The customer account alert
What pops up when you start work for a customer — credit hold, IBS, PO required and the shop's own alert — and how to set the alert.
Some customers come with instructions: they're on credit hold, they need a PO on every invoice, or only certain drivers may buy parts on the account. Meridian puts all of that in one box and shows it to whoever starts work for the customer.
What the box says
Only what applies, in this order:
- On credit hold. The customer's status is Hold. Don't charge to the account. Meridian warns; it doesn't stop you.
- IBS. If the customer is linked to an Interstate Billing account: the account number, the most IBS covers per invoice without asking, the account's status, and when it was last checked. A temporarily or permanently closed account shows in red: IBS won't fund the invoice, so take another tender or call IBS. Figures older than a week say "when last checked", so check again before relying on them. Staff who can't see customer balances (technicians, for example) see only "Billed to IBS", without the account number or the limit. Branches of one fleet can share an IBS account; the figures are the account's, so every branch shows the same ones.
- PO required. Get the customer's PO number before invoicing.
- The shop's alert. Whatever your shop wrote for this customer, with who set it and when.
A customer with none of these shows nothing.
Where you see it
- New Ticket, Quick Ticket, and a counter sale billed to an account: a window opens as soon as you pick the customer. Read it and click Got it (or press Esc). The box then stays under the customer field while you write the ticket.
- The ticket and POS checkout: a slim box at the top, until the ticket is closed or voided.
- New Ticket from the search bar (Ctrl K): the box shows above the vehicle list.
- The customer page: at the top of the left column.
Set or change the alert
Open the customer and click Edit.
Type the alert in Alert at point of sale, for example "Only Billy, Steve or Mark can buy parts on this account" or "See Loren before invoicing". Up to 2,000 characters.
Click Save. The alert shows your name and today's date. To remove it, clear the box and save.
Anyone who can edit customers can change the alert, and every change is recorded in the customer's history. Use Notes for things the counter doesn't need to see every time; the alert interrupts.
Credit hold is set with the customer's Status, PO required with the PO required box in Account Terms, and the IBS account on the customer's Interstate Billing card. You don't need to retype any of those into the alert.