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Square Duplicate transaction error encountered during payment processing.

A transaction with the same details was already processed.

Resolving DUPLICATE_TRANSACTION Error in Square Payment Gateway

Understanding Square's Payment Gateway

Square is a leading FinTech API provider that offers a comprehensive payment gateway solution for businesses. It allows merchants to process payments efficiently and securely, providing a seamless checkout experience for customers. Square's APIs are designed to handle various payment methods, including credit cards, digital wallets, and more.

Identifying the Symptom

When integrating Square's payment gateway, you might encounter the DUPLICATE_TRANSACTION error. This error typically manifests as a failed transaction attempt, where the system indicates that the transaction has already been processed.

Common Observations

  • Customers report being charged twice for the same transaction.
  • Transaction logs show multiple entries with identical details.
  • Payment processing is halted due to the error.

Explaining the DUPLICATE_TRANSACTION Issue

The DUPLICATE_TRANSACTION error occurs when a transaction with the same details is attempted more than once. This can happen due to network issues, user error, or system glitches that cause the transaction request to be sent multiple times.

Root Cause Analysis

The primary cause of this error is the repeated submission of identical transaction data. This can be due to:

  • Network timeouts leading to retries.
  • User refreshing the payment page.
  • System errors causing duplicate API calls.

Steps to Fix the DUPLICATE_TRANSACTION Error

To resolve this issue, follow these actionable steps:

1. Verify Transaction History

Before proceeding with any fixes, check the transaction history in your Square Dashboard to confirm if the transaction was indeed processed. You can access the dashboard here.

2. Implement Idempotency Keys

Use idempotency keys in your API requests to ensure that duplicate transactions are not processed. An idempotency key is a unique identifier for each transaction request. If a request with the same key is received, Square will recognize it as a duplicate and prevent it from being processed again. Learn more about idempotency keys here.

3. Handle Network Timeouts

Ensure your application is designed to handle network timeouts gracefully. Implement retry logic with exponential backoff to prevent immediate resubmission of requests.

4. Educate Users

Provide clear instructions to users to avoid refreshing the payment page or clicking the payment button multiple times.

Conclusion

By understanding and addressing the root causes of the DUPLICATE_TRANSACTION error, you can ensure a smoother payment processing experience for your customers. Implementing idempotency keys and handling network issues effectively are key strategies in preventing this error. For more detailed guidance, refer to Square's official documentation.

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