Why payments fail and how to fix them

Payments made for BotGhost subscriptions may sometimes fail, causing subscriptions to be potentially interrupted. Some common reasons and how to prevent failed payments are outlined below. 

1. Insufficient Funds

Cause: Your bank account or card doesn’t have enough balance to cover the subscription charge. This is most common with debit or prepaid cards.

How to Fix:

• Check your available balance before retrying the payment.

• If using a prepaid card, top it up with additional funds.

• For debit cards, ensure enough money is available to cover both the subscription fee and any other pending transactions.

Tip: Set up low-balance alerts or maintain a small extra buffer so you don’t run into surprise declines.

2. Bank Blocking the Transaction

Cause: Banks sometimes block online, international, or recurring payments for security reasons, especially if it looks unusual for your account.

How to Fix:

• Check your bank’s mobile app - many banks send a notification, show a “blocked transaction” message, or require you to approve the charge.

• If you see a block, approve or allow the payment directly in the app.

• If nothing shows in the app, contact your bank and ask if they blocked the transaction. If so, request that they authorize or whitelist BotGhost’s payment processor.

Tip: Enable notifications for your bank app so you don’t miss approval requests.

3. Card No Longer Valid

If your subscription payment is failing because your card has expired or is no longer valid, you will need to update your payment details via your subscription portal.

How to Fix: If you are unsure which platform your subscription is billed through, check your original invoice or payment receipt. It will specify whether the charge came from Stripe or Chargebee. 

4. Payment Method No Longer Valid

Cause: Some payment methods become unsupported, disabled by your bank, or restricted for recurring charges. Virtual and prepaid cards are especially prone to this.

How to Fix: Follow the instructions outlined in the How to update or remove a payment method article.

5. Incorrect Card Details

Cause: Payments can fail if your card details are entered incorrectly — such as the wrong expiration date, CVV (security code), or even a mistyped card number.

How to Fix:

• Re-enter your card details carefully, exactly as shown on your card.

• Avoid using saved browser autofill if it has outdated details.

• If issues continue, confirm with your bank that your card is enabled for online purchases.

Tip: When updating your payment details, enter them manually instead of relying on stored information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should I do if my bank blocks the payment?
A: Contact your bank to allow recurring payments for BotGhost. You can also check your banking app to see if the payment was flagged or requires manual approval.

Q: What should I do if my card expired right after my subscription renewed?
A: If the payment already processed before the card expired, your subscription will remain active. Update your billing details as soon as possible to avoid issues with the next renewal. 

Q: Can I pause my subscription if I know I’ll have payment issues next month?
A: BotGhost does not currently offer a pause feature. The best option is to cancel before the next billing cycle and resubscribe when you are ready.  

Q: Why does my payment fail even though my card is valid and funded?
A: There could be restrictions from your bank, issues with the card type, or temporary problems with the payment processor. Check your bank app for blocks or approvals and retry the payment. 

Q: How do I prevent payment failures for future renewals?
A: Keep your card active, update billing info promptly, maintain sufficient funds, and ensure your bank allows recurring international payments.