What happens when an invoice is overdue

An invoice becomes overdue when its due date passes and it is still unpaid. For a hosting service that matters, because the invoice usually pays for the next period of your server. This guide explains in general terms what an overdue invoice means, what you should do straight away, and where to find the exact rules that apply to your account.

Before you start

• You are signed in to the Dashboard.
• A payment method that works for one of the options on the invoice.
• Your important data backed up off the server. That is good practice at any time, and essential if a payment problem might affect your service.

How renewals and due dates work

Most hosting is billed in advance. When a service is close to its renewal date, an invoice is issued for the next period. The invoice shows a due date: the date payment is expected for the service to continue without interruption.

You can see the next due date for each server in the Services list in the Dashboard, and every invoice with its due date at /invoices.

What "overdue" means

Once the due date passes without full payment, the invoice is overdue. The Dashboard overview flags this, and you may receive reminder emails at the address on your account.

In general, across the hosting industry, an unpaid renewal can lead to:

• Reminders before and after the due date.
• Suspension of the service. A suspended server is usually stopped or made unreachable until the invoice is paid.
• Termination if an invoice stays unpaid for longer. Termination normally means the server and its data are removed.

How long each stage takes, and whether any fees apply, is set by the provider's terms. For MdmHost, read the Terms of Service. Do not rely on a grace period you have not confirmed there or with support.

What to do right now

1. Open /invoices and choose the Unpaid filter.
2. Open the overdue invoice and check the line items and balance due.
3. Pay it using one of the methods offered on the invoice page. Pay an invoice in the MdmHost Dashboard walks through each step.
4. For a bank transfer, use the exact payment reference shown on the invoice, so it can be matched quickly.
5. Refresh the invoice once the payment has gone through. It should show as Paid.

If you cannot pay yet

Talk to support before the situation gets worse:

• Open a ticket in the billing department.
• Include the invoice number, when you expect to be able to pay, and how.
• Ask what will happen to the service in the meantime.

Support can tell you what applies to your service. Make sure you have a fresh backup of anything important while you sort it out.

If you no longer want the service

If the invoice is for a server you no longer need, do not simply ignore it. Back up anything you want to keep, then submit a cancellation request for the service and ask support how the open invoice will be handled. The cancellation option is on the service's page in the Dashboard.

Check it works

After paying:

• The invoice shows Paid in /invoices, and the overview no longer shows an overdue payment.
• Your server shows as active in Services.
• If the server was suspended, it may need a few minutes to come back. If it does not, open a ticket with the invoice number.
• Connect to it as usual: SSH for Linux, or Remote Desktop at 203.0.113.10:3389 for Windows.

Avoid overdue invoices in future

• Check the Next due dates in Services once a month.
• Make sure the email on your account is one you read, so reminders reach you.
• Add a billing contact, such as your accountant, who also receives invoices.
• Keep a payment method ready before renewal time.

Troubleshooting

• You paid but the invoice is still overdue: card payments update quickly. Bank transfers take longer. If it has not updated, open a billing ticket with the payment date, amount and reference.
• The server is still unreachable after payment: restart it from the control panel. If it stays suspended, contact support with the invoice number.
• You did not receive any reminder: check spam folders and the email address on your profile.
• You dispute the charge: open a billing ticket before the due date and explain why. Read /cancellation-refund for the refund rules.

Next steps

• Keep your email current so reminders reach you: Update your profile and contact details.
• Find the exact rules: Where to find MdmHost terms and refund information.
• Questions about an invoice? Ask a billing question through a support ticket.