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Collection links

Updated

This article covers the following topics:

How do collection links work?

Web portal:

  1. Log in: Sign in to your Crowded account and go to the "Collections" section in the main navigation bar.

  2. Create a Collection: Click on "Create collection" and then enter the individual contribution amount you're seeking from each payer. If you would like to collect an open amount, leave the field open. Hit "Next" to proceed.

  3. Covering Processing Fees: If you'd like your payers to handle processing fees, tick the corresponding checkbox. For card payments, payers are charged an additional 2.99% with a min of 60¢, and for ACH, the charge is the lesser of 2.99% and $5 with a min of 60 ¢. If not selected, processing fees will be subtracted from your collection amount.

  4. Choose a Name: Provide a clear and descriptive collection name to indicate its purpose. Then, click "Next."

  5. Sharing Your Link: Your collection link is now ready to be shared! Copy the link or QR code and distribute it to your contacts. Or, if you have contacts registered in the system, you can select them to send the collection link directly via email.

  6. Payment Completion: Your contacts will fill in their personal and payment details to complete the collection. If it is an open collection, they will choose their desired payment amount at this time. Contacts can also choose to pay multiples of the collection amount.

  7. Viewing Payments: Once you start receiving payments, you can track and manage them within your collections dashboard. 

How do I share a collection?

Now that you've created your collection, it's time to let others know about it! Your payers won't be able to find your collection by going to bankingcrowded.com. Instead, you have a few simple ways to share it:

Three Ways to Share Your Collection:

  1. Share Your Unique URL: In the share step, copy your unique URL and share it with your group or community through your usual communication channels, like emails or messages. 
  2. Send Crowded Email Invitations: In the share step, send an email invitation with your collection link to Crowded contacts (you can filter your contacts using Crowded's Tags feature). If you choose this option, you'll be able to view payments made by each of your contacts in your collections dashboard.
  3. Generate a QR Code: In the share step, click "Share a QR Code" to download a JPEG version of your code. QR codes are useful for putting on flyers, emails, or promotional materials, making it simple for others to access your collection.

You can share your link at any time by navigating to the "Collections" tab from the main Crowded dashboard.

How can I email a collection link to my contacts?

To send an email with a collection link to your contacts via Crowded, follow these steps:

  1. Register Contacts: Ensure your contacts are registered on Crowded.
    1. If they are not registered, go to the "Contacts" section in the main navigation bar and click on "Invite Contacts."
    2. Share your unique invite link with your contacts for them to register themselves or upload a CSV with their contact information for instant registration.
  2. Select Contacts: Once your contacts are registered, you can send them the collection link directly.
    1. For an existing collection, click the downward-facing arrow next to the collection name, then choose "Share," followed by "Email Contacts."
    2. Crowded will automatically send them an email containing the collection link.

What payment methods are supported for collection links?

Using a collection link, you can accept payments through:

  • Credit card
  • Debit card
  • Apple Pay 
  • ACH transfers (connect to a bank account through the Plaid network)

For check payments, please ask your payers to provide either a physical copy of the check or images of the front and back of the check for mobile check deposit. Then, manually mark that contact as paid in the collection for tracking.

If a contact hands you cash in person, or pays through POS, you can mark that contact manually as paid in the collection.

How long does it take for incoming collection link payments to process?

The processing time for incoming collection link payments can vary and can take up to 3-5 business days, depending on the payment method the payer uses.

If you find that you haven't received the funds within this timeframe, please don't hesitate to contact our support team for assistance.

When a payment is marked as "Pending" on your collection tracking screen, it indicates that the payment has been initiated and is currently being processed (this status should change to "Paid" within 3-5 business days).

Where can I find my past collections?

You can access your previous collections by navigating to the "Collections" tab and locating the archive section at the bottom of the screen.

Simply click on "See archive" to review all the details of your previous payments and payer information.

Be aware that expired collections will not be able to process new payments. If you have any pending payments, we recommend creating a new collection link and sharing it with the individuals who still need to pay.

 

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