What happens if I exceed my billing threshold in Facebook Ads?

If you exceed your billing threshold in Facebook Ads, Facebook will automatically charge your payment method for the amount that exceeds the threshold. This is part of how Facebook handles postpay accounts, where you are billed after spending a certain amount on ads.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of what happens when you exceed your billing threshold:

1. Automatic Payment Triggered
Once your ad spend reaches the billing threshold (the preset amount in your payment settings), Facebook will charge your payment method automatically to cover the cost.

The charge will be processed to your credit card, PayPal, or whatever payment method you have linked to your account.

2. Billing Cycle
After exceeding the billing threshold, Facebook will process the payment immediately. This ensures that you can continue running ads without interruption.

Your billing cycle (which is based on the threshold) could reset each time Facebook makes a charge. For example, if your threshold is set to $100 and you reach that amount, you'll be billed for $100. If your spending exceeds that again, Facebook will charge you again once the next threshold is reached.

3. Ad Campaigns Will Continue Running
After the payment is successfully processed, your ads will continue running without any interruptions.

If your payment method is valid and the transaction goes through, Facebook will keep the ads active and process further payments when necessary.

4. Notification of Payment
Email Notifications: Facebook usually sends you an email notification when a payment is processed. This lets you know that you've reached your billing threshold and that a payment has been made.

Facebook Ads Manager: You can also monitor your billing status and spending in your Ads Manager. Here, you can track how much you've spent and if a payment has been triggered.

5. What Happens If Payment Fails?
If Facebook tries to charge your payment method but the transaction fails (due to insufficient funds, expired card, etc.), your ads may stop running until the payment issue is resolved.

You'll receive a notification or email asking you to update your payment method or resolve the issue.

Facebook may retry the payment a few times or give you a grace period to fix the issue, but if the payment remains unresolved, your ad account could be paused or restricted.

6. Exceeded Threshold May Increase in Future Billing Cycles
Depending on your spending history and account status, Facebook may automatically increase your billing threshold after a successful payment. This could happen if Facebook sees that you consistently spend more on ads.

If your spending increases, Facebook may raise your threshold, leading to larger charges less frequently.

7. Managing Billing Threshold
You can adjust your billing threshold at any time in your Facebook Ads Manager if you want to control how much is deducted at once. For example, you can set a lower threshold to be billed more frequently or a higher threshold if you want fewer payments but larger charges.

Key Takeaways:
When you exceed your billing threshold, Facebook will charge you automatically for the amount over the threshold.

Your ads will continue running if the payment goes through successfully.

If payment fails, ads will stop running until the issue is resolved.

You can monitor your spending and adjust your threshold settings in Ads Manager.