Reasons and Fixes for TikTok Ads Payment Failures

TikTok advertisers and sellers often encounter more than just ad display issues when running TikTok ads. A common challenge is payment failure, with error messages such as “The payment was unsuccessful due to an abnormality” or simply “The payment was unsuccessful,” which can disrupt ad delivery. Therefore, it’s essential to understand the common issues and solutions related to TikTok ad payments.

I. Common TikTok Ad Payment Failures and Possible Causes

1. Common Issues and Prompts

(1) Payment Not Supported
The system may prompt: “Your bank has disapproved this payment. Please use a different payment method or consult with your bank.” This generally means the bank doesn’t support this transaction or failed to process it at that time.

(2) Payment Failed
The system may display: “The payment was unsuccessful due to an abnormality. Please use another payment method. Please try again later or use another payment method.” or “The payment was unsuccessful. Please try again or use another payment method.” These errors can stem from various causes and often require a multi-angle investigation.

(3) Authentication Failed
A message such as “User authentication was unsuccessful. Please consult with your bank or use another payment method.” may indicate inconsistencies in the cardholder’s name, email, or address.

(4) Invalid Payment Amount or Method
A message like “Invalid payment amount (method). Please double check the payment limit and enter a supported amount (use another payment method)” generally means the amount entered is out of the acceptable range, the format is incorrect, or the payment method is unavailable.

2. Possible causes

(1) Mismatch between payment information provided to the platform and actual payment details
(2) Incorrectly entered payment information
(3) Unstable internet connection
(4) Issues with bank authentication
(5) Errors from the bank or payment provider when adding or processing a payment account
(6) Expired bank card or insufficient balance
(7) Abnormal status of the TikTok or payment account due to risk control or related issues

II. Common Solutions

1. Information check

(1) Verify that the payment information entered in TikTok Ads Manager or TikTok Business Center is accurate
(2) Ensure that the bank card has not expired
(3) Confirm that the card has sufficient balance or credit limit
(4) Check whether the card supports and correctly passes 3D Secure (3DS) verification
(5) Ensure the entered payment amount is correct

2. Change payment method

In modules like Finance or Payment Management, you can manage your payment methods. If a payment consistently fails, try switching to a different bank card or PayPal.

3. Seek support

(1) Contact your bank to inquire about the specific reason for the declined payment
(2) Contact TikTok to get details regarding the status of your account

4. Network Stability

(1) Check internet connectivity, clear browser cache, switch to incognito mode, try a different browser, or use another device (desktop or mobile) for the payment process
(2) Clear the TikTok Ads Manager cache and add “&reset_cache=1” to the end of the URL after logging in
(3) Ensure consistency in language, country, time zone, currency, and location settings across your TikTok and payment accounts
(4) Use a reliable network environment and choose high-purity, stable proxies such as IPFoxy to reduce the risk of triggering risk control on TikTok or your payment account. Supported types include dedicated static proxy, rotating proxy, dedicated static residential proxy, and rotating residential proxy. Anti-detect browsers may also help improve account security and reduce risk exposure.

III. Final Thoughts

There are multiple potential causes behind TikTok ad payment failures. With the right information and reliable network tools, these issues can often be resolved efficiently.