Underpayments and overpayments for payers

Learn what underpayments and overpayments are, how they happen, and how to resolve them.

OpenNode Support avatar
Written by OpenNode Support
Updated over a week ago

Did I overpay or underpay?

Use the chart below to see what the payment status and actions available are for underpayments and overpayments:

Mispayment type

Payment status is...

Actions available...

Underpayment

incomplete

  1. Top-up underpaid amount.

  2. Refund payment.

Overpayment

complete

Refund overpaid amount.

Underpayments

Underpayments are incomplete payments. This means that the goods or services being purchased will not be released until the payment becomes complete.

How did this happen?

An underpayment occurs when both of the following conditions are met:

  1. The payer submits an amount less than the requested amount.

  2. The payer is paying with bitcoin on-chain.

How to resolve an underpayment

Payers can resolve (make an underpayment complete) in two ways:

1. Complete payment:

  • Click "complete payment".

  • On the next screen, a new checkout screen will appear. At the top, it will say how much BTC you have already paid. Underneath it will be a new BTC amount. The top-up payment must be completed on-chain and it must be the exact amount. In the example below, the amount that needs to be paid is exactly 0.00005 BTC.

  • That's it! When the payment confirms on-chain, the payment will now be resolved.

2. Initiate a return,

  • Click "request a refund".

  • On the next screen, enter an on-chain bitcoin address and an email address (if one is not already filled for you).

    • Note: Underpayment refunds will not be sent to a Lightning Network invoice.

    • Click “Request refund” when the form is filled out.

    • That's it! Underpayment refunds can take up to 24 hours to initiate. You'll receive an email as a receipt of your refund.

How do I avoid making underpayments in the future?

Overpayments

Overpayments are completed payments. This means that the goods or services being purchased will be released to the payer.

How did this happen?

An overpayment occurs when both of the following conditions are met:

  1. The payer submits an amount more than the requested amount.

  2. The payer is paying with bitcoin on-chain.

How to resolve an overpayment

To recoup the overpaid amount, payers can request a refund of the overpaid amount to an on-chain bitcoin address.

Request a refund:

  1. Click "Request refund".

  2. On the next screen, enter an on-chain bitcoin address and an email address (if one is not already filled for you).

    1. Note: Overpayment refunds will not be sent to a Lightning Network invoice.

  3. Click “Request refund” again when the form is filled out.

  4. That's it! Underpayment refunds can take up to 24 hours to initiate. You'll receive an email as a receipt of your refund.

How do I avoid making overpayments in the future?


Underpayment and overpayment refunds

When the payer requests a refund on either an overpayment or underpayment, OpenNode:

  • subtracts 200 satoshis (0.00000200 BTC) to cover network fees.

  • initiates the return of underpaid or overpaid funds.

  • sends a confirmation email including details of the refund.

Refunds are typically completed within 24 hours of being requested.


Have Questions? Let us know!

In the case of any payment discrepancies, OpenNode will respond to merchant inquiries on a case-by-case basis. You can reach us at support@opennode.com or use the chatbot at the bottom right of any OpenNode page, 24/7.

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