Failed payments and pending holds

A payment failed

If a payment fails, you are not charged. If you have an account, we email you every time a payment is tried, with the amount, what it was for and what started it. If you were buying a plan before creating your account, Paddle's checkout shows you the failure straight away instead.

Common reasons:

• The card was declined by your bank (not enough funds, a limit, or the bank blocked an online or foreign payment).
• The card has expired or the details were mistyped.
• Your bank asked for a one-time code (3-D Secure) and it wasn't completed.

What to do: try again, use another card, or call your bank and ask them to allow the payment.

A renewal failed

If your monthly renewal fails, Paddle tries again over the next few days and we email you each time. To change your card, open Usage → Manage subscription.

A pending hold or a $0 check

When you add or check a card, your bank may show:

• A $0 or very small check: a test that the card is real. It is not a charge.
• A pending hold: an amount your bank reserves while a payment is being processed. If the payment doesn't go through, the hold is released, usually within a few days (your bank decides exactly when).

If a hold is still there after 7 days, or you see a charge you don't recognise, message us with the date and amount.