Getting-paid guides · 08
The client says they paid, but nothing has arrivedCommon reasons a payment is delayed or bounced, plus how to trace it step by step and who to ask.
The client sends a quick "already paid," you refresh your account, and the balance hasn't budged. The doubt creeps in: did they never really pay, did it bounce, or is it just slow? Don't rush to have the client pay again; that can easily create a double payment that's harder to claw back later. This guide walks you through it calmly, step by step: what the common causes are, what order to check in, and who to ask.
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01First: don't have the client re-send yet
When the money hasn't arrived, the worst move is to hurriedly ask the client to "pay it again." If that first payment is actually in transit, paying twice creates a double payment, and then you're in for another round of refund hassle. The right order is: first work out what actually happened to the first payment, then decide whether to redo it.
02Common reasons for a delay or a bounce
- The platform is running a compliance or risk review, and the funds are on hold.
- The payee name, account number or currency doesn't match what you gave, so it bounced.
- A cross-border bank transfer went through an intermediary bank and took a few extra days.
- USDT was sent on the wrong chain or to the wrong address (the trickiest case, see guide 4).
- It hit a per-transaction or daily limit and got blocked.
03A step-by-step trace
- Ask the client for proof of payment: a transaction ID, a screenshot, the time it was debited, not just a "paid it."
- Check that the account details the client paid into match what you gave them.
- Confirm the channel and currency; for USDT, confirm the chain too.
- Look up the normal arrival time for that channel, so you can tell a real delay from "it's just not due yet."
04Do it yourself: check the status by channel
- USDT: drop the client's
TXIDinto a block explorer and see where it actually went, which address, which chain, and whether it's confirmed. - Platforms (PayPal / Wise / Payoneer): log in and read the transaction record and status notes; a lot of "didn't arrive" is really "under review."
- Bank wire: have the client provide the bank's transfer receipt, and check whether it's still in transit at an intermediary bank.
05Who to contact, and in what order
The order matters: first check it yourself (transaction record, block explorer), then ask the client for proof, and only then reach the platform's official entry / official support channel. When you do reach out, always go in through the platform's official entry, with the transaction ID, time and amount ready, so you can explain it once and clearly. Don't go hunting for "support" on social media first; that's exactly where scammers like to lie in wait.
06Beware of "support" that reaches out to you first
While you're anxious about money that hasn't arrived, if some "support" agent messages you out of the blue, says they can help "unfreeze / fast-track" your payment, and asks you for a password, code, or private key, or pushes you to click a link and log in, stop right there, it's a scam. Legitimate support only reaches you through the platform's official entry, and never privately asks you for any of that.
07A few claims people take at face value
Money hasn't arrived, so having the client pay again is fastest.
If the first payment is in transit, paying again means a double payment and a messier refund. Trace the first one first, then decide.
They sent a payment screenshot, so the money must be on its way.
A screenshot can be faked or match a failed transaction. Go by what actually lands in your account, or the on-chain record in a block explorer.
08FAQ
How long is "too long" before something's wrong?
It depends on the channel. USDT is usually minutes; platforms and banks can take 1 to 3 days or longer. Confirm the normal time for that channel first, then judge.
USDT went on the wrong chain, can I get it back?
It's very hard; on-chain transfers are irreversible. Check the TXID right away to confirm where it actually went; whether it can be recovered depends on the specifics, and don't trust anyone who claims they'll "recover it for a fee."
09What to read next
Fees, rules and regional availability are whatever each official page shows in real time.