The first payment showed an error.
So you tried again.
Later, you realize both payments went through.
This is one of the most common causes of duplicate charges—when a payment fails on screen but succeeds in the background.
A failed message doesn’t always mean the payment actually failed.
Why This Happens
- The first payment was approved but the response timed out
- The app didn’t receive confirmation and showed a failure
- You retried before the system updated
- Both transactions were eventually processed
How to Confirm It’s a Retry Duplicate
- Two charges appear within minutes of each other
- Both charges are for the same amount
- Only one subscription or order is active
- The first attempt showed an error or loading screen
What You Should Avoid Doing
- Don’t retry payment immediately after an error
- Don’t create another account to try again
- Don’t assume the first payment was canceled
If a payment fails and you retry right away, duplicate charges can happen—even when the screen says “failed.”