Invoicing & Payments · updated 2026-08-16

How to charge a card on file in Dumpster Controls

When a customer has paid online before, Stripe can keep their card securely saved. You can then settle an unpaid invoice by charging that card directly, after an explicit authorization confirmation.

Before you start

A connected Stripe account.
A customer with a saved card (saved securely by Stripe from a previous online payment).
The customer's authorization to charge the card.

## Find the charge button
On an unpaid order where a card is on file, a "Charge Card" button appears showing the last four digits of the saved card. In Order History the action is labeled "Charge Card on File".
## Review the confirmation
The "Charge card on file" dialog warns: "Review carefully: this will charge the customer's saved card immediately." It shows the card and the exact amount to charge.
## Acknowledge responsibility
Check the confirmations stating you have authorization from the customer and that you understand the charge is final and immediate, and that you take responsibility for any chargebacks or disputes.
## Charge
Click "Charge". A confirmation shows the card that was charged.

What happens next

The invoice is marked paid and the payment appears on the Your Money page.
The customer receives their receipt by email.

Troubleshooting

The charge failed or the card was declined.

A "Charge failed" message shows the reason. Send a payment link instead so the customer can pay with another card.

I do not see any charge button.

Two possible reasons: your company has not connected Stripe yet (card charging requires it; a "Get paid online by card" invitation appears in its place), or the customer has no saved card. Cards are saved securely by Stripe when a customer pays online for the first time; until then, use "Send Payment Link" or send the invoice without a link.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Is Dumpster Controls really free?

Yes. The software is free: dispatch, online booking, the driver app, invoicing, the Tresha AI assistant and every other feature, with no monthly fee, no trial period and no credit card to sign up. The only cost on the free plan is optional card processing when a customer pays by card through the platform: 2.99% plus $3.99 per transaction on the free plan. An optional Unlimited plan at $169 per month lowers that to 2.99% plus $0.30. Prices as published on dumpstercontrols.io/pricing on 2026-09-23.

Do you charge per driver, per truck or per order?

No. There is no per-driver, per-truck, per-user or per-order fee, and no order limit. A company with one truck and a company with twenty pay the same for the software: nothing.

Is there a contract?

No. There is no contract, no minimum term and no setup fee. You create the account yourself, and on the free plan there is nothing to cancel because nothing is billed. The optional Unlimited plan is billed month to month.

Which countries and languages are supported?

Dumpster Controls serves hauling companies in the United States and Canada. The app interface and the Tresha AI assistant are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The public pages, such as the blog, the help center and the landfill finder, are in English.

How do I switch from another dumpster software?

Create a free account at dumpstercontrols.io/login, with no sales call and no credit card. Then import your customers from a CSV file using the template provided in the app; past orders can also be imported from a CSV. Container sizes and pricing are set up in Settings. The landfill database, with 1,750 active US and Canadian landfills as counted on 2026-10-01, is already loaded, so disposal sites do not need to be typed in. Step-by-step guides are at dumpstercontrols.io/help.