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If your card shows “doesn’t support this payment,” it’s usually an Indian bank enforcing RBI rules that require 3D Secure (OTP) approval for each charge. The initial purchase works because it includes OTP, but recurring charges don’t trigger OTP, so the bank blocks them. This is a bank-level restriction. The fix is to pay the invoice manually, where OTP authentication is supported.

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Key takeaways

  • Cause: RBI regulations require 3D Secure (OTP) authentication and manual approval; recurring charges don’t trigger OTP, so Indian banks block them automatically.
  • It’s most common when the merchant is outside India, an international provider processes the charge, or the payment is recurring or automatic.
  • This is a bank-level restriction that Sendspark cannot override.
  • Workaround: pay the unpaid invoice manually (Billing → Invoices → Pay Invoice) — it’s treated as a one-time payment, so OTP is requested and allowed.

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The Root Cause: 3D Secure (OTP) & Recurring Payments in India

Most credit and debit cards issued by Indian banks are subject to RBI (Reserve Bank of India) regulations, which require:
  • 3D Secure authentication (OTP) for online payments
  • Manual customer approval for each transaction
Because of this, many Indian cards cannot complete automatic or recurring payments, especially when:
  • The merchant is outside India
  • The payment is processed by an international payment provider
  • The charge is recurring or automatic (subscriptions, renewals, retries)

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Why it worked once but not again

  • The initial purchase often succeeds because it includes OTP authentication.
  • Recurring charges do not trigger OTP, so the bank blocks them automatically.
  • When the renewal runs, the bank rejects it with errors like:
    • “Card doesn’t support this payment”
    • “Authentication required”
    • “Recurring payment not allowed”
This is a bank-level restriction, not something we can override.

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✅ The Solution: Pay the Invoice Manually

The most reliable workaround is to pay the invoice manually, where OTP authentication is supported.

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How to Pay Your Invoice Manually

  1. Log in to your account
  2. Go to Billing
  3. Open Invoices
  4. Select the unpaid invoice
  5. Click Pay Invoice
  6. Complete the payment (OTP will be requested by your bank)
This process works because:
  • It’s treated as a one-time payment
  • OTP authentication is allowed
  • You remain in full control of the transaction
Open your account and click on SEE PLANS Sendspark account menu with See Plans option highlighted Head to BILLING HISTORY: Sendspark billing history page showing list of past charges Click on the VIEW INVOICE button that corresponds to the open billing: Billing history table with View Invoice button for unpaid invoice Use the PAY INVOICE ONLINE option Invoice details page with Pay Invoice Online button displayed

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Frequently asked questions

The initial purchase often succeeds because it includes OTP authentication. Recurring charges don’t trigger OTP, so your bank blocks them automatically under RBI rules — you may see errors like “Card doesn’t support this payment,” “Authentication required,” or “Recurring payment not allowed.”
No. This is a bank-level restriction driven by RBI (Reserve Bank of India) regulations, not something Sendspark can override.
Log in to your account, go to Billing, open Invoices, select the unpaid invoice, click Pay Invoice, and complete the payment. Your bank will request OTP, which is supported for one-time payments.
A manual invoice payment is treated as a one-time payment, where OTP authentication is allowed and you stay in full control of the transaction — so it isn’t blocked the way an automatic recurring charge is.
Updated July 2026.