My payment failed. What happens now?
Updated September 14, 2026 · 2 min read
Nothing breaks straight away. A failed renewal puts your subscription on hold and opens a 13-day window in which everything keeps working — codes redirect, short links resolve, analytics record and API keys stay live. The Billing page shows a red Fix Payment Method button; update your card there and the outstanding charge is taken automatically. If the window closes without a successful payment, your codes stop redirecting until the payment is fixed.
What happens, and when
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| The renewal fails | Status becomes on hold, a 13-day window opens, and we email you. Everything keeps working. |
| During the window | The card is retried automatically. The Billing page shows Fix Payment Method with the note: "Update your card to resume your subscription. Outstanding charges will be processed automatically." |
| About two days before the end | We email a reminder that the window is closing. |
| The window closes unpaid | Scans stop. Anyone scanning a code sees a page headed This page is taking a short break. |
The window is one per failure, so it does not restart if the card fails again inside it.
What keeps working during the window
The grace window exists so a card problem never takes your printed codes offline while you are sorting it out. For those 13 days nothing changes for the people scanning your codes:
- QR codes redirect as normal and scans are still recorded in your analytics.
- Short links resolve, including branded domains.
- API keys stay live, so anything you have automated keeps running.
- White-label scan pages keep their branding.
- You keep creating and editing codes up to your plan's limits, and teammates keep their access.
How to fix it
- Open Billing.
Settings → Personal settings → Billing. - Click Fix Payment Method. The billing portal opens in a new tab.
- Add or update the card and save it.
- Wait for the retry. The outstanding charge is taken automatically — you do not need to buy anything again.
- Check the Billing page. The status should return to active. If it has not caught up, click Sync Subscription.
Do not start a fresh checkout while the old subscription is on hold. Buying a plan again creates a second subscription alongside the one that failed. Fix the card instead.
Why renewals fail
The usual causes are outside our control: the card expired, the bank declined a recurring charge, there were insufficient funds, or a one-time mandate — common for UPI and some bank debits — was for a fixed amount and did not cover the renewal. Updating the payment method in the portal covers all of these, because it sets up the charge again from scratch.
Common problems
My codes already stopped and I only just noticed
The window has closed. Click Fix Payment Method and complete the payment; codes start redirecting again as soon as the subscription is active, and printed copies are unaffected.
I see View Billing History, not Fix Payment Method
That means the subscription is already cancelled or expired rather than on hold. Subscribe again from the Choose a Plan card — see what happens when a subscription ends.
I paid but the dashboard still says on hold
Click Sync Subscription on the Billing page. If it does not clear, email support@qrcodestack.com.
I would rather stop than pay
Cancel in the portal so it does not retry; see how to cancel a subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Do my QR codes stop working the moment a payment fails?
No. Everything keeps working for 13 days while the card is retried, which is what the grace window is for.
Will I be charged twice after I fix the card?
No. The outstanding charge is taken once, automatically, and the subscription continues on its normal cycle.
Do I need to create my QR codes again?
No. Nothing is deleted at any point, and printed codes work again as soon as the subscription is active.
Can I change plan while my subscription is on hold?
Fix the payment method first. Starting a new checkout while a subscription is on hold can leave you paying for two.
Will you email me before my codes stop?
Yes. We email when the payment fails and again about two days before the window closes.
Related articles
How do I cancel my subscription (and can I undo it)?
Billing → Manage Subscription opens the Dodo portal, where you cancel. Access runs to the end of the paid period, and Undo Cancellation reverses it until then.
What happens to my QR codes if my subscription ends?
Dynamic codes stop redirecting and scanners see a 'taking a short break' page. Nothing is deleted — subscribing again reactivates the same printed codes.
Where do I find invoices, receipts and VAT or GST invoices?
Billing → Manage Subscription (or View Billing History) opens the billing portal, where every invoice and receipt lives. Email support for a VAT or GST invoice.
How do I upgrade, downgrade or switch to annual billing?
Billing → Change Plan, pick a plan and period, confirm. Every change is a new checkout, and a downgrade is blocked until you are within the new limits.
Still stuck?
Email support@qrcodestack.com with the email on your account and, if it is about one code, its name or short link. A person replies within one business day, usually sooner.