Skip to main content

Search

Welcome to Support

Why doesn't a coupon discount an add-on fee? (use a Misc - Credit)

Coupons only lower the registration fee. They never apply to add-on fees, such as a mandatory volunteer fee or a uniform, so a coupon for the add-on's amount comes off the registration fee instead. To waive an add-on fee for someone, give them a Misc - Credit for that amount.

Applies to: Admins · All plans · Programs with add-ons (Buy Items/Add-Ons)

Where: Customers > Account Management > Search > (customer) > Add Transaction

What a coupon does to an order with an add-on

  • The discount is taken from the registration fee of each eligible registration: a percent of that fee, or a fixed amount.
  • Add-ons in the same order are charged in full.
  • A registration fee never goes below $0. If the coupon is larger than the fee (for example, a free registration with a paid add-on), the rest of the discount is lost.

This is how coupons work, not an error.

Waive an add-on fee before the person registers

For example, board members and coaches who shouldn't pay a mandatory volunteer fee:

  1. Go to Programs > Configurations > General and check that Apply Credit is Yes. If you change it, click Save.
  2. Go to Customers > Account Management > Search and find the person. If they don't have an account yet, click Add Account to create one.
  3. Click the person's name to open Account Overview, then click Add Transaction.
  4. In Transaction Type, choose Misc - Credit.
  5. Enter the Amount of the add-on fee you're waiving.
  6. Optional: add Comments, such as "Board member volunteer fee waived". The person can see them.
  7. Click Add.
  8. Ask the person to register. At checkout they check Yes, apply my account credit to this order.

What you'll see: the credit pays the add-on, and the person pays only the rest of the order.

Waive it after they've registered, or when you place the order

  • The add-on is already owed: add the Misc - Credit as in steps 2 to 7. When a list of unpaid items appears below the amount, enter the credit in Amount To Apply on the add-on's row so it's matched to that charge.
  • You're placing the order for them: admin checkout has no box to apply a credit. Add the Misc - Credit first; the Checkout page then shows "Available account credit". Enter only what the person pays now in Amount Paid, and the credit covers the add-on.
  • They already paid for the add-on: cancel the add-on on the order and refund it instead. See the partial refund article below.

If it doesn't work

  • The add-on is still charged after a coupon. Expected: coupons don't discount add-ons. Use a Misc - Credit.
  • "The coupon code "(code)" is not valid for any of the items in your order." The order has no registration in the coupon's program and offerings, for example an add-on bought on its own.
  • The person doesn't see the credit box at checkout. Apply Credit is set to No, or the account has no credit left because the person owes another amount.
  • "Amount required." Enter an amount greater than $0 on Add Transaction.
  • "Applied amount is greater than the reconcile balance." An Amount To Apply is more than what's still owed on that row.

Good to know

  • To waive both the registration fee and add-ons, for example for a scholarship, use a coupon (or an assigned coupon) for the registration fee and a Misc - Credit for the add-ons.
  • A credit that isn't used stays on the account for the next order.
  • The companion article How to discount a registration fee (coupon or Misc - Credit) compares the two and lists every coupon message.

Related articles