Why did my supporter’s card payment fail?

If someone is having trouble supporting you with a card payment, don’t worry. On Ko-fi, creators (like you!) connect their own PayPal and/or Stripe accounts to accept payments. That means the issue could be on your end or theirs, but we’re here to help you both get things working.

If your supporter is having trouble paying through PayPal, check out our guide here to help get them sorted.

Helping supporters fix card payment issues

If a card payment fails, your supporter might see an error like this:

• "Your payment could not be processed."
• "We could not process your payment at this time. Please try again later."

Sometimes they don’t see an error at all, and the payment just doesn’t go through.

Here are a few things they can try:

1. Try a different browser or private mode. Switching browsers or using incognito mode can help. They can also clear their cache or try another device.

2. Disable VPNs or pop-up blockers. These might block verification windows needed to complete the payment.

3. Double-check payment details. The supporter should make sure their card details and billing address are correct.

4. Confirm their card supports foreign payments. If they’re paying in a different currency, their bank might need to authorize the transaction.

5. Check their card provider’s site on desktop. Logging in may show important alerts or security blocks.

6. Contact their card provider. Payments can be blocked due to security concerns, especially if the supporter hasn't supported you before.

7. Try another payment method. If one card doesn’t work, they can switch to another or try PayPal if available.

8. Update browser or device. Some payment providers require the latest browser or OS versions.

9. Wait before trying again. Too many attempts in a short time can block payments. Waiting 24 hours may help.

10. Contact PayPal support. If they’re paying via card through PayPal, they may need to contact PayPal for help.

    

Issues with recurring payments or memberships

For recurring payments (like memberships), the supporter needs to use a card that supports subscriptions. Prepaid cards can’t be used for these.

Other common reasons for payment failures

🌍 Country restrictions

PayPal and Stripe have different rules depending on the country. If your supporter is in a region with payment limits, this could cause issues.

• Some countries don’t allow domestic transactions through PayPal due to local laws.
• Other regions may restrict international transactions altogether.

It’s always worth checking with PayPal or the supporter’s bank for country-specific restrictions.

💳 Prepaid and gift cards

PayPal and Stripe sometimes allow prepaid or gift cards, but not all cards are accepted. If a supporter is using one:

• Ask them to contact the card provider to check if it’s accepted by Stripe or PayPal.
• Make sure the card is fully activated and authorized. Some cards may require additional steps to activate.
• Remember, prepaid cards can’t be used for recurring memberships or subscriptions.

What to check as a creator

Sometimes payment failures happen because of an issue with your connected account.

Log into PayPal or Stripe on desktop and check for any notices or restrictions that might stop payments from going through.

This includes things like identity verification, account setup issues, or country restrictions.

We're here if you need us. Feel free to send any questions our way. 💌

FAQ