Crown Connect August 2026 Release 2

August 2026 Release: Version 20260820.1

Fewer bugs, sharper tools

This release focused on the details rather than introducing something new. We squashed bugs across refunds, payments, payment plans, memberships, and receipts while sharpening the tools you already use every day.

Some of these are fixes you may have experienced without being able to identify—a payment that never arrived, a membership that ended before its term, or a link that quietly stopped working. We also completed a major upgrade to the platform Crown runs on. You shouldn’t notice that one day to day, which is precisely the point.

Improvements

Terminal receipts are now a straightforward choice—select On Terminal to let the patient choose a printed, emailed, texted, or no receipt on the device. Select Auto Email to have Crown automatically email the receipt to the address on file and skip the terminal receipt screen. The previous GoDaddy email-receipt option has been retired. To update this setting, go to Settings > Receipts.

Fixes

Payments are no longer dropped because of words in the note. Certain short character sequences—such as “ins” in per instructions or coins—could cause a payment to be discarded without creating a transaction or notification.
A card previously stored by a patient is no longer automatically stored again during subsequent terminal payments. The store-card button must now be selected on the device.
When a card approves less than the full amount, the payment now posts the amount collected instead of the full procedure price.
Apple Pay now works on past-due payment links for payment plans.
Surcharge refunds no longer credit the surcharge twice in Open Dental, which could occur in some cases involving older transactions.
Partial refunds no longer list uncovered procedures at $0.00 in the refund window.
If the gateway rejects a refund or void, the attempt is now recorded under the original sale instead of leaving no record.
A partial approval that is subsequently voided is now recorded as a void rather than a decline.
Memberships set to expire now end on their scheduled term date instead of ending early—in some cases, on the same day they began.
Declined membership charges now show the amount attempted instead of $0.00.
Single-payment plans now move to Complete once paid instead of remaining Active. This includes plans paid through the patient portal, by cash or check, or through an adjustment.
Imported plans no longer fail with a “must contain at least one cycle” error when the plan’s charge date changed during its term.
Closing a payment plan in Open Dental no longer fails.
The payment preview no longer incorrectly labels a full cycle as “partially paid.” This was only a display issue; the amount charged was always correct.
Office notifications are now delivered to users who have email notifications enabled, regardless of the terminal receipt setting.
Links no longer stop working when Crown remains open in a browser tab during an update.
An invitation that was accepted but never fully activated can no longer be used to sign in.
Reinviting a user no longer produces an error.
Now that failed payments can be retried directly from Crown, we’ve retired the automated retry service and its related email notifications.
Statement PDFs now load for practices whose Open Dental images are stored across multiple folders.
The month view now charts a refund on the date it was issued rather than the date of the original payment.
The eConnector offline message now provides clear next steps instead of displaying Open Dental’s original wording.

What’s Coming

Next Release: Memberships, redesigned from the ground up—we’re putting the finishing touches on a rebuild that incorporates the enhancements you’ve requested over time. Memberships will be as flexible as ever while becoming faster and more reliable under the hood.
Coming soon: Automated AR—we’re in the middle of supercharging payment requests. Set up automated campaigns for each aging bucket, and Crown will handle the balance collection automatically. (Open Dental only)

Talk to Us!

We’d love your feedback. Reach us anytime through the in-app chat or at [email protected].

Surcharge FAQ

What is a credit card surcharge?

A credit card surcharge is an additional fee added to a transaction when a patient chooses to pay with a credit card. The surcharge is intended to help offset the cost of credit card processing and applies only to eligible credit card transactions.

Can we surcharge debit card transactions?

No. Debit card transactions may not be surcharged under any circumstances, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction or entered manually.

Is there a limit on how much we can surcharge?

Yes. Credit card surcharges may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and are capped at a maximum of 3% of the total transaction amount, in accordance with card-network rules and applicable law.

Are we required to notify patients about the surcharge?

Yes. Card networks require clear and transparent disclosure of any credit card surcharge. Practices must notify patients through appropriate signage at the practice entrance, point of sale, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, the surcharge must also be clearly disclosed on the practice’s website.

Are there states where credit card surcharging is not allowed?

Yes. Some U.S. states and territories prohibit or restrict credit card surcharging. Practices are responsible for understanding and complying with their state’s specific requirements before implementing a surcharge.

Does Moolah determine whether we are compliant?

No. While Moolah provides tools and general guidance to support credit card surcharging, compliance with all applicable laws and card-network rules is the responsibility of the merchant. Moolah does not provide legal advice and assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance.

Can we surcharge all credit cards?

Most major credit card networks permit surcharging when done in accordance with their rules, but additional requirements or restrictions may apply. Practices should ensure they have completed all required network notifications and disclosures prior to enabling surcharging.

What happens if we are not compliant?

Failure to comply with surcharging rules may result in card-network fines, required refunds, or other enforcement actions. Practices should ensure they fully understand all applicable requirements before applying a surcharge.

Is surcharging supported in Flex?

Flex does not currently offer built-in support for credit card surcharging. If a practice chooses to enroll in a surcharge plan, payments would need to be processed through Moolah’s payment platform, which is designed to support surcharging and integrates directly with Open Dental.

Surcharge Compliance

If you are considering introducing a credit card surcharge for your patients, it is important to understand that there are specific rules and regulations that must be followed when enrolling in and operating under a surcharge plan.

This article provides a general overview of common surcharging requirements. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is the responsibility of each merchant to review, understand, and comply with all applicable laws, card-network rules, and regulatory requirements, including notification timeframes, signage requirements, surcharge percentage limits, and jurisdictions where surcharging is prohibited.

If you are unsure about the laws or regulations applicable to your practice, you should consult with qualified legal counsel. Moolah assumes no liability for a merchant’s compliance or non-compliance with credit card surcharging rules or regulations.

Transparent Communication
Card networks, including Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express, require merchants to clearly and transparently disclose when a credit card surcharge is applied.

Practices must clearly notify patients of a credit card surcharge through appropriate signage placed at the practice entrance, at the point of sale or terminal, and anywhere payments are accepted. If payments are accepted online, surcharge disclosures must also be clearly visible on the practice’s website. All disclosures must inform patients that the surcharge applies only to credit card transactions.

Surcharge Limits
Credit card surcharges must comply with both card-network rules and applicable law. The surcharge amount may not exceed the merchant’s actual cost of accepting credit cards and may not exceed 3% of the total transaction amount.

Card-network rules cap credit card surcharges at 3%, meaning that if a merchant’s processing costs exceed this amount, the excess portion cannot be passed on to the patient.

Warning
The following is a general overview of credit card surcharging rules in the United States. Merchants are responsible for understanding and complying with all applicable requirements.

Network and State Restrictions
The major credit card networks, such as Visa and Mastercard, impose specific requirements related to surcharge limits, advance notification, and disclosure.

In addition, several U.S. states and territories regulate or prohibit credit card surcharging. At the time of writing, credit card surcharging is prohibited in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Puerto Rico. Other states, including Colorado, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, and New York, impose restrictions on surcharge amounts or require specific disclosures.

If your practice operates in a state that restricts or prohibits credit card surcharging, you must fully understand and comply with those requirements before implementing a surcharge.

Debit card transactions may never be surcharged, even if the debit card is processed as a credit transaction.

Applicability
Credit card surcharges may be applied only to credit card transactions. Other payment types, including debit cards and alternative payment methods, are not eligible for surcharging.

Regulatory Compliance
Merchants are responsible for maintaining ongoing compliance with all applicable card-network and legal requirements. This includes meeting advance notification obligations, using compliant signage and disclosures, adhering to surcharge percentage limits, and respecting jurisdiction-specific restrictions.

By following these guidelines, dental practices can implement credit card surcharging in a way that aligns with card-network rules and promotes transparency with patients. Clear and upfront communication helps maintain patient trust and supports a positive payment experience.