Can't process customer payments if the name starts with a number or symbol or if there is punctuation within the customer name

Hi there, @imanerd! We're delighted to have you back in the Community space. It's our pleasure to provide you with information about processing customer payments in QuickBooks Desktop. 

We acknowledge the relevance of handling payment-related activities without any challenges. Please know that there are things to check if you enter the credit card info manually. One of these is to ensure that there are no special characters or spaces in the credit card number or other data fields. Check out this article for more details on why customers' credit card payments get declined when you process them: Fix customer's declined credit card payments. 

Furthermore, declined payments could indicate data file damage. By verifying and rebuilding your data in QBDT, we can resolve the issue and restore smooth business operations. The verify tool is effective at detecting common problems in a company file, while the rebuild tool can fix them.

Here's how to verify your company data:

1. Go to Window, then select Close All.
2. Click File, then click Utilities.
3. Choose Verify Data. 

Please follow the steps below to rebuild your company file data:

1. Go to File, Utilities, then click Rebuild Data.
2. Follow the prompt instructions, then select OK. 
3. Choose where you want to save your backup, then hit OK. 
4. Enter a new name in the File name. Click Save.

For more detailed instructions, you can read this article: Verify and Rebuild Data in QuickBooks Desktop.

If you encounter issues with customers' credit card payments, you may find this article helpful: Fix rejected ACH payments or fees in QuickBooks Payments. 

Additionally, you can visit this article for guidance on receiving and processing customer payments for invoices and in-person sales: Take and process payments in QuickBooks Desktop.

The speed of deposits depends on your product and the type of payment. For more information on deposit times for QuickBooks Payments, read this reference: Find out when QuickBooks Payments deposits customer payments.

Rest assured, we are at your service round the clock. Do not hesitate to drop by if you have any further queries by leaving a comment below or posting again in the Community. We wish you all the best on your business journey, imanerd!

Good morning,

Yes, I began having this problem about a week ago as well. So far the only solution I've come up with (until the problem is hopefully resolved) is to remove any type of character symbols in the customers' name at the time of processing the payment.

I'm still leaving the name the same (with the characters included) on the customer information screen. Just changing it when I am in the payments screen.

Yes, I began having this same issue about a week ago when processing customer payments. For now (until it is hopefully resolved by QB) I am just removing any type of characters or symbols from the customers" name but only on that payment screen.

Still leaving everything the same on the customer information screen. But just removing any commas, backslash, etc. on the payment screen when I am processing a payment.

Technology....ya gotta luv it 🙂

No, I haven’t contacted QB because I was assuming that the problem (which I only just recently started having an issue with) was just a little glitch in the matrix 😊 and would be magically resolved when I showed up for work this morning. Only to discover on my first charge today that it wasn’t.

Did you notice though that their answers never actually answer the questions people are asking.

It’s almost as if they don’t understand what is being asked or maybe have never used their own program.

So far I’ve only been removing symbols and characters from names (commas and the like) and not run across one where I’ve had to change a number to a word (like you’ve had to do with 5 Star Auto).

I must admit, I was glad to find that I wasn’t the only one having this issue.

I came across your QB issue by typing my question – which was the same as yours - in to a Google search. I never think to go to the QB Community page. I think because their answers are so obscure and non-helpful. Using Google has been far more helpful for me in the past when I’m trying to figure something out in QB.

Yes! I have a similar issue...when I enter the credit card number exp date and code then the company name on the card - it gives me the same error message - enter a valid name etc... this is very frustrating because I have saved cards on file that used to work just fine with their company name entered as the name on the card, now I have to call to actually get the name of the person that that card belongs to and use that instead. It makes no sense and even when entering the credit card the company name is automatically filled in by QB - but QB won't accept the name - what is going on with that!?!?! It happened just a minute ago with a new customer thank God he gave my employee his business card so I had a "person's name" to enter when I was given the invoice and credit card to enter and process.  Need a fix, please!