#shayau_api
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gaunt horizon
👋 Hi there. They can have a payment method saved as default, which will be used for paying for invoices on Subscriptions, but this can be set during the Subscription creation process if you wish. Some info about how we choose the payment method here: https://docs.stripe.com/billing/subscriptions/payment-methods-setting#payment-method-priority
Are you running into a particular issue related to setting the payment method or accepting payment?
placid iris
Thanks for your reply!
Not exactly an issue. I was just wondering if it’s possible to charge a customer on a subscription without having to set one of their existing payment methods as the default.
We’re creating subscriptions on behalf of Connect accounts, so I’d like to make as few edits to the customer as possible.
gaunt horizon
When creating a Subscription Schedule, you can attach a payment method with default_settings.default_payment_method param: https://docs.stripe.com/api/subscription_schedules/create?api-version=2025-09-30.preview#create_subscription_schedule-default_settings-default_payment_method
placid iris
So if I understand correctly this can be any pm_ id, it doesn't have to be set as default on the customer, correct?
gaunt horizon
Yes, that's correct
placid iris
Thanks
So last question: if I’m updating subscription schedules via the API, where in the Dashboard can I view the current structure of the subscription_schedule object so I can confirm later that the update went through correctly?
For example, I'm looking at sub_sched_1SJwmhE1YniwnZJsf1qF38hj where can I see that currently no payment method is specified?
gaunt horizon
Is there a specific change that you'd want to verify?
In general though, you would just verify by looking at the response object to your update request
Or perhaps have a webhook endpoint that listens for subscription_schedule.updated events
cloud sable
Hey, taking over here. Let me know if there's any follow-up Qs I can answer!
placid iris
Thanks!
I have a follow-up question: where should default_payment_method be specified?
At the top level of the subscription_schedule object, or inside the phases object?
I see both mentioned in the docs and I’m not sure what is the difference between them
cloud sable
You can set a 'default' for the schedule, which will apply to all phases, via this param: https://docs.stripe.com/api/subscription_schedules/create#create_subscription_schedule-default_settings-default_payment_method
Otherwise you can set it on a per-phase basis via phases[][default_payment_method] and that takes precdence over the top-level default