> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.payreque.st/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Invoice Payment Retry

> Learn how customers can retry payments for unpaid invoices and what happens when invoices are already paid

## 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.

## How Payment Retry Works

### Sharing Invoice Payment Links

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

### 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

### 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

## Viewing Paid Invoices

### 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.

## Pending Payment Protection

### SEPA Direct Debit Processing

When a customer pays an invoice via SEPA Direct Debit (bank transfer), the payment takes 1-3 business days to complete. During this time, the invoice status is "pending" rather than "paid".

**Duplicate Payment Prevention:**

If a customer opens a payment link for an invoice with a pending SEPA payment, they'll see:

* A **yellow warning callout**: "Payment Processing"
* Message: "SEPA Direct Debit is pending. This typically takes 1-3 business days to complete."
* Full invoice details (items, quantities, total amount)
* **No payment form** - completely hidden to prevent duplicate charges

This protection ensures customers cannot accidentally pay twice while waiting for their bank transfer to complete.

### Why This Matters

SEPA Direct Debit payments can take several days to process. Without this protection:

* Customers might think their payment failed
* They could try to pay again, resulting in double charges
* Business owners would need to manually process refunds

With pending payment protection:

* ✅ Customers see clear status information
* ✅ Duplicate payments are impossible
* ✅ No manual intervention needed
* ✅ Professional, transparent experience

### 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.

## Best Practices

### 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

### 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

## Common Scenarios

### 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

### Scenario 2: Payment Link Already Paid

**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

### 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

## Troubleshooting

### 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

### 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

## Related Articles

* [Creating Invoices](/invoices/creating-invoices)
* [Payment Reminders](/invoices/payment-reminders)
* [Payment Methods](/payment-processing/payment-methods-overview)
* [Customer Portal](/customer-management/customer-portal)