# Automated Top-Ups

## Enabling Automated Top-Ups[​](#enabling-automated-top-ups "Direct link to Enabling Automated Top-Ups")

Your API Key requires a prepurchased balance to function. Your API Key balance must be topped up to continue working.

It is possible to remove the manual aspect of topping up by enabling Automated Top-Ups. If you leave your payment information with us, we can top-up your API Key when your balance runs low and keep you notified.

When enabled, we will start a top-up when your balance falls to 10% of your plan volume, i.e. if your plan volume is 2,000, we will attempt to bill you when you reach 200 lookups.

We dispatch notifications when an automated top-up attempt takes place.

### Good to Know[​](#good-to-know "Direct link to Good to Know")

* An automated Top-Up may only take place once per day
* We contact only the email addresses on your API Key notification list
* You can enable automated invoice forwarding from your [account page](https://ideal-postcodes.co.uk/account)

## Balance Expiry[​](#balance-expiry "Direct link to Balance Expiry")

For data licensing reasons, each lookup batch expires 12 months from first use.

We will notify you and attempt a pre-emptive automated top-up when your balance is within 6 weeks of expiring. We do this to surface any payment issues before your API Key balance falls to 0.

## Which Plan Should You Choose?[​](#which-plan-should-you-choose "Direct link to Which Plan Should You Choose?")

We offer bulk tiers for Automated Top-Ups. Specific costings are available on [our pricing options](https://ideal-postcodes.co.uk/pricing).

Since each batch lasts 12 months from first use, we recommend aiming to procure 6-9 months in advance.

Our [lookup guide](https://ideal-postcodes.co.uk/guides/what-is-a-lookup) explains what kind of search affects your lookup balance.

## How to Enable Automated Top-Ups[​](#how-to-enable-automated-top-ups "Direct link to How to Enable Automated Top-Ups")

To set up automated transactions, follow the steps below:

1. Add and save your payment details on the billing page. The `Billing` tab can be found on the left sidebar on the dashboard.
2. At the bottom of the page, you will find a section where you are required to add the plan and select the payment method from the drop-down.
3. To confirm the automated top-up, click on `Enable`.

![Enable Automated Top-Ups-screenshot](https://img.ideal-postcodes.co.uk/enable-topup-plan-screenshot.jpg)

[Contact us](https://ideal-postcodes.co.uk/support) if you need more information or support.