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Overview

When customers encounter issues during payment (such as canceling an iDEAL transaction or experiencing a payment failure), PayRequest makes it easy for them to try again without creating duplicate invoices. The payment retry system ensures a smooth experience while maintaining accurate records.

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How Payment Retry Works

When you create an invoice in PayRequest, you can share a payment link with your customer. This link includes the invoice number and automatically pre-fills all payment information. Example payment link: 
https://payrequest.me/yourbusiness?invoice=132
When customers open this link, they’ll see all invoice details pre-filled, including:
  • Invoice amount
  • Product or service details
  • Customer name and email
  • Any notes or descriptions

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When Payment Fails or Is Canceled

If a customer cancels their payment or encounters an error (for example, closing the iDEAL payment screen), they can simply click the “Try Again” button to return to the payment page. What happens:
  1. Customer is returned to the payment page with all information pre-filled
  2. The same invoice number is maintained (no duplicates created)
  3. Customer can immediately retry the payment without re-entering information
  4. If an order was created, it remains linked to the original invoice

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Benefits of the Retry System

✅ No Duplicate Invoices - The system reuses the existing invoice instead of creating a new one ✅ Pre-filled Information - Customers don’t need to re-enter their details ✅ Order Preservation - If products were ordered, they remain linked correctly ✅ Clean Records - Your invoice numbering stays sequential without gaps from failed payments

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Viewing Paid Invoices

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What Customers See

When a customer opens a payment link for an invoice that’s already been paid, they’ll see:
  • A green success message confirming the invoice has been paid
  • The invoice number and payment date
  • A detailed list of all items on the invoice with quantities and prices
  • The total amount paid
No payment form is shown - this prevents customers from accidentally paying twice.

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Invoice Items Display

Paid invoices show a clear breakdown including:
  • Product or service names
  • Quantities ordered
  • Price per item
  • Total for each line item
  • Grand total amount paid
This gives customers a complete record of their purchase without the risk of duplicate charges.

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Best Practices

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For Business Owners

  1. Share Specific Invoice Links - When following up on unpaid invoices, include the invoice parameter in the link (?invoice=132)
  2. Enable Email Notifications - Set up automatic email reminders for unpaid invoices with retry links
  3. Monitor Failed Payments - Check your dashboard regularly for invoices that need attention

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For Customers

  1. Don’t Refresh During Payment - Wait for payment confirmation before closing the page
  2. Use the Try Again Button - If payment fails, use the provided button rather than the browser back button
  3. Check Your Email - Payment confirmations and retry links are sent automatically

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Common Scenarios

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Scenario 1: Customer Cancels iDEAL Payment

What happens:
  • Customer clicks “Cancel” on their bank’s iDEAL screen
  • They’re redirected to a PayRequest page with a “Try Again” button
  • Clicking the button returns them to the payment page with all details pre-filled
  • They can immediately start a new iDEAL payment for the same invoice
What happens:
  • Customer opens a payment link for invoice they already paid
  • Green success callout appears: “This invoice has already been paid”
  • Full invoice details are displayed (items, quantities, total)
  • No payment button is shown - prevents double charging

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Scenario 3: Following Up on Unpaid Invoice

What happens:
  • You send customer the payment link from your dashboard
  • Customer opens link and sees all invoice details pre-filled
  • They complete payment using their preferred method
  • Both you and the customer receive confirmation

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Troubleshooting

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Customer Says They Can’t Pay

Check these things:
  1. Ensure the invoice isn’t already marked as paid in your dashboard
  2. Verify the payment link includes the correct invoice number
  3. Confirm your payment provider (Mollie/Stripe) is properly connected

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Duplicate Invoices Appearing

This shouldn’t happen with the retry system, but if you see duplicates:
  1. Check if customer clicked “Pay” multiple times rapidly
  2. Verify only one invoice has actual payment associated
  3. You can safely delete/void the duplicate invoice without payment