SMS Credits

The SMS Credits feature allows administrators to monitor their SMS credit balance, view usage warnings, and purchase additional credits directly through an integrated payment system.

Overview

The SMS Credits module provides:

• Real-time credit balance monitoring
• Low balance warnings
• Credit expiry tracking
• Instant credit purchasing via Netcash Pay Now
• Automated email notifications for top-ups

Accessing SMS Credits

1. Navigate to the Admin Dashboard
2. Select SMS Portal
3. Click the Credits tab

You will see an overview of your current SMS credit status.

Credit Balance Overview

The Credits page displays three key information cards:

Balance Metrics

Metric	Description
Remaining	Current available SMS credits
Expires	Credit expiration date (currently N/A)
Warning Threshold	Minimum credit level before low balance alert

Low Balance Warning

When your remaining credits fall below the warning threshold:

• A red alert message appears: "Low balance — top up soon."
• This helps ensure uninterrupted SMS campaign delivery

Purchasing SMS Credits

Opening the Purchase Interface

1. Click the Buy Credits button in the top-right corner
2. The purchase panel will expand below

Entering Credit Amount

1. Enter the number of credits you wish to purchase in the Number of Credits field
2. Minimum purchase: 1 credit
3. The payment summary updates automatically as you type

Payment Summary

The system displays a real-time calculation breakdown:

Field	Description
Subtotal (excl. VAT)	Credit cost before tax
VAT (%)	Value-added tax amount
Total	Final amount to pay (incl. VAT)

All amounts are displayed in South African Rand (R).

Completing the Purchase

1. Review the payment summary
2. Click Proceed to Payment
3. You will be redirected to the Netcash Pay Now payment gateway
4. Complete the payment process
5. Upon successful payment:
   • Credits are added to your account automatically
   • A confirmation email is sent
   • Your credit balance updates immediately

Transaction Reference

Each purchase generates a unique transaction ID in the format:

SMS-TOPUP-YYYYMMDDHHMMSSMMM

This reference is stored for tracking and reconciliation purposes.

How Credits Are Used

• Each SMS sent consumes 1 credit (for messages up to 160 characters)
• Messages longer than 160 characters may consume multiple credits
• Failed messages may still consume credits depending on provider rules
• Credits are deducted in real-time as campaigns run

Credit Management

Session Tracking

The system tracks:

• Order reference number
• Credit amount requested
• Payment status

This information is stored in the browser session during the purchase process.

Email Notifications

After a successful top-up:

• A confirmation email is sent to the registered contact
• The email includes transaction details and updated balance

⚠️ Important Notes

• Ensure sufficient credits before scheduling campaigns
• Monitor the warning threshold regularly
• Top up before credits run out to avoid campaign interruptions
• Payment processing is handled securely through Netcash Pay Now
• VAT is calculated automatically based on current tax rates

✅ Best Practices

• Set up alerts for low credit warnings
• Purchase credits in bulk to reduce transaction frequency
• Monitor credit usage patterns to predict future needs
• Keep contact email updated for top-up notifications
• Review the payment summary carefully before proceeding
• Maintain a buffer above the warning threshold for emergency campaigns

🔒 Payment Security

• All payments are processed through Netcash Pay Now, a secure PCI-compliant payment gateway
• No credit card information is stored in the system
• Each transaction has a unique reference for tracking
• Payment confirmations are sent immediately after successful processing