3 Main Tesla Supercharging Payment Issues (Solved!!)

A number of Tesla drivers are encountering a situation where they are unable to access supercharging services, even after successfully updating their payment methods.

The common scenario involves the previous payment card reaching its expiration date.

This issue arises due to a peculiar aspect of the system and may lead to the supercharger continuing to decline charging requests.

Reasons for Tesla Supercharging Payment Issues

The supercharging payment issues may be caused by various factors, such as:

#1. Unpaid fees for previous supercharging sessions

This may happen if you have a pending charge that was not completed due to an expired or invalid card, or if you incurred idle fees for staying too long at a supercharger station.

#2. Expired or invalid credit card on the Tesla account

This may happen if you change or cancel your card, or if your card reaches its expiration date. You need to update your payment method on the Tesla app or website to avoid this issue.

#3. Server problems with the Tesla payment system

This may happen if there is a technical glitch or outage that affects the payment processing. This is usually a temporary issue that can be resolved by Tesla or by waiting for some time.

How to fix Tesla Supercharging Payment Issues?

Some Tesla owners have also shared their own solutions for fixing the supercharging payment issues. These include:

1. Deleting and re-adding your credit card on your account, or using a different card to pay for the pending charge.

This may be necessary if there is a pending transaction that was not completed due to an expired card.

2. Restart your car or reset your touchscreen. This may help to refresh your supercharging status and payment information.

3. Checking your internet connection. Sometimes, the payment may fail due to poor or no internet connectivity.

Make sure your vehicle has a strong cellular or Wi-Fi signal before you start charging.

4. Updating your vehicle software. Tesla may release software updates that fix bugs or improve performance.

You can check if your vehicle has the latest software version by tapping ‘Software’ on the touchscreen. If there is an update available, you can download and install it.

5. Rebooting your vehicle or touchscreen. This may help to refresh your supercharging status and payment information.

To reboot your vehicle, press and hold both scroll buttons on the steering wheel until the touchscreen turns black and then release.

To reboot your touchscreen, press and hold both scroll buttons and the brake pedal until the touchscreen turns black, and then release.

Supercharging Unavailable

Another payment issue that some Tesla drivers encounter is having their Supercharging unavailable due to missing or faulty payment methods.

This means that they cannot start a Supercharging session even if they have access to a Supercharger station. There are two possible scenarios for this:

#1. No payment method saved in the account

If you don’t have any payment method saved in your Tesla account, you will not be able to use Supercharging unless you add one.

You can do this on the Tesla website or app under ‘Payment Method’.

Alternatively, you can use the in-car payment option that Tesla recently added. This option appears when you don’t have any payment method saved in your account.

A button pops up on your display that says ‘Payment Method Requested’, and you can then enter your credit or debit card information and pay for your charging session.

#2. The payment method required not working

If you have a payment method saved in your account, but it is not working for some reason, such as being compromised or expired, you will need to update it with a new one.

You can do this on the Tesla website or app under ‘Payment Method’. However, sometimes the error may persist even after updating the card details.

In that case, you may need to contact Tesla support to resolve the issue.

Supercharging Access Blocked

One of the most common payment issues that Tesla drivers face is having their Supercharging access blocked. This means that they cannot use any Supercharger station until they resolve the issue.

How to Fix “Supercharging Access Blocked”?

#1. Unpaid fees for previous Supercharging sessions

If you have any outstanding charges on your Tesla account, you will not be able to use Supercharging until you pay them.

You can check your account balance and history on the Tesla website or app and pay online using a credit card or PayPal.

#2. Expired or invalid credit card on the Tesla account

If the credit card that you have linked to your Tesla account has expired, been canceled, or declined, you will need to update it with a valid one.

You can do this on the Tesla website or app under ‘Payment Method’.

#3. Server problems with the Tesla payment system

Sometimes, there may be technical issues with the Tesla payment system that prevent it from processing your payments or verifying your account status.

This may result in your Supercharging access being blocked temporarily.

In this case, you can try to contact Tesla customer service or wait until the problem is resolved.

Supercharging Idle Fees

Another payment issue that some Tesla drivers face is being charged idle fees when using Supercharging.

Idle fees are additional fees that are applied when your car remains connected to the Supercharger after the charging session is complete and the station is at least 50% full.

The fee is waived if you move your car within 5 minutes. You can monitor your charging status and receive notifications on your Tesla app.

The purpose of idle fees is to encourage efficient use of Superchargers and reduce congestion at high-demand locations.

However, some drivers may feel that they are charged idle fees unfairly or erroneously, such as:

#1. Being charged idle fees when the station is not busy

Some drivers have reported that they were charged idle fees even when the station was not at least 50% full, which is supposed to be the condition for applying idle fees.

This may happen due to inaccurate occupancy data or delayed updates on the Tesla app.

#2. Being charged idle fees when they moved their car within 5 minutes

Some drivers have claimed that they were charged idle fees even though they moved their car within 5 minutes of completing their charging session, which is supposed to waive the fee.

This may happen due to network latency or communication errors between the car and the station.

If you think you have been charged an idle fee unfairly, you may try to contact Tesla customer service and explain your situation.

Some users on Reddit have reported that they were able to dispute the fee and get a refund.

However, this may depend on the circumstances and the availability of evidence.

Alternatively, you can avoid idle fees by following some tips such as:

#1. Planning your trip and charging time ahead

You can use the Trip Planner feature on your vehicle touchscreen or the Tesla app to find the best route and Supercharger locations for your trip.

You can also see the estimated charging time and cost for each Supercharger station.

#2. Checking the Supercharger availability and occupancy before arriving

You can use the Tesla app or the vehicle touchscreen to see the real-time status of each Supercharger station, such as the number of stalls available, the current occupancy, and the expected wait time.

This can help you avoid busy stations or plan your charging accordingly.

#3. Moving your car as soon as possible after charging is complete

You can use the Tesla app to monitor your charging progress and receive notifications when your car is ready to unplug.

You can also see how much idle fee you will incur if you don’t move your car within 5 minutes.

You should try to move your car as soon as possible after charging is complete to free up the stall for other drivers and avoid idle fees.

#4. Using other charging options if available

If you don’t need to use Supercharging, you can consider other charging options, such as Destination Charging, home charging, or third-party charging networks.

These options may be cheaper, more convenient, or more available than Supercharging, depending on your location and needs.

Supercharging Bug

A rare but serious payment issue that some Tesla drivers have experienced is the Supercharging bug.

This is a glitch that causes the Tesla app or display to show inflated or incorrect charges for Supercharging sessions, such as:

#1. Showing hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees

Some drivers have reported that their Tesla app or display showed that they owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees for a single Supercharging session, which is obviously impossible.

This may happen due to a decimal point error or a currency conversion error in the Tesla payment system.

#2. Showing negative charges or refunds

Some drivers have noticed that their Tesla app or display showed that they had negative charges or refunds for their Supercharging sessions, which is also unlikely.

This may happen due to a calculation error or a reversal error in the Tesla payment system.

The good news is that these charges are not real and do not affect your bank account or credit card.

They are just display errors that are caused by a bug in the Tesla software. The bad news is that they can cause confusion, panic, or frustration for Tesla drivers who see them.

If you encounter the Supercharging bug, you can try to do the following:

#1. Check your actual account balance and history

You can log in to your Tesla account on the website or app and check your actual balance and history of charges.

You will see that the bug does not reflect on your actual transactions and that you have been charged correctly.

#2. Contact Tesla support

You can also contact Tesla support and report the bug. They may be able to fix it remotely or advise you on what to do next.

They may also reassure you that the bug does not affect your actual payments.

#3. Wait for a software update

The Supercharging bug is likely to be fixed by a software update from Tesla that will correct the display errors.

You should make sure that your vehicle software is up to date and check for any updates regularly.

Conclusion

Tesla Supercharging is a convenient and fast way to recharge your Tesla vehicle on long trips or when you need a boost.

However, it is not without its payment issues, such as blocked access, unavailable service, idle fees, or display bugs.

These issues can cause inconvenience, stress, or annoyance for Tesla drivers who encounter them.

Fortunately, there are some possible solutions and tips for dealing with these issues, such as checking your account status, updating your payment method, contacting Tesla support, disputing unfair fees, moving your car promptly, planning your trip ahead, using other charging options, or waiting for a software update.

By following these suggestions, you may be able to avoid or resolve most of the payment issues related to Supercharging and enjoy a smooth and hassle-free charging experience with your Tesla vehicle.

1. You have unpaid fees for previous supercharging sessions.

2. The credit card on your Tesla account has expired or is invalid.

3. There is a problem with the Tesla payment system or the credit card processor