> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.wegive.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Manually Recovering Failed Recurring Payments

> How to collect failed recurring donations by hand in Dashboard v2: bulk-retry failed payments from the Payments list, charge an installment on a plan (including with a new card), resume paused plans, fix a next charge date that is in the past, and what WeGive will not do automatically.

## Overview

When recurring donations fail -- a payment processor problem, a batch of
declined cards, a plan that paused itself -- you do not have to wait for the
next scheduled charge. This guide covers the tools you can use yourself in
Dashboard v2 and, just as important, what does **not** happen automatically.

## Pick the right tool

| What you see | What to do | Does it charge now? |
| - | - | - |
| Failed payments, and the donor's card on file should still work | **Retry** the failed payments from the Payments list | Yes, on the same card |
| The donor gave you a new card | Update the plan's payment method, then use **Charge installment** on the plan | Yes, when you run Charge installment |
| The plan is **Paused** | **Resume** the plan and choose its next installment date | No |
| The plan's next charge date has already passed | Edit the **Next charge date**, or run **Charge installment** | Date edit: no. Charge installment: yes |
| The plan is **Canceled** | Restore the plan first, then use one of the tools above | No |

## Retry failed payments in bulk

1. Go to **Payments** and filter the list to **Failed** payments.
2. Select the payments you want to retry, or select all payments matching
   your filter.
3. Choose **Retry** and confirm. The retries are queued, and each one shows up
   as a new payment on the list shortly afterward.

A retry is a brand-new charge attempt on the same payment method the
original attempt used. The original failed payment stays on record, and the
new payment is linked to it. A payment is **not** retried if:

* it is not in **Failed** status,
* it has already been retried successfully, or
* its payment method has been removed. In that case the donor needs to add a
  new payment method, and you can then use **Charge installment** (below).

Things that also block a retry on a payment that belongs to a recurring plan:
the plan has been canceled, or the plan has no payment method on file. A
**paused** plan does not block a retry, and retrying does not resume the
plan.

On a single payment's own page, the **Retry payment** button is not
available for test payments or offline (recorded) payments, so keep those
out of a bulk selection.

Retrying does not depend on your Dunning Flow setting. It works whether
Dunning Flow is on or off.

Important: a retry always uses the card or bank account the failed payment
used. It will not use a newer card you added afterward. For a new card, use
**Charge installment**.

## Charge an installment on a plan

1. Go to **Recurring Plans**, open the plan, and choose **Charge installment**.
2. Check the amount and the payment method, then submit.

Things to know:

* **Advance Installment Date** is on by default. When it is on, the plan's
  next charge date moves forward as part of the charge, so the donor is not
  billed again on the old date. Turn it off only if you want this to be an
  extra charge and the plan's regular schedule should stay exactly as it is.
* If you pick a different card here, only this one charge uses it. The plan
  itself keeps its saved payment method. To make the new card the plan's
  payment method for future installments, also edit the plan and select the
  new card under **Payment method**.
* If the plan is in dunning, the plan page also offers **Charge or record
  payment for this installment**, which collects the specific missed
  installment.

## Resume a paused plan, or fix a date in the past

* **Paused plans:** open the plan and choose **Resume**, then pick the next
  installment date. The date cannot be in the past. Resuming does not charge
  anything by itself; the plan charges on the date you chose. Use **Charge
  installment** as well if you need the money today.
* **A next charge date in the past:** the daily recurring charge run only
  picks up plans whose next charge date is **today**. A plan whose date has
  slipped into the past will not charge on its own later. Edit the **Next
  charge date** to a current or future date, or run **Charge installment**
  with Advance Installment Date on, which charges now and moves the date
  forward in one step.

## There is no bulk charge or resume for plans

The **Recurring Plans** list offers bulk **Archive**, **Restore**, **Resync**,
**Tag**, and **Set end date**. It does not offer a bulk charge, bulk resume,
or bulk date change. For many plans that need attention:

1. Bulk **Retry** the failed payments from the **Payments** list.
2. Open the plans that still need work one at a time to **Resume**, edit the
   date, or **Charge installment**.

## What happens automatically (and what does not)

* The Recurring Installment Failed messages are notifications to the donor.
  They do not charge the card. You also have to create and enable those four
  messages in your Triggers settings for donors to receive them.
* Updating a plan's payment method -- you in the dashboard, or the donor in
  their portal -- does **not** charge the missed installment. The plan simply
  uses the new payment method on its next scheduled date. To collect the
  missed installment, use **Charge installment** or **Retry**.
* Depending on your Dunning Flow settings, WeGive may attempt the plan's
  next regular installment, and organizations can turn on a **Retry
  payments** option under Dunning Flow in **Settings > Organization**,
  which is off by default. Do not count on these when you have a deadline;
  collect the payments yourself with the steps above.

See also [Understanding the Dunning Flow](https://docs.wegive.com/external/support/giving/understanding-the-dunning-flow.md),
[Editing or pausing a plan](https://docs.wegive.com/external/support/giving/editing-or-pausing-a-plan.md), and
[Deleting and Restoring a Recurring Plan](https://docs.wegive.com/external/support/giving/deleting-and-restoring-a-recurring-plan.md).


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