๐ณ How the Credit System Works
Smile Checks uses a prepaid credit system. Your company purchases credits in advance and uses them to pay for background checks. There are no per-check invoices โ just a simple credit balance you draw from.
๐ The Credit Lifecycle
- Purchase Credits โ An Owner or Administrator buys a credit package. Credits are added to the company's Available Credits.
- Submit a Check Request โ When a check request is confirmed, credits are moved from Available to Pending. They are reserved but not yet fully consumed.
- Checks Complete โ As individual checks are finished, credits are consumed (deducted from Pending).
- Refunds for Missed Reports โ If a check closes without all reports being completed, unused credits are automatically refunded back to Available.
๐ Available vs. Pending Credits
| Credit Type | What It Means |
|---|
| โ
Available Credits | Credits ready to be used for new check requests |
| โณ Pending Credits | Credits reserved for active (in-progress) check requests |
โ
Credit Validation
Before you can confirm a check request, the system checks that you have enough Available Credits to cover the total cost. If you don't have enough:
- The request will not be submitted
- You'll see a message prompting you to purchase more credits
- An Owner or Administrator will need to buy credits before you can proceed
๐ Low Credit Alerts
The system automatically sends a warning email to all Owners and Administrators when the company's credit balance is running low. Keep an eye out for these alerts so you're never caught short.
๐ Viewing Credit History
Owners and Administrators can view a full credit transaction log under Credit Orders in the sidebar. This shows every credit purchase, deduction, and refund with timestamps.
๐ก Tip: As a Verifier or Manager, you can see if there are enough credits by checking the credit balance shown during check request creation (Step 2). If the balance is 0, contact your Owner or Administrator for a top-up.
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