Get Instant Solutions for Kubernetes, Databases, Docker and more
Stripe Billing is a comprehensive tool designed to manage billing and subscription services for businesses. It provides a robust API that allows developers to integrate billing functionalities into their applications seamlessly. With Stripe Billing, businesses can handle recurring payments, manage subscriptions, and automate invoicing processes efficiently.
One common issue encountered when using Stripe Billing is the 'expired_card' error. This error typically appears when a customer attempts to make a payment using a credit card that has passed its expiration date. The symptom is straightforward: the transaction fails, and an error message indicating the card has expired is returned.
The 'expired_card' error is a specific error code returned by Stripe when a payment attempt is made with an expired credit card. This error is part of Stripe's error handling mechanism, which ensures that invalid payment methods are flagged and transactions are not processed with outdated or incorrect card information.
The root cause of this issue is simple: the credit card used for the transaction has expired. This means the expiration date on the card is in the past, and the card is no longer valid for making payments.
To resolve the 'expired_card' error, follow these actionable steps:
Inform the customer that their card has expired and request them to update their payment information. This can be done through automated email notifications or in-app alerts.
Guide the customer to update their card details. This can be done by directing them to your application's payment settings page. Ensure that the page is user-friendly and secure.
Once the customer updates their card information, validate the new card details. This can be done using Stripe's API to ensure the card is valid and active.
const stripe = require('stripe')('your-stripe-secret-key');
stripe.paymentMethods.retrieve('pm_card_visa', function(err, paymentMethod) {
if (err) {
console.error('Error retrieving payment method:', err);
} else {
console.log('Payment method retrieved:', paymentMethod);
}
});
Handling the 'expired_card' error in Stripe Billing is a straightforward process that involves notifying the customer and updating their payment information. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure a smooth resolution to this common issue. For more detailed information on handling Stripe errors, visit the Stripe Error Codes Documentation.
(Perfect for DevOps & SREs)
Try Doctor Droid — your AI SRE that auto-triages alerts, debugs issues, and finds the root cause for you.