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payment_status value in Paypal Sandbox always pending

5 July 2009 11,308 views 9 Comments

I was working with the Paypal sandbox to test a Paypal application for a client. I was using IPN for the payment notification from PayPal so I could update member record on database. While testing I was getting the payment_status value Pending.  I played with the sandbox account after I created it, so things might have got messed up. After searching these steps below seem to have solved the problem getting me payment_status value Completed.

1. Login to your Developer Central.

2. Click on Test Accounts tab on the left. You should have created these test accounts for testing on Sandbox.

3. Find the column ‘Payment Review’.

4. Find the sandbox account you are using  and click on “Enabled” in the ‘Payment Review’ column.

5. This should change to “Disabled” and now payments funded from your balance and credit card will complete instantly.

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9 Comments »

  • ori said:

    Hi!

    But whats happen if in the live,the client don´t have this option on? that can make some problem,no?

    # 4 March 2010 at 7:27 pm
  • manik (author) said:

    @ori
    we need to test for both pending and completed status. in live cases we would see the payment status pending for reasons like payment not cleared etc. When paypal payment completes, paypal sends a payment status completed call to the script.

    for the live sites on the code we should handle the situation as we like. In my case I did now allow the subscribers access the paid only access part of the website until the system gets payment status completed call from paypal. on the payment page we have put a small note for that.

    # 13 March 2010 at 11:16 pm
  • dani said:

    thanks for tip, I have just testing this and I received pending status for transaction. Thanks for help

    # 27 March 2010 at 5:19 pm
  • manik (author) said:

    glad it helped.

    # 27 March 2010 at 5:51 pm
  • Ryan said:

    Thanks, this was very helpful. I wish PayPal had included this in their documentation…

    # 1 May 2010 at 2:02 am
  • EangHort said:

    When payment status padding paypal send ipn to ipn_url, after payment status completed paypal send ipn to ipu_url again?

    # 9 September 2010 at 11:06 pm
  • Jay said:

    Hi,

    That was helpful!! I was getting frustrated not able to figure out why the status was pending

    Note : The fix is only for sandbox testing not for actual transactions :)

    # 15 February 2011 at 10:07 am
  • Alan said:

    I changed the Test Accounts type to “Disabled” in “Payment Review” column but i’m still getting pending status on sandbox transaction. Save me……..

    # 2 May 2011 at 12:01 pm
  • dunk said:

    I’ve been struggling with this problem for many, many hours! Thanks so much!! I can now finally open my shop!

    # 2 May 2011 at 8:34 pm

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