Payment Processing Issues

Payment Processing Issues

If buyers are experiencing payment failures or you are seeing errors in your order flow, use this guide to diagnose the problem.

Stripe Issues

• Card declined — The buyer's bank rejected the transaction. Ask them to try a different card or contact their bank.
• Authentication required — Some cards require 3D Secure authentication. The buyer should complete the authentication popup.
• Connection error — Verify that your Stripe account is connected and the API keys are valid in Settings → Payments.

PayPal Issues

• Smart Buttons not loading — Check that your PayPal Client ID is correct and the environment (Sandbox/Live) matches your intended mode.
• Sandbox transactions failing — Make sure you are using a sandbox buyer account, not a live account.
• Live transactions failing — Verify your PayPal Client Secret and ensure your PayPal business account is in good standing.

Mock Mode

Art Show Hub has a mock payment mode for development and testing. If payments seem to succeed without real charges, check whether mock mode is enabled in your environment configuration. Disable it for production use.

Webhook Issues

If orders are created but payment status is not updating, the webhook endpoint may not be receiving notifications from Stripe or PayPal. Verify your webhook URL is correctly configured in the provider's dashboard.