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

# What do I do when a point of sale card payment expires or fails?

> What each point of sale card payment message means and what to do next, from an expired QR code to a card that was charged but the sale didn't finish.

<Note>
  **Must know**

  * **A QR payment link expires if it goes unpaid.** If it expires unpaid, tap **Try Again** for a new one. The items it held go back into stock.
  * **Charged but the sale didn't finish? Don't retry.** Refund that payment from the payment link first, then start a new sale.
  * **A card terminal stops waiting after a few minutes.** Declined, cancelled, timed-out or abandoned terminal sales are cancelled and restocked automatically.
</Note>

**Why Try Again can disappear.** Once a customer pays by QR code, their card is charged. If the sale then can't finish, **Try Again** is hidden so the card isn't charged twice, and only **Back to POS** is left.

| What you see | What happened | What to do |
| - | - | - |
| **Payment Failed**: "The payment link expired before the customer paid. Try again to create a new one." | The QR code expired unpaid. | Tap **Try Again** for a new QR code. |
| "Having trouble checking the payment status. Still retrying." under the QR code | The status check is struggling, not the payment. | Leave the screen open. It keeps checking. |
| **Payment Failed** with no **Try Again**: "The customer's card was charged but the sale could not be completed." | The payment went through, but the sale didn't. | Refund the payment from the payment link, then start a new sale. |
| **Payment Failed** with no **Try Again**: "This sale has expired. Refund the payment from the payment link and start a new sale." | The customer paid after the 30-minute hold ended. | Refund from the payment link, then start a new sale. |
| **Payment Failed**: "Payment declined", "Payment cancelled" or "Payment error" | The terminal charge didn't go through. The sale was cancelled and restocked. | Tap **Try Again**, then **Charge \$\[amount]**, or tap **Back to POS**. |
| **Payment Failed**: "This terminal is busy with another transaction. Pick a different terminal or wait." | That terminal is already running another charge. | Tap **Try Again**, then pick another terminal or wait. |
| "Waiting for the customer..." with **Cancel** | The terminal is waiting for a tap, insert or swipe. | Tap **Cancel** to stop. If nobody pays, it ends with **Payment Failed**: "Payment timeout". |
| On **Payment Successful!**: "\[number] tickets couldn't be seated" | An event ticket type sold out at the register. | If it says a refund "was issued automatically", you're done. Otherwise, refund those tickets from the payment link. |

**Gift cards skip the card terminal.** A cart with a gift card can't be charged on a card terminal, so **Card** always shows the **Scan to Pay** QR code. Take the QR payment or choose **Cash**.

**Related:** [How do I sell in person at the point of sale?](/club/website-store/sell-in-person-with-pos) · [How do I order and set up a card terminal for in-person payments?](/club/website-store/set-up-card-terminals) · [How do I refund a customer on a paid invoice?](/club/refunds-cancellations/how-do-i-refund-a-paid-invoice)