If you’ve ever run a WooCommerce store, you know that everything needs to work like clockwork—especially when it comes to payments. Few things are more frustrating than customers seeing the error:
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“There was an error processing your order. Please check for any charges in your payment.”
This message doesn’t just cause anxiety for customers—it can directly impact your revenue, trustworthiness, and overall user experience. What’s worse is that the error message is vague and can result from various issues.
In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into:
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What this error message really means
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Common causes of the issue
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How to troubleshoot and fix it
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A real-life case where reducing the PHP version solved the problem
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Preventive tips to avoid future issues
Understanding the Error Message
When WooCommerce throws the message “There was an error processing your order. Please check for any charges in your payment,” it usually means that the payment gateway failed to complete the transaction. However, it doesn’t tell you why it failed.
To the customer, it looks like the system might have deducted money and failed to complete the order—triggering confusion and frustration. To the admin, it’s a vague notice without specifics. This message can originate from various sources including plugin conflicts, server settings, or even issues with the payment provider.
Common Causes of the Error
Before jumping to solutions, let’s break down the most common reasons why this error might occur.
1. PHP Version Incompatibility
WooCommerce and payment plugins require a compatible PHP environment to function properly. Running your server on an unsupported or overly new PHP version can break certain functions, especially if the plugin developers haven’t updated their codebase accordingly.
Personal Experience: I once faced this exact error after updating my server to PHP 8.2. Orders started failing with the same message. Rolling back to PHP 7.4 immediately fixed the issue. More on that later.
2. Plugin Conflicts
If your WooCommerce store uses multiple plugins (payment gateways, fraud detection, security add-ons), they might not play nicely together. One plugin can interfere with the way another processes payments.
3. Outdated Payment Gateway Plugin
Using outdated versions of plugins like Stripe, PayPal, or local gateways like MPESA can cause incompatibility issues—especially after a WooCommerce or WordPress update.
4. Server-Side Firewall or ModSecurity Rules
Your server may have strict rules that block certain API calls. If your payment gateway communicates with an external API, and your firewall blocks outgoing requests or JSON responses, you’ll see this kind of error.
5. Invalid or Misconfigured API Keys
Mistyped or expired API credentials in the payment gateway settings can cause payments to fail.
6. SSL/HTTPS Issues
If your site isn’t fully secured with HTTPS or has mixed content warnings, payment gateways may decline the transaction due to security concerns.
7. Caching Issues
Aggressive caching—especially object caching or page caching on checkout pages—can interfere with real-time processing of orders.
How to Fix the “Error Processing Your Order” Issue
Now that we understand the possible causes, let’s walk through a checklist to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.
✅ 1. Roll Back PHP Version (The Fix That Worked for Me)
If you recently updated your server to a newer PHP version (e.g., PHP 8.1 or 8.2), try downgrading to PHP 7.4 or PHP 8.0.
Why it works: Some WooCommerce extensions—especially local payment gateways—are not yet optimized for PHP 8.x and throw hidden fatal errors when processing payments.
How to change PHP version:
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If you’re using cPanel, go to Select PHP Version or MultiPHP Manager.
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Choose PHP 7.4 or 8.0 and apply changes.
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Clear your site cache and retest the checkout.
In my case, I had updated to PHP 8.2 thinking it would improve performance, but it ended up breaking the payment process silently. As soon as I reverted to PHP 7.4, orders processed successfully again.
✅ 2. Enable Debugging in WooCommerce
To get more detailed logs of what’s happening behind the scenes:
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Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Payments > Your Gateway (e.g., Stripe)
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Enable Debug Mode
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Attempt a test purchase
Then check WooCommerce > Status > Logs for the latest log entry. You’ll often find the root cause here.
✅ 3. Test for Plugin Conflicts
Temporarily deactivate all plugins except:
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WooCommerce
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Your payment plugin (e.g., WooCommerce Stripe or WC MPESA)
Then try a test checkout. If the error disappears, reactivate plugins one by one to find the culprit.
Pro tip: Always test in staging or maintenance mode to avoid affecting real users.
✅ 4. Update All Plugins and Themes
Make sure:
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WordPress is updated
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WooCommerce is on the latest version
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Your theme is compatible with current WooCommerce standards
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Your payment gateway plugin is updated
Sometimes plugin updates include critical bug fixes related to this exact issue.
✅ 5. Check API Credentials and Webhook URLs
Log into your payment provider’s dashboard (e.g., Stripe, PayPal) and:
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Ensure the API keys match what’s on your site
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Verify that webhook URLs are correctly configured
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Resend webhook events if any have failed
✅ 6. Check Hosting Firewall or Security Modules
Ask your hosting provider:
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If ModSecurity or any firewall is blocking external API calls
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To whitelist known API endpoints of your payment gateway
You can also test API calls using Postman or terminal commands like curl to ensure there’s no blocking happening.
✅ 7. Use a Payment Logging Plugin
To gain deeper insight, use a logging plugin like:
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Query Monitor
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WP Log Viewer
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Debug Bar
This helps you spot errors thrown by payment gateways, hidden PHP warnings, and database errors.
Bonus Fix: Create a Sandbox and Use Test Cards
When all else fails, create a WooCommerce staging site or clone your live site using a tool like WP Staging. Enable sandbox/test mode in your payment plugin, and try fake card numbers.
This allows you to troubleshoot without affecting real transactions or scaring away customers safely.
How to Explain the Error to Customers
Transparency builds trust. If customers report the error, offer a calm and helpful message like:
“We’re sorry for the inconvenience. It appears the payment didn’t go through. Please check your account for any charges. If any amount was deducted, rest assured we’ll resolve it promptly. Feel free to try again or contact us directly.”
Also, display your support contact prominently on the checkout page or in the error message area.
Preventing Future Issues
Once you’ve resolved the issue, here are steps to avoid it happening again:
✔️ Keep PHP Version in a Safe Range
Stay on PHP 7.4 or 8.0 unless you’ve tested all your payment plugins for compatibility with PHP 8.1+.
✔️ Use a Staging Environment for Updates
Before applying updates to WooCommerce, plugins, or PHP, always test them in a staging environment.
✔️ Regularly Audit Logs
Check payment and WooCommerce logs weekly to spot potential red flags before customers do.
✔️ Automate Plugin & Theme Updates
Use tools like WP Manage, MainWP, or Jetpack to ensure your store doesn’t fall behind on updates.
✔️ Monitor Failed Orders
WooCommerce > Orders allows you to filter by failed orders. Use this to spot trends or patterns.
Final Thoughts
“There was an error processing your order” isn’t just a technical hiccup—it’s a direct blocker to your conversions and customer satisfaction.
In my case, the issue was fixed by simply reverting my PHP version from 8.2 back to 7.4. It was a lesson in compatibility: just because newer is available doesn’t mean your entire stack is ready for it.
If you’re currently facing this issue, take a deep breath, follow the troubleshooting steps, and consider checking the PHP version as one of the very first actions.
Have you encountered this error before? What worked for you?
Let’s help each other—share your experience in the comments or share this post with someone who might be irritated by this vague but critical error.
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