Go live with ICEPAY

You are ready to go live when your merchant is configured, your integration has been tested successfully, and you are ready to process real customer payments.

Live mode processes real payments. Complete the checks on this page before switching your merchant or integration to production.

Before you go live

Confirm that:

• You have completed a successful end-to-end payment in Test mode.
• Your integration uses the correct Merchant ID.
• Your production credentials are available and stored securely.
• Your Redirect URL is configured and reachable, if your integration uses redirects.
• Your Webhook or postback URL is configured, publicly reachable, and able to process payment status updates.
• The payment methods you want to offer have been confirmed for your merchant.
• Your checkout branding and merchant information are correct.
• Your system handles successful, pending, failed, cancelled, and expired payments.
• Your system handles webhook or postback retries safely.
• Your refund process has been tested or documented.
• Your pricing, fees, payouts, and settlement expectations have been reviewed with ICEPAY.
• Your merchant secret and other credentials are handled only on your server.

Caution

Test mode does not charge real customers. Live mode processes real payments. Do not enable Live mode until your merchant and integration are ready for production.

Prepare your production integration

Before changing the merchant to Live mode, review your application configuration.

Your production integration should:

• Use the production Merchant ID.
• Use production credentials rather than test credentials.
• Keep the merchant secret on your server.
• Never expose credentials in browser JavaScript, mobile applications, client-side code, or public repositories.
• Send the correct currency, amount, reference, and customer information.
• Store the ICEPAY payment reference returned when a payment is created.
• Verify payment status using the server-side response or webhook/postback.
• Treat the webhook or postback as the source for updating the order status.
• Avoid marking an order as paid only because the customer returned to your success page.

If your application uses environment variables, update the production environment without committing secrets to source control.

Switch your merchant to Live mode

1. Confirm that the correct merchant is selected

   Sign in to the ICEPAY Portal and select the ICEPAY Account and merchant that you want to use for live payments.

   If you have more than one merchant, verify the Merchant ID and business details carefully before continuing.

2. Review the merchant configuration

   Confirm that the merchant details, website URL, payment methods, checkout branding, Redirect URL, and Webhook or postback URL are correct.

   Some settings may require configuration or approval by ICEPAY. If an expected setting or payment method is unavailable, contact ICEPAY before continuing.

3. Confirm your integration is ready

   Verify that your production application is deployed or ready to deploy with the correct production credentials and configuration.

   Test the full order flow, including payment creation, checkout, redirects, webhook or postback handling, order updates, and error handling.

4. Switch to Live mode when available

   In the Portal, use the merchant’s processing-mode setting to switch from Test to Live or production mode, if this option is available for your configuration.

   Note

   The exact Portal steps depend on your merchant setup. If the merchant cannot be switched to Live mode, do not repeatedly retry or use test credentials in production. Contact ICEPAY Support or your account administrator.

5. Update your production application

   Deploy the production configuration using the Live Merchant ID, production credentials, and the production settings confirmed with ICEPAY.

   Tip

   Keep Test and Live configuration separate so that test payments cannot be sent accidentally from your production environment.

6. Make a controlled live payment

   Create one small live payment using a controlled order or internal test purchase.

   Use a recognizable payment reference so that you can identify the transaction in both your system and the ICEPAY Portal.

7. Verify the result

   Confirm that:

   • ICEPAY shows the expected payment status.
   • Your webhook or postback endpoint received the payment update.
   • Your merchant system updated the order correctly.
   • The shopper was redirected to the expected success or failure page.
   • The payment reference is stored with the order.
   • The amount and currency are correct.

Caution

A live payment uses real payment details and may result in a real charge. Use a controlled amount and follow your internal approval process before making the first live payment.

Verify your first live payment

After the payment is completed, verify the transaction in both systems.

In the ICEPAY Portal

Check the payment using its reference. Confirm the:

• Amount and currency.
• Merchant.
• Payment method.
• Payment status.
• Creation and update time.
• Test or Live environment.

In your merchant system

Confirm that your system:

• Received the webhook or postback.
• Validated the received payment information.
• Updated the order only after receiving a valid successful status.
• Stored the ICEPAY payment reference.
• Displayed the correct order status to the customer.
• Handled the redirect independently from the server-side payment notification.

Source of truth

If the Portal and your system show different results, treat the Portal payment details and the server-side payment status as the source for investigation. Do not fulfil an order based only on a browser redirect.

After launch

Once live payments are working:

• Monitor payments and failed transactions regularly.
• Monitor webhook or postback failures and retry processing where necessary.
• Reconcile payments with your orders.
• Review payouts and settlement reports.
• Use the documented refund process when a customer must be refunded.
• Keep production credentials and recovery information secure.
• Restrict access to the ICEPAY Portal and production systems.
• Keep your integration and error logs available for troubleshooting.
• Contact ICEPAY before changing important merchant or payment-method settings.

Tip

Keep Test mode available for future integration changes. Test new code and configuration changes before deploying them to your Live integration.

Troubleshooting

I cannot switch my merchant to Live mode

Confirm that you selected the correct merchant and that onboarding, compliance, and required merchant configuration are complete.

Some merchants require additional configuration or approval before Live mode becomes available. Contact ICEPAY Support or your account administrator with your Merchant ID and the message shown in the Portal.

Never send your merchant secret in a support request.

A production payment method is unavailable

Payment-method availability can depend on your merchant configuration and the agreement with ICEPAY.

Confirm that the payment method is enabled for the correct merchant and contact ICEPAY with your Merchant ID and the payment method you want to use.

Do not rely on a payment method in production until ICEPAY confirms that it is available.

The webhook or postback was not received

Confirm that the endpoint:

• Is publicly reachable from the internet.
• Uses the correct production URL.
• Accepts the HTTP method and content type sent by ICEPAY.
• Returns a successful response after processing the notification.
• Does not block ICEPAY requests with authentication, firewall, or IP restrictions.
• Logs failed requests safely without recording secrets.

Check your server and application logs. If you contact ICEPAY Support, include the payment reference, Merchant ID, approximate time, HTTP response details, and relevant error messages. Do not include credentials or merchant secrets.

The payment status has not been updated

Refresh the payment in the Portal and confirm that you are viewing the correct merchant and account.

Check whether your webhook or postback endpoint received the notification and whether your application returned an error. Confirm that your application supports the payment statuses used by your integration.

Contact ICEPAY Support with the payment reference, Merchant ID, timestamp, and error details if the status remains incorrect.

The live payment result was unexpected

Do not fulfil or refund the order until the payment status is confirmed.

Compare the payment reference, amount, currency, merchant, and status in the Portal with the values stored by your system. Check your webhook or postback logs and application logs for processing errors.

If you need help, provide ICEPAY Support with the payment reference, Merchant ID, approximate time, and a description of the expected and actual result. Never provide payment credentials or your merchant secret.

Continue with your live integration

PaymentsUnderstand payment creation, statuses, and the payment lifecycle.

WebhooksProcess payment notifications and keep your order status synchronized.

RefundsLearn how to refund completed payments.

Payouts and settlementUnderstand payouts, settlement, and reconciliation.

Contact ICEPAY SupportGet help with merchant configuration, payments, and production issues.