Why is my workspace locked for a past-due payment

If you open Ody and see Your Ody workspace is past due (or, if you're not an admin, … is paused until an admin pays) instead of your inbox, a subscription invoice for your workspace was not paid. The screen lists every open invoice and what it covers; anyone on the team can pay it in one tap with Pay … now — it opens a secure Stripe page that takes any card — and access returns for everyone within seconds.

Before you start

• The lock applies to the whole workspace — every member, on web (app.ody.co), the iPhone app and the Android app — and it lifts for all of them at the same moment.
• Anyone can pay. The Pay … now button opens Stripe's secure invoice page, which accepts any card without signing in to Ody — you don't need to be an admin. Only an owner or admin can change the card on file for future renewals.
• You are never locked out of your phone number: inbound calls keep ringing, the AI receptionist keeps answering, texts keep arriving. They are waiting inside Ody when you're back — the screen shows how many.
• API keys, MCP and integrations keep working. The lock is on the Ody apps, not on your account.
• Plans bought in the iPhone app are billed by Apple and plans bought in the Android app by Google Play. A declined store payment never shows this screen: the store retries the card and keeps your access on during its own grace period. Fix the card in iPhone Settings → your name → Payment & Shipping or in Google Play → Payments & subscriptions. See Billing on iOS and Billing on Android.

Step-by-step: pay the invoice (anyone on the team)

1. Read the invoice list. Each row shows what the invoice covers (for example 3 × Business seat · Additional number), the billing period or One-time with the date, the invoice number, the amount and — if the charge was attempted — why it failed (for example Visa ending 4242 — was declined — insufficient funds).

2. Tap Pay … now. The exact invoice opens on a secure Stripe page in a new tab (web), Safari (iPhone) or your browser (Android).

3. Pay with the card on file or enter a new card. A new card becomes your default for future renewals.

4. Come back to Ody. The screen disappears on its own — for you and for every other member — as soon as Stripe confirms the payment, usually within a few seconds. No sign-out or reload needed.

If several invoices are open, Pay … now settles the oldest first and every row has its own Pay link. Access returns when all of them are paid.

If the card itself is the problem and you are an owner or admin, tap Update card on file under the Pay button. It opens the secure Stripe card form; the new card is charged for the open invoice right away and becomes the default for renewals.

Step-by-step: hand it to an admin instead (members)

If you'd rather not pay it yourself, the section Or hand it to an admin under the Pay button gives you two ways:

1. The screen names the workspace owner and admins. Tap one to start an email with the note already written, or
2. tap Copy note + link and paste it into whatever you use with them (text, chat, email). The note reads: "Hi — our Ody workspace (name) is locked because a $… invoice is past due. You can settle it here: …". The link opens the exact invoice on Stripe — the admin can pay it without signing in to Ody.
3. Leave Ody open or come back later. The screen checks every few seconds and disappears by itself once the invoice is paid; Check again forces a check right away.

Troubleshooting

• You paid but the screen is still there — give it a few seconds; it refreshes on its own and when you return to the tab or app. If it is still showing after a minute, tap Check again or come back to the tab: Ody re-checks the invoice directly with Stripe and clears the screen as soon as it is marked paid. If it still shows, contact support with the invoice number — the screen's footer has a link.
• The payment page says the invoice is already paid — someone else on the team paid it; your screen clears within seconds.
• Your bank keeps declining the charge — the reason is printed under the invoice (insufficient funds, do not honor, card expired…). Call your bank to authorize Ody, then tap Pay … now again, or pay with a different card.
• You believe the invoice is wrong — contact support before paying; a person reviews disputes and can lift the screen while it is looked at.
• The number listed as owner/admin left the company — contact support; staff can transfer ownership.
• You want to stop the reminder emails and texts — paying ends them immediately. The reminder schedule is described in What happens when a payment fails.

Related articles

• What happens when a payment fails
• Update your payment method
• View and download invoices
• Billing on iOS
• Billing on Android