Billing FAQ : Invoices and Payment Issues

[Account and Billing] Billing FAQ: Invoices, Receipts & Payment Issues

Billing FAQ: Invoices, Receipts & Payment Issues

Managing your Link Whisper billing, accessing invoices, and resolving payment issues are essential parts of your subscription experience. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about billing, from downloading receipts to troubleshooting payment failures.

Understanding Link Whisper Billing

Before diving into specific tasks, here's how Link Whisper billing works:

Billing Cycle:

Annual Subscriptions: Link Whisper licenses are billed annually (once per year) on the anniversary of your purchase date.

Auto-Renewal: By default, subscriptions automatically renew each year unless you cancel.

Payment Processing: Charges appear on your statement as "Link Whisper" or the name of our payment processor.

License Tiers & Pricing:

Single Site License: Typically $97 per year (check current pricing on our website)

3-Site License: Typically $197 per year (discounted package rate, NOT 3 × $97)

10-Site License: Typically $297 per year (heavily discounted for multiple sites)

Important Note: The 3-site and 10-site licenses are package deals with built-in discounts. You are charged one total amount, not per-site.

How to Access Your Invoices

Invoices serve as proof of purchase and are often needed for business accounting, tax purposes, or expense reports.

Step-by-Step: Accessing Invoices

Step 1: Navigate to Your Account

Go to LinkWhisper.com/my-account in your web browser.

Step 2: Log In

Enter the email address and password you used when purchasing Link Whisper.

Forgot Password? Click the "Lost Password" link on the login page to reset it.

Step 3: Access Billing Information

Once logged in, click on one of these tabs:

Option A: Subscriptions tab - Shows your active subscriptions and billing history

Option B: License Keys tab - Shows your licenses, which may include payment information

Step 4: View Invoices

Depending on how your account is set up, you may see:

Purchase History: A list of all transactions with dates and amounts

Downloadable Receipts: Links to download PDF receipts for each transaction

Invoice Details: Transaction ID, date, amount, payment method used

What If You Don't See Invoices?

Some accounts may not display downloadable PDF invoices directly in the dashboard.

Solution: If you need a specific downloadable PDF invoice for tax purposes or expense reports that is not visible in the dashboard, please contact our support team.

How to Request:

Subject: "Invoice Request - [Your Order ID or License Key]"

Include:

  • Your license key or purchase email
  • The date of purchase or transaction you need an invoice for
  • Any special formatting requirements (e.g., company name, tax ID)

Response Time: Our team typically sends invoices within 24 hours.

Bulk Invoice Downloads:

If you need multiple years of invoices for accounting:

Request: Email support@linkwhisper.com asking for "All invoices for [your account]"

What You'll Receive: A ZIP file or folder with all your invoices in PDF format

How to Update Your Payment Method

You may need to update your payment method if:

  • Your credit card expired
  • You got a new card with a different number
  • Your card was lost or stolen
  • You want to switch payment methods (e.g., from Visa to PayPal)

Step-by-Step: Update Payment Method

Step 1: Log Into Your Account

Navigate to LinkWhisper.com/my-account and log in.

Step 2: Go to Subscriptions

Click on the Subscriptions tab in your account dashboard.

Step 3: Select Your Subscription

Click on your active subscription to view details.

Step 4: Update Payment

Look for one of these options:

  • "Update Payment Method" button
  • "Change Payment" link
  • "Edit Payment Details" option

Step 5: Enter New Payment Information

You'll be prompted to enter:

  • New card number
  • Expiration date
  • CVV/Security code
  • Billing address (must match card)

Step 6: Save Changes

Click "Save" or "Update" to store your new payment method.

Confirmation: You should see a message like "Payment method updated successfully."

Updating Payment During Upgrade:

If you are upgrading a license (e.g., moving from 1 site to 3 sites), follow these steps:

  1. Go to License Keys tab
  1. Click View / Upgrade next to your current license
  1. Select the upgrade option in the Action column
  1. You'll be taken to the checkout page
  1. Enter your new payment method during checkout
  1. Complete the upgrade

The new payment method will be saved for future renewals.

What If You Can't Find the Update Option?

Some account dashboards may not have a visible "Update Payment" button.

Solution: Contact support@linkwhisper.com with:

  • Subject: "Update Payment Method"
  • Your license key
  • Mention that you'd like to update your card on file

Support will either:

  • Send you a direct link to update payment
  • Update the payment method manually (you provide details securely)
  • Cancel and reissue the subscription with new payment (if necessary)

What to Do if Payment Fails

Payment failures can occur during initial purchase or automatic renewal. Here's how to troubleshoot.

Common Error Messages:

  • "Could not start checkout"
  • "Payment declined"
  • "Transaction failed"
  • "Unable to process payment"
  • "Card was declined"

Troubleshooting Steps:

Step 1: Check Your Payment Method

Verify the following:

Card is Valid: Not expired or deactivated

Sufficient Funds: Your account has enough balance to cover the charge

Correct Details: Card number, expiration, CVV are entered correctly

Billing Address Match: Address matches what your bank has on file

International Transactions Enabled: If you're outside the US, ensure your card allows international purchases

Step 2: Clear Your Browser Cache

Cached data can sometimes interfere with checkout.

How to Clear Cache:

Chrome: Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac) → Select "Cached images and files" → Click "Clear data"

Firefox: Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete → Select "Cookies and Cache" → Click "Clear Now"

Safari: Go to Safari → Preferences → Privacy → Click "Manage Website Data""Remove All"

Step 3: Try a Different Browser

Some browsers have stricter security settings that can block payment processing.

Recommended Browsers:

  • Google Chrome (most reliable for checkouts)
  • Firefox
  • Microsoft Edge

Avoid:

  • Older versions of Internet Explorer
  • Heavily customized browsers with many extensions

Try Incognito/Private Mode:

Chrome: Press Ctrl+Shift+N to open Incognito

Firefox: Press Ctrl+Shift+P to open Private Window

Safari: Press Cmd+Shift+N to open Private Browsing

Why This Helps: Private mode disables extensions and uses fresh cookies, eliminating conflicts.

Step 4: Disable Browser Extensions

Extensions like ad blockers, privacy tools, and security plugins can interfere with payment forms.

How to Test:

  1. Open your browser's Extensions or Add-ons page
  1. Temporarily disable all extensions
  1. Try the checkout again
  1. Re-enable extensions after successful payment

Common Culprits:

  • AdBlock, uBlock Origin (ad blockers)
  • Privacy Badger (privacy protection)
  • Ghostery (tracking blocker)
  • Script blockers (NoScript, uMatrix)

Step 5: Contact Your Bank

Sometimes banks decline online transactions for fraud protection.

What to Do:

  1. Call your bank or card issuer
  1. Tell them you're trying to make a legitimate purchase from Link Whisper
  1. Ask them to approve the transaction
  1. Try checking out again within 10-15 minutes

Common Reasons Banks Block:

  • Unusual purchase pattern (you don't normally buy software)
  • International transaction (Link Whisper's payment processor may be based outside your country)
  • First-time online merchant (your bank doesn't recognize Link Whisper)

Step 6: Try a Different Payment Method

If your card consistently fails:

Alternatives:

  • Use a different credit card
  • Try a debit card
  • Use PayPal (if available as a payment option)
  • Use a virtual credit card from your bank

Step 7: Contact Support

If the issue persists after trying all the above, please submit a ticket so we can investigate the payment gateway connection directly.

Subject: "Payment Failed - Need Help"

Include:

  • Description of error (exact error message if possible)
  • Payment method tried (Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, etc.)
  • Browser used (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.)
  • Troubleshooting steps already tried (cleared cache, tried different browser, etc.)

What Support Can Do:

  • Check payment gateway logs for specific error codes
  • Provide an alternative payment link
  • Manually process your order (in rare cases)
  • Identify if there's a technical issue with the checkout page

Duplicate Charge Resolution

Seeing multiple charges on your credit card statement can be alarming. Here's how to handle it:

Before You Panic - Check These First:

Common Misunderstanding: Package Pricing

Ensure you aren't misinterpreting the "3-site license" pricing structure.

How It Works:

  • 3-Site License costs approximately $197 total (one charge)
  • This is a package price with a built-in discount
  • It is NOT three separate charges of $97 each
  • You should see ONE charge on your statement for the package amount

Example:

If you purchased a 3-site license for $197, you should see:

One charge: $197.00

NOT:

❌ Three charges: $97.00, $97.00, $97.00

Actual Duplicate Charges:

If you genuinely see two or more identical charges for the same amount on the same date, this is a duplicate charge.

Common Causes:

  • Checkout button clicked multiple times (causing multiple submissions)
  • Browser refresh during payment processing
  • Payment gateway glitch (rare but possible)

How to Resolve Duplicate Charges:

Step 1: Verify the Charges

Check your credit card or bank statement:

  • Date of each charge
  • Exact amount of each charge
  • Transaction IDs (if visible)

Step 2: Contact Support Immediately

Don't wait! The faster you report it, the faster we can refund.

Subject: "Duplicate Charge - Urgent"

Include:

  • Screenshot of your bank/card statement showing both charges
  • Dates and amounts of the duplicate charges
  • Your license key or purchase email

Step 3: We'll Investigate

Our support team will:

  1. Verify the transaction timestamps in our payment gateway
  1. Confirm that you were indeed charged multiple times
  1. Issue a refund for the duplicate charge immediately

Step 4: Refund Processing

Timeline: Refund processing typically takes 10-12 business days to appear in your account after we initiate it.

What You'll See:

  • Immediate confirmation email from our team
  • Refund credit on your statement within 2 weeks

Why It Takes Time: Banks and credit card companies have their own processing timelines that are beyond our control.

Prevention Tips:

To avoid duplicate charges in the future:

Click "Buy" or "Submit Payment" only once

Wait for the page to load completely - don't refresh

Don't use browser back button during checkout

Check confirmation page before closing the window

VAT / Tax Invoice Requests

If you're a business customer or located in a region requiring VAT (Value Added Tax) on invoices, we can provide compliant tax receipts.

What is a VAT Invoice?

A VAT invoice is a tax-compliant receipt that includes:

  • Your company name
  • Your billing address
  • Your VAT ID / Tax ID number
  • VAT amount (if applicable)
  • Our company details as the seller

Who Needs VAT Invoices?

EU Businesses: Required to show VAT for accounting and tax filings

UK Businesses: Post-Brexit VAT requirements

Other International Businesses: Depending on local tax laws

Freelancers/Contractors: For expense deductions and tax reporting

How to Request a VAT Invoice:

Step 1: Email Support

Step 2: Use This Subject Line

Subject: "VAT Invoice Request - [Your Order ID or License Key]"

Step 3: Include These Details

In the body of your email, provide:

Required Information:

  • Full Company Name (as registered)
  • Complete Billing Address (street, city, postal code, country)
  • VAT ID / Tax ID Number (format varies by country, e.g., "GB123456789" for UK)
  • Purchase Date or Transaction ID
  • License Key (if you have it)

Optional:

  • Additional tax requirements specific to your country
  • Invoice format preferences (if any)

Step 4: Receive Your Invoice

Our support team will:

  1. Manually generate a VAT-compliant invoice with your details
  1. Return it to you as a PDF attachment via email

Timeline: Usually within 24-48 hours (1-2 business days)

Sample Email Template:

Subject: VAT Invoice Request - License Key ABC123XYZ

Hi Link Whisper Support,

I would like to request a VAT invoice for my recent purchase.

Details:
- Company Name: Tech Solutions Ltd
- Billing Address: 123 Business Street, London, UK, SW1A 1AA
- VAT ID: GB123456789
- Purchase Date: January 15, 2026
- License Key: ABC123XYZ (if known)

Please send the VAT invoice to this email address.

Thank you!
[Your Name]

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why can't I find my invoice in the account dashboard?

A: Some accounts may not display downloadable PDFs directly. Contact support, and we'll send you the invoice manually.

Q: Can I change the email address on my invoice?

A: Invoices are tied to the purchase email. If you need a different email for accounting, mention this when requesting the invoice, and we can accommodate.

Q: Do you charge sales tax?

A: Sales tax is charged based on your location and local tax laws. U.S. customers may see state sales tax added.

Q: What name will appear on my credit card statement?

A: Charges appear as "Link Whisper" or the name of our payment processor (varies by region).

Q: Can I pay via wire transfer or purchase order?

A: For enterprise or bulk purchases, contact support@linkwhisper.com to discuss alternative payment arrangements.

Q: What if I was charged but didn't receive my license?

A: Check your spam/junk folder for the license email. If still missing, contact support with your payment confirmation, and we'll resend your license immediately.

Q: Can I split payment across multiple cards?

A: Our standard checkout doesn't support split payments. Contact support for multi-site purchases to discuss options.

Need Additional Billing Support?

For any billing questions not covered in this guide:

Subject: Use a clear subject like "Billing Question" or "Invoice Help"

Include: Your license key or purchase email for faster assistance

Response Time: Usually within 24 hours, often faster during business hours

We're here to help ensure your billing experience is smooth and hassle-free!

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