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How to resolve payment issues on Cloudways

Fix common Cloudways payment issues such as declined cards, 3D-Secure errors, overdue invoices, and payment permissions with step-by-step troubleshooting.

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Written by Ali Abbas Bokhari

Payment hiccups can disrupt your hosting if left unresolved — from a card getting declined to invoices sitting unpaid.

This guide walks through the most common payment problems Cloudways users run into, why they happen, and the exact steps to get things back on track quickly.


How to Resolve Payment Issues on Cloudways?

Understanding and resolving payment issues is essential for uninterrupted services on Cloudways. This article covers common scenarios and their solutions to help you address payment-related problems effectively.

Common Payment Issues and Solutions

Updating Your Payment Information

To update your payment method on Cloudways, follow these steps:

  1. Provide Your Card Details: When you update your payment method, the system will authorize the card. The updated payment information will typically reflect within 24 hours. During this time, the card can be used to add funds to your account, and no further action is required.

  2. Re-enter Details Only If Necessary: If your card and billing address are already up to date, you do not need to re-enter the details unless you encounter an error or your billing address has changed.

  3. Account Disabled During Update: If your account is disabled while updating your card, ensure the new card details are saved successfully and that sufficient funds are added to your account. After completing these steps, log out and log back in to restore access.

Additional Charges on an Invoice

If you notice an unexpected increase in your invoice amount, it could be due to changes in taxation or billing policies.

For example, a new 1% tax may be applied due to tariff changes applicable in certain regions.

Action: Review your invoice details for additional taxes or charges. If you need further clarification, contact Cloudways support.


Accessing Payment Settings

If you cannot access the payment settings to settle invoices, it may be due to restricted account permissions:

  1. Account Role: Only the primary account holder can modify billing information.

  2. Solution: Ask the primary account holder to log in and update payment details.

  3. Granting Access: The primary account holder can assign billing-related permissions to other users. Once permissions are set, update payment details and settle the invoice.


Denied Card Payments

Resolve Bank Refusals: If your payment method is not working, it may be due to your bank refusing the transaction. Contact your bank to:

  • Add Cloudways to their safe vendor or whitelist.

  • Resolve any security blocks on the transaction.

  • Alternatively, try using a different card or PayPal for payment.

Even when your card is whitelisted in the Cloudways system, banks may deny

payments. Confirm with your bank/card issuer to investigate the issue.

Tip:

Always ensure that your card issuer allows international transactions.


Resolving Overdue Invoices

Once an overdue invoice is paid:

  1. The invoice is marked as paid in full.

  2. All related services remain uninterrupted.

Ensure prompt payment to avoid any service lapses.

Unapplied Available Funds

If available funds fail to cover an invoice, the residual balance will remain as due and be charged to your credit card. Ensure the available funds are sufficient to fully settle the invoice.


Tips for Avoiding Payment Issues

Understanding the Billing Process

Cloudways uses a post-billing approach with a Pay-As-You-Go model. This means you are billed based on your actual usage rather than at the time of upgrade.

For example, if you use a resource for 10 days and then delete or deactivate it, you will still receive an invoice on the 1st of the following month for those 10 days of usage.

You will only be charged for the period the resource was active — nothing more.

  • Regularly review invoice details for accuracy.

  • Ensure all payment methods are up to date.

  • Check that your bank supports international payments to avoid declined transactions.


Frequently Asked Questions

What happens after I authorize a new card?

Authorized cards will be used to settle future invoices once billing starts, which occurs after you launch a server.

Why is my payment method not working even though the card works elsewhere?

This could be due to your bank refusing the transaction. Contact your bank to add Cloudways to their safe vendor list or try an alternative payment method like PayPal.

For unresolved issues or further assistance, contact [email protected]


That's it! We hope this article was helpful.

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