Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
Online Payment
Student Meal Accounts & PayPAMS
Manage student lunch balances, view purchase history, and make quick online payments.
Adding Funds to Meal Accounts
Parents are encouraged to place money on their student's account in advance. Advance payments allow cafeteria staff to provide faster, more efficient service to all students during meal service.
You may send cash, personal checks, money orders, cashier's checks, or make payments online using PayPAMS.
Required Info for Cash or Check Payments:
If paying by cash/check (especially for multiple students), please clearly list:
- Student's full legal name
- Personal Identification Number (PIN)
- Teacher's name
Contact Information
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
School Nutrition Services
PO Box 668847
Charlotte, NC 28266-8847
Call weekdays from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
Main: 980-343-6041
Signing Up for PayPAMS
PayPAMS is a free online tool that lets you monitor account balances, review purchase history, and optionally make online payments.
1
Register Your Account: Visit paypams.com or call toll-free at 1-877-726-7586.
2
Choose Payment Options: Make one-time manual payments whenever needed or configure automatic payments.
3
Make a Payment: Pay securely using a credit card or VISA debit card. You will receive an instant digital receipt. (Note: Payments take 24–48 hours to post to the school cafeteria account.)
Account Refunds
Parents of students leaving CMS have up to 90 days to request a refund or transfer funds to another CMS student account.
* Balances under $5 will be transferred to another active CMS student account upon request, but cannot be refunded.
Call SNS Office:
(980) 343-6041
30-Day Dispute Limit
Parents can check account balance and purchase history anytime for free online at PayPAMS.
Please note that parents or guardians have 30 days from the posted transaction date to dispute any questionable charges made to the meal account.