What to Do When a Client Doesn't Pay an Invoice on Time
Your crypto invoice expired before the client paid. Here's what to do next, what to tell the client, and how to avoid the same problem going forward.
A crypto invoice has a limited lifespan. The rate is locked at the moment you create it, and once that window closes the invoice is gone. If the client missed it, nothing is lost. You just issue a new one, which takes about a minute.
Why invoices expire
The amount in crypto is calculated from the rate at the time you create the invoice. Thirty to sixty minutes later the rate has moved, and the old invoice no longer reflects the real price. That's a protection for both sides: you don't lose money on the difference, and the client doesn't pay a stale price.
What to do, step by step
First, ask the client what happened: did they forget, did they not have their wallet handy, did the page confuse them, or do they have questions? The answer shapes what you do next.
If the cause is practical, issue a new invoice from your dashboard or via API. It takes seconds. The new payment page looks the same, and the client gets a fresh link.
If the client was confused
Sometimes the reason is that someone is paying crypto for the first time. A short note helps: which coin and network to use, where to get a wallet, what the QR code on the payment page is for. After one successful payment, repeat purchases go through without questions.
How to reduce expired invoices
Set a generous timer. If a client is paying from a phone for the first time, thirty minutes can be tight. Set it to an hour. Add one line to your message or email: "the link is valid for X minutes; if it expires, just let me know." That removes the awkwardness of a client being too embarrassed to ask for a new invoice.
If the client still hasn't paid
A second invoice with a brief reminder closes most cases. If not, that's a normal part of running any business. In crypto nothing is frozen, and there are no penalties.
