Tip: Use Ctrl+F (Windows) or Cmd+F (Mac) to search this page for a specific error message.
Overview
Teachable's checkout is powered by Stripe. Most payment issues originate with your bank or card issuer — not with Teachable or Stripe directly. This guide walks through the most common errors and how to resolve them.
Declined card payments
Teachable doesn't decline cards directly. Your payment request is sent to your bank or card issuer, and their automated systems decide whether to authorize it. Below are the most common reasons a card is declined and what to do about each.
Decline reason | What it means | What to do |
Insufficient funds | Your card doesn't have enough available balance to cover the purchase | Check your balance, top up your account, or use a different payment method |
Incorrect card number | The card number entered doesn't match your card issuer's records | Double-check every digit of your card number and re-enter carefully |
Incorrect expiry date | The expiry date doesn't match what your issuer has on file | Check the expiry date on your physical card and re-enter |
Incorrect security code | The CVC or CVV entered doesn't match | Find the 3-digit code on the back of your card (or 4-digit on the front for Amex) and re-enter |
Card expired | The card is past its expiry date | Use a different card or contact your bank for a replacement |
Spending or credit limit exceeded | You've hit a spending, credit, or transaction limit set by your bank | Contact your bank to review the limit, or use a different payment method |
Card declined — no reason given | Your bank declined the payment without providing a specific reason | Contact your bank directly — they can tell you why the charge was blocked and authorize it if appropriate |
Payment blocked or flagged | The payment was flagged by your bank's or Stripe's fraud detection | Contact your bank to confirm the charge is legitimate, then retry. If the issue persists, try a different payment method. |
Note: If your card continues to be declined after contacting your bank, try a different card or payment method. Stripe supports cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and a range of local payment methods depending on your location.
Checkout page issues
Issue | Likely cause | What to do |
This product is not available | The product may have been unpublished, expired, or the link has changed | Contact the school owner for an updated purchase link |
You are already enrolled in this product | You already own this product | Click the link provided to access your product. Contact the school owner if you believe this is an error. |
The payment panel isn't loading | A browser extension, ad blocker, or network setting may be interfering with Stripe's checkout panel | Disable ad blockers or browser extensions, try a different browser, or switch to a different network connection |
The price looks different than expected | The price is displaying in your local currency | This is expected — the amount in your local currency is the equivalent of the school's listed price. You are not being charged more. |
My payment method isn't available | Some payment methods are only available in certain countries, or haven't been enabled by the school | Try a different payment method such as a card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay |
Strong Customer Authentication (SCA)
In some regions, your bank requires additional verification before authorizing a payment — this is known as Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) or 3D Secure. You may see a pop-up, redirect, or receive a text message asking you to confirm the charge.
This is a standard security step from your bank, not a problem with the checkout. Follow the prompts from your bank to complete verification. If verification fails:
Retry the payment
Contact your bank for assistance with the verification step
If the issue persists, try a different payment method
Recurring payment failures
If a subscription or payment plan charge fails, you'll receive an email notification. Stripe's Smart Retry system will automatically attempt to charge your payment method again — up to 8 times over a two-week period at varying intervals.
You'll receive an email notification at each failed attempt. To resolve the issue before your subscription is cancelled:
Open the email notification and click the link to update your payment method in the Stripe Customer Portal
Add a new card or update your existing payment details
Stripe will automatically retry your payment with the updated method
Important: If all retry attempts fail, your subscription will be cancelled and you'll lose access to the product. To regain access, you'll need to repurchase. Contact the school owner if you need assistance.
Note: You can update your payment method at any time from the Stripe Customer Portal — you don't need to wait for a failed payment to make changes. See Manage your subscription for how to access it.
Buy Now Pay Later issues
If you're trying to use a Buy Now Pay Later option like Klarna or Afterpay and it's not working:
It's not showing at checkout — BNPL availability depends on your location and the school's payment method settings. It may not be available for your purchase.
Your BNPL application was declined — Klarna and Afterpay make their own lending decisions independently. Contact the BNPL provider directly if your application was declined.
BNPL isn't available for subscriptions — Buy Now Pay Later is only available for one-time purchases, not recurring subscriptions or payment plans.
FAQs
I was charged but didn't get access to the product — what do I do?
Check your email for a receipt and account confirmation. If you haven't confirmed your email address yet, do that first — it's required to activate your account. If you've confirmed your email and still don't have access, contact the school owner or chat with us below.
I see a charge on my statement but I didn't complete checkout — what happened?
Some banks place a temporary authorization hold when a payment is initiated, even if the purchase wasn't completed. These holds typically drop off within 3–5 business days. Contact your bank if the hold hasn't cleared after that time.
My card was charged twice — what should I do?
Check your email for two separate receipts. If you only see one receipt but two charges on your statement, one is likely a temporary authorization hold. If you have two receipts and believe you were charged in error, contact us using the chat button below.
I'm getting an error about my billing address — what should I enter?
Enter the billing address associated with your card — the address your bank has on file for that card. If you're unsure, contact your bank to confirm the registered address.
Can I pay with PayPal?
PayPal is coming soon to Teachable Payments. In the meantime, you can pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or any other payment method shown at checkout.