diff --git a/server/api/members/update-contribution.post.js b/server/api/members/update-contribution.post.js
index e99c217..695e7c9 100644
--- a/server/api/members/update-contribution.post.js
+++ b/server/api/members/update-contribution.post.js
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ import {
   updateHelcimSubscription,
   cancelHelcimSubscription,
   generateIdempotencyKey,
+  listHelcimCustomerTransactions,
 } from "../../utils/helcim.js";
+import { upsertPaymentFromHelcim } from "../../utils/payments.js";
 
 export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
   try {
@@ -118,6 +120,27 @@ export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
           { runValidators: false }
         );
 
+        try {
+          const txs = await listHelcimCustomerTransactions(customerCode);
+          const latestPaid = txs.find((t) => t.status === 'paid');
+          if (latestPaid) {
+            await upsertPaymentFromHelcim(
+              {
+                _id: member._id,
+                email: member.email,
+                name: member.name,
+                helcimCustomerId: member.helcimCustomerId,
+                helcimSubscriptionId: subscription.id,
+                billingCadence: cadence,
+              },
+              latestPaid,
+              { paymentType: cadence, sendConfirmation: true }
+            );
+          }
+        } catch (err) {
+          console.error('[payments] free→paid charge log failed, will be picked up by reconciliation:', err?.message || err);
+        }
+
         logContributionChange();
 
         return {
diff --git a/tests/server/api/update-contribution.test.js b/tests/server/api/update-contribution.test.js
index 3b60bed..a62e243 100644
--- a/tests/server/api/update-contribution.test.js
+++ b/tests/server/api/update-contribution.test.js
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ import {
   listHelcimCustomerCards,
   createHelcimSubscription,
   cancelHelcimSubscription,
+  listHelcimCustomerTransactions,
 } from '../../../server/utils/helcim.js'
+import { upsertPaymentFromHelcim } from '../../../server/utils/payments.js'
 import handler from '../../../server/api/members/update-contribution.post.js'
 import { createMockEvent } from '../helpers/createMockEvent.js'
 
@@ -31,6 +33,10 @@ vi.mock('../../../server/utils/helcim.js', () => ({
   updateHelcimSubscription: vi.fn(),
   cancelHelcimSubscription: vi.fn(),
   generateIdempotencyKey: vi.fn().mockReturnValue('idem-key-123'),
+  listHelcimCustomerTransactions: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue([]),
+}))
+vi.mock('../../../server/utils/payments.js', () => ({
+  upsertPaymentFromHelcim: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ created: true, payment: { _id: 'p1' } })
 }))
 
 // Nitro auto-imports
@@ -224,6 +230,9 @@ describe('update-contribution endpoint — Case 1 (free→paid)', () => {
     listHelcimCustomerCards.mockResolvedValue([{ id: 'card-1' }])
     createHelcimSubscription.mockResolvedValue({ data: [{ id: 'sub-new', status: 'active', nextBillingDate: '2026-05-18' }] })
     Member.findByIdAndUpdate.mockResolvedValue({})
+    listHelcimCustomerTransactions.mockResolvedValueOnce([
+      { id: 'tx-upgrade', date: '2026-04-20', amount: 15, status: 'paid', currency: 'CAD' }
+    ])
 
     const event = createMockEvent({
       method: 'POST',
@@ -242,6 +251,12 @@ describe('update-contribution endpoint — Case 1 (free→paid)', () => {
       { $set: expect.objectContaining({ billingCadence: 'monthly', contributionAmount: 15, helcimSubscriptionId: 'sub-new' }) },
       { runValidators: false }
     )
+    expect(listHelcimCustomerTransactions).toHaveBeenCalledWith('code-1')
+    expect(upsertPaymentFromHelcim).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({ _id: 'member-c1', helcimSubscriptionId: 'sub-new', billingCadence: 'monthly' }),
+      expect.objectContaining({ id: 'tx-upgrade' }),
+      { paymentType: 'monthly', sendConfirmation: true }
+    )
     expect(result.success).toBe(true)
     expect(result.message).toBe('Successfully upgraded to paid tier')
   })