Payments & Stripe troubleshooting

Stripe payments usually confirm within seconds, but the dashboard can sometimes lag behind. Use this guide to figure out what is normal and what needs attention.

Check whether you are in test or live mode

Stripe has two completely separate environments: test and live. The Lovable editor shows a toggle, and the Stripe dashboard also shows a "Test mode" switch in the top-left corner. Payments made while the site is in test mode will only appear in the Stripe dashboard while test mode is turned on. Live payments will only appear when the dashboard is in live mode.

What to check: In the Stripe dashboard, look for the Test mode switch. If it is on, you are not viewing live transactions. If it is off, you are not viewing test transactions.

Wait for the webhook to arrive

When a student completes checkout, Stripe sends a confirmation event to the website. The booking confirmation email and calendar hold are triggered by that event. Most webhooks arrive within a few seconds, but Stripe occasionally retries on a delay, so allow up to a minute before the booking appears in your admin records.

What to check: Go to the Stripe dashboard → Developers → Events. Look for a recent checkout.session.completed event. If it exists, the site has received or will receive the notification.

Verify the payment is marked 'paid'

A booking is not finalized until Stripe confirms the payment succeeded. A student who closes the checkout tab early will leave an unpaid hold that expires automatically after about 20 minutes. Only paid bookings show in the admin dashboard.

What to check: In the Stripe dashboard → Payments, check the Status column. Succeeded means the payment cleared. Requires action or Canceled means it did not.

Check your payout schedule, not just payments

Stripe does not send money to your bank instantly. Payments first sit in your Stripe balance, then move to your bank account on a payout schedule. The first payout may take 7–14 business days after your first successful charge, while Stripe verifies the account. After that, payouts are usually daily or weekly depending on your settings.

What to check: In the Stripe dashboard → Payouts, look at the next expected payout date. If the payment is in the balance but not yet in your bank, it is probably waiting for the next payout cycle.

Confirm your account is activated and verified

Stripe may hold funds if your identity verification, bank account, or business details are still being reviewed. Incomplete onboarding is the most common reason a charge is accepted but not paid out.

What to check: In the Stripe dashboard, look for a notification banner or warning icon. Go to Settings → Account details and make sure identity, business, and bank information are all marked complete.

Look for holds, refunds, or disputes

Stripe can place funds on hold for risk review, especially for new accounts. Refunds, chargebacks, or disputes will also reduce the amount available to be paid out.

What to check: In the Stripe dashboard → Balance, check the available and pending amounts. Look under the Risk and Reviews tabs for any flagged transactions.

Still not showing?

If you have confirmed the payment succeeded in Stripe but the booking or invoice has not appeared in the admin records after 10 minutes, email support@originstoryessays.com with the payment ID (looks like pi_... or ch_...) from the Stripe dashboard. For questions about payout timing, bank account setup, or account verification, use the chat in the Stripe dashboard or contact Stripe support directly.

Quick reference

Payment succeeded but not in admin: wait up to 1 minute, then check Stripe Events for a recent checkout.session.completed.
Payment in Stripe but not in bank: check Payouts for the next scheduled deposit.
No payment ID at all: the student likely did not complete checkout. The slot hold will expire automatically.
Account still verifying: first payout may take 7–14 business days.

Back to home or admin records.