Separate deposit from consumption
A deposit adds account balance; an order consumes part of it. Record the amount paid outside the panel, the credited balance, and the amount deducted for the selected service. These are three different figures, especially when a payment method includes a disclosed fee.
Allocate shared costs consistently
If one deposit pays for several orders, decide how to allocate its funding cost. A proportional allocation based on order spend is easier to explain than attaching the entire fee to the first purchase. Apply the same method when comparing suppliers.
Check the final charge
Review any minimum payment amount or separate order charge before funding. Do not assume the advertised rate includes every cost or that a remaining account balance can be withdrawn. Keep the quoted rate and checkout amount together.
Decision checklist
| Decision | What to check |
|---|---|
| Payment | External amount paid |
| Balance | Amount credited |
| Order | Amount consumed |
Worked example
In a hypothetical deposit, paying $21 produces $20 of balance. A $4 order uses one fifth of that balance, so allocating one fifth of the $1 funding cost gives an effective cost of $4.20.
Example figures explain the decision; they are not current prices or promised results.