A customer's card was declined, or their bank disputed the payment

When a customer tries to pay online and the card is declined, the invoice stays unpaid and the record says so in words — when they tried, the card, and that nothing was charged. Their pay link keeps working, so a different card goes through, or you record a payment if they pay another way. A chargeback is different: the customer's bank has already pulled the payment back, plus a dispute fee, while it decides. The invoice reads Disputed, the note says how much was taken, why the bank says it was raised, and the date you must answer by; you reply with your evidence on Stripe — a signed acceptance, photos of the finished work and the invoice's own history all count. If the bank sides with you the money returns; if not, it stays with the customer and the fee is not returned. Either way the money panel shows the amount held back until it is decided.