# Choose the card a subscription charges > The portal.subscriptions.set_payment_method operation: POST /api/v1/portal/me/subscriptions/{subscriptionId}/payment_method in the REST API and the portal_subscriptions_set_payment_method tool in the MCP server. Sets which of the signed-in customer's saved cards a card-charged subscription charges (`null`: the customer's default card). A past-due invoice of the subscription is retried with it at once. Add cards with `portal.payment_methods.setup`. Customer portal only (`portal:write`). ## At a glance - **REST:** `POST /api/v1/portal/me/subscriptions/{subscriptionId}/payment_method` - **MCP tool:** `portal_subscriptions_set_payment_method` - **Operation ID:** `portal.subscriptions.set_payment_method` - **Scope:** Brand - **Permission:** `portal:write` - **Risk tier:** `write` - **Dry run:** Not supported - **Idempotency:** `Idempotency-Key` required - **Modes:** Test and live - **Authentication:** A customer signed in to the customer portal (API keys can't call it) - **Since:** M9 ## Request ### Path parameters | Field | Type | Description | | ---------------- | ---------- | ------------------------------------ | | `subscriptionId` | `sub_…` ID | One of your subscriptions (`sub_…`). | ### Body A JSON object (`Content-Type: application/json`): | Field | Type | Required | Description | | ----------------- | ----------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `paymentMethodId` | `pm_…` ID or null | Yes | One of your saved payment methods (`pm_…`), or null to charge your default one. | ## Response `200 OK` with a JSON object: | Field | Type | Description | | -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `id` | `sub_…` ID | | | `object` | `"portal_subscription"` | | | `status` | one of `incomplete`, `incomplete_expired`, `trialing`, `active`, `past_due`, `unpaid`, `paused`, `canceled` | | | `currency` | string | | | `items` | array of object | | | `items[].priceId` | `price_…` ID | | | `items[].productId` | `prod_…` ID | | | `items[].productName` | string | | | `items[].priceName` | string or null | The price's nickname, e.g. “Pro, monthly”. | | `items[].interval` | object | | | `items[].interval.interval` | one of `day`, `week`, `month`, `year` | | | `items[].interval.intervalCount` | integer | | | `items[].usageType` | one of `licensed`, `metered` | | | `items[].unitAmount` | money or null | A per-unit price's amount per unit and period (null for tiered and metered prices). | | `items[].taxBehavior` | one of `inclusive`, `exclusive` | `exclusive`: tax is added on the invoice. | | `items[].id` | `si_…` ID | | | `items[].quantity` | integer | | | `items[].amount` | money or null | The item's full-period amount at its quantity, before discounts (null for metered items). | | `collectionMethod` | one of `charge_automatically`, `send_invoice` | `charge_automatically` (your card is charged) or `send_invoice` (paid by bank transfer). | | `paymentMethodId` | `pm_…` ID or null | The card this subscription charges (null: your default card). | | `currentPeriodStart` | date-time | | | `currentPeriodEnd` | date-time | | | `trialEnd` | date-time or null | | | `cancelAtPeriodEnd` | boolean | | | `cancelAt` | date-time or null | | | `canceledAt` | date-time or null | | | `endedAt` | date-time or null | | | `cancellation` | object or null | | | `discounts` | array of object | | | `discounts[].id` | `disc_…` ID | | | `discounts[].name` | string | The coupon's name. | | `discounts[].percentOffPpm` | string or null | Parts per million as a string (20% = "200000"). | | `discounts[].amountOff` | money or null | | | `discounts[].start` | date-time | | | `discounts[].end` | date-time or null | When it stops applying (null: for as long as the subscription runs). | | `scheduledChange` | object or null | A change that applies at `effectiveAt` (a downgrade waits for the period end). | | `actions` | object | What you can do with this subscription now, as the brand's portal settings allow. | | `actions.switch_plan` | boolean | | | `actions.change_quantity` | boolean | | | `actions.apply_promotion_code` | boolean | | | `actions.cancel` | boolean | | | `actions.reactivate` | boolean | | | `actions.change_payment_method` | boolean | | | `cancelBehavior` | one of `period_end`, `immediate` | How cancelling here ends the subscription. | | `collectCancelReason` | boolean | Cancelling asks why (optional answers). | | `version` | integer | Send it back as `expectedVersion` to change what you saw. | | `createdAt` | date-time | | ## Examples ### Charge the new card ```http POST /api/v1/portal/me/subscriptions/sub_01m4tx5nj8emwbyf7y9vcf48c0/payment_method Authorization: Bearer or_test_… Idempotency-Key: 3f1c9a52-7d0e-4b8f-9a61-0c2d5e8b7f14 Content-Type: application/json { "paymentMethodId": "pm_01m4tx5nj8emwbyf7y9vcf48cb" } ``` Response (`200`): ```json { "id": "sub_01m4tx5nj8emwbyf7y9vcf48c0", "object": "portal_subscription", "status": "active", "currency": "EUR", "items": [ { "priceId": "price_01m4tx5nj8emwbyf7y9vcf48c2", "productId": "prod_01m4tx5nj8emwbyf7y9vcf48c4", "productName": "Genno Plus", "priceName": "Plus, monthly", "interval": { "interval": "month", "intervalCount": 1 }, "usageType": "licensed", "unitAmount": { "amount": "9000000", "currency": "EUR" }, "taxBehavior": "inclusive", "id": "si_01m4tx5nj8emwbyf7y9vcf48c1", "quantity": 1, "amount": { "amount": "9000000", "currency": "EUR" } } ], "collectionMethod": "charge_automatically", "paymentMethodId": "pm_01m4tx5nj8emwbyf7y9vcf48cb", "currentPeriodStart": "2026-10-20T09:00:00.000Z", "currentPeriodEnd": "2026-11-20T10:00:00.000Z", "trialEnd": null, "cancelAtPeriodEnd": false, "cancelAt": null, "canceledAt": null, "endedAt": null, "cancellation": null, "discounts": [], "scheduledChange": null, "actions": { "switch_plan": true, "change_quantity": false, "apply_promotion_code": true, "cancel": true, "reactivate": false, "change_payment_method": true }, "cancelBehavior": "period_end", "collectCancelReason": true, "version": 5, "createdAt": "2026-09-20T09:00:00.000Z" } ``` ## Errors | Code | HTTP status | When | What to do | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [`validation_failed`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#validation_failed) | 400 | An ID is malformed. | Fix the fields listed in `details.issues` and send the request again. | | [`resource_not_found`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#resource_not_found) | 404 | You have no such subscription (another customer's reads the same). | Check the ID and that your credentials are scoped to the right organization, entity, brand and mode. | | [`portal_action_not_allowed`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#portal_action_not_allowed) | 403 | The brand's portal settings or the subscription's state don't allow choosing a card: the subscription is paid by bank transfer or has ended (`details.action`). | The brand's portal settings don't allow it for this subscription now (`details.action`): contact the brand. | | [`subscription_payment_method_invalid`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#subscription_payment_method_invalid) | 400 | The payment method isn't one of your saved, usable cards. | Use a saved payment method (`pm_…`) of the subscription's customer that isn't detached, or leave it out to use the customer's default. | | [`livemode_not_allowed`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#livemode_not_allowed) | 403 | The portal session is in the other mode than the request. | Use test mode, or credentials for the target's mode. Developers need live access granted by an organization owner or admin. | | [`permission_denied`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#permission_denied) | 403 | The caller isn't a customer signed in to this brand's portal (operators and API keys use the subscription and wallet operations). | Ask an organization owner or admin for a role or scope that allows this action. | It can also return these [common errors](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference.md#common-errors): [`api_version_unsupported`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#api_version_unsupported), [`invalid_json`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#invalid_json), [`unsupported_media_type`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#unsupported_media_type), [`authentication_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#authentication_required), [`api_key_invalid`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#api_key_invalid), [`scope_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#scope_required), [`idempotency_key_required`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#idempotency_key_required), [`idempotency_key_reused`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#idempotency_key_reused), [`idempotency_in_progress`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#idempotency_in_progress), [`dry_run_not_supported`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#dry_run_not_supported), [`rate_limited`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#rate_limited), [`internal_error`](https://ownrecord.io/docs/reference/errors.md#internal_error).