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select your channel">
    Choose the channel you want to send the payment request through (SMS, email, WhatsApp, Instagram, or Facebook).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click the dollar sign icon">
    Click the **\$** (dollar sign) icon in the message toolbar to open the payment request panel.

    <Frame caption="Payment request icon in the message toolbar">
      <img src="https://mintcdn.com/hoopai-84ec0cdc/6wlH0ZEykyQqefII/images/conversations-sms-window.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=6wlH0ZEykyQqefII&q=85&s=c0465e24ac1f11501148385f720519e8" alt="Payment request icon" width="1114" height="584" data-path="images/conversations-sms-window.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in the invoice details">
    Complete the fields in the payment request dialog:

    * **Product or service name** — what you are charging for
    * **Amount** — the dollar amount to collect
    * **Currency** — defaults to your account currency
    * **Description** (optional) — additional context for the contact
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy or send the link">
    * Click **Copy Link** to paste the payment link into your message manually.
    * Or click **Send** to insert the payment link directly into the message box.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send your message">
    Add any accompanying message text and click **Send**. The contact receives a clickable payment link that takes them to a hosted checkout page.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Supported channels

Payment requests can be sent through any channel where the dollar sign icon appears:

| Channel            | Payment request supported |
| ------------------ | ------------------------- |
| SMS                | Yes                       |
| Email              | Yes                       |
| WhatsApp           | Yes                       |
| Instagram DM       | Yes                       |
| Facebook Messenger | Yes                       |
| Web Chat Widget    | Yes                       |

***

## How it works for the contact

When your contact receives the message, they see a payment link. Clicking it opens a secure hosted checkout page where they can enter their card details and complete the payment. You receive a notification when payment is completed, and the contact's record is updated automatically.

<Frame caption="Activity card showing a completed payment in the conversation thread">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/hoopai-84ec0cdc/8FGj810UxB7VtpfO/images/conversations-activity-invoice.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=8FGj810UxB7VtpfO&q=85&s=3438ee80815ae69b92e33e23e3311d31" alt="Payment activity card" width="693" height="179" data-path="images/conversations-activity-invoice.png" />
</Frame>

***

## Tracking payment status

After sending a payment request:

* An **Activity Card** appears in the conversation thread showing the invoice status.
* When the contact pays, the status updates to **Paid** and a new Activity Card is logged.
* You can also view all payment activity in the **Payments** tab of the contact record.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can I send multiple payment requests in the same conversation?">
    Yes. Each payment request generates its own unique link. You can send as many as needed in a single conversation, and each is tracked separately.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What payment processors are supported?">
    Payment collection relies on your connected payment processor (Stripe, PayPal, or another supported integration). Configure your payment integration in **Settings → Payments** before sending payment requests.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can the contact pay later?">
    Yes. The payment link stays active until the invoice is paid or manually voided. Contacts can open it at any time from any device.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is there a fee for using payment requests in conversations?">
    Standard payment processor fees apply. HoopAI does not charge an additional fee for sending payment requests through conversations.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>