Card Account Updater (CAU) is a service designed to keep saved customer credit and debit card information up to date. When a card changes due to expiration, loss, theft, or bank-initiated updates, CAU automatically checks for updated card details and applies them when available.
By keeping stored card information up to date, CAU helps reduce failed transactions, minimizes payment interruptions, and decreases the need for manual follow-ups with clients.
How CAU works
CAU continuously works in the background to check stored cards against updates provided by supported card networks and issuing banks. When an update is available, the new card information is returned and applied automatically.
CAU is typically triggered when banks issue replacement cards or modify existing card details. This allows recurring payments and saved cards to continue functioning without requiring action from the cardholder.
CAU supports Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
Enabling or disabling CAU
CAU is disabled by default.
Merchants must subscribe to the service. To enable or disable CAU on your WellnessLiving account, contact merchant@wellnessliving.com. The WellnessLiving team confirms eligibility and assists with activation or deactivation as needed.
Pricing and fees
CAU pricing includes both a monthly fee and a per-item fee:
Monthly fee: $35.00 USD per month
Per-item fee: $0.75 USD per item
The per-item fee applies in the following situations:
When CAU successfully returns an updated card.
When CAU performs its first check on a saved card, even when no update is required.
This initial check occurs once per saved card. For example, when a card is imported into Paragon from a third-party system, CAU performs a first-time check. Even when the card details are already current, the $0.75 USD per-item fee applies once and then is only billed the per-item fee when the card is updated.
CAU billing timeline
CAU charges are billed on two different schedules:
Monthly fee: Billed one month in advance for the upcoming month.
Per-item fees: Billed two months after the CAU performs a check on a card and it’s eligible for the per-item billing.
For example, when 10 CAU per-item checks occur in January, the total per-item charge of $7.50 USD is billed in March.
When card details are updated
CAU may update stored card details in several scenarios, including but not limited to:
A card has expired and the bank issues a replacement.
A card is reissued due to loss or theft.
The card number changes as part of a bank replacement.
The issuing bank updates or extends the expiration date.
When supported by both the card network and issuing bank, updated card details are returned automatically.
For cards updated through CAU, the last four digits of the card and the expiration date are updated in the client’s billing information within WellnessLiving.
When card details can't be updated
CAU updates aren’t guaranteed. A card may not update when:
The issuing bank doesn’t participate in CAU programs.
The card network doesn’t support updates for that card type.
The cardholder or bank has fully closed the account.
The card is replaced with a completely new account that isn’t linked to the original card.
The issuing bank declines to provide updated card information.
In these cases, the client must manually provide new payment details to continue payments.
Updates within WellnessLiving
When CAU successfully returns updated card information, the changes are automatically reflected in the client’s billing profile in WellnessLiving. This ensures that future transactions use the most current card details available without requiring staff or client action.
Additional important information
Cardholders aren’t notified when their card details are updated through CAU.
CAU operates automatically in the background.
CAU helps reduce declined transactions but doesn’t eliminate all payment failures.
No action is required from clients when updates occur.
For any questions about eligibility, pricing, or activation, contact merchant@wellnessliving.com.