Cancel a Payment
Stop an in-progress payment before it completes. Use cancellation when a customer abandons checkout or a payment needs to be halted mid-process.
Overview
Cancellation stops a payment before it completes — for example, if the customer abandons checkout while payment is processing, or you need to halt a transaction before funds are transferred.
Cancel vs. Void: Cancel applies to in-progress payments (before completion). If the payment has already completed, use Void a Payment instead.
When to Use Cancel
| Scenario | Description |
|---|---|
| Customer abandons checkout | Payment initiated but customer leaves |
| Timeout | Payment processing takes too long |
| Error detected | Issue found after payment initiation |
| Duplicate order | Accidentally created a second payment |
Step 1: Cancel the Payment
Call the delete endpoint with the paymentId from the original order:
DELETE /payments/:paymentId// Response
{
"status": "SUCCESS",
"data": {
"paymentStatus": "PAYMENT_CANCELLED"
},
"message": "Payment cancelled successfully"
}Possible paymentStatus values: PAYMENT_COMPLETED | PAYMENT_FAILED | PAYMENT_CANCELLED
If the payment already completed before your cancel request was processed, the status will show PAYMENT_COMPLETED and you should use a void or refund instead.
Step 2: Verify Order Status
Confirm the order reflects the cancellation:
GET /merchants/:merchantId/orders/:orderId/status// Response
{
"status": "SUCCESS",
"data": {
"orderStatus": "PAYMENT_CANCELLED",
"payments": [
{
"paymentId": "83a1ba3264bd500106",
"paymentStatus": "PAYMENT_CANCELLED",
"paymentMethod": "CARD",
"amount": 50000
}
]
}
}Decision Guide
| Payment State | Action |
|---|---|
| In progress (not completed) | Cancel — DELETE /payments/:paymentId |
| Completed, not settled (before 23:00 UTC) | Void — POST /payments/:paymentId/void |
| Settled | Refund — create order with negative quantities |
Reference
Other Guides
Tap to Pay on iPhone SDK
Accept contactless payments directly on iPhone. Complete integration guide for Surfboard's iOS SoftPOS SDK -- from setup to production.
Android SoftPOS SDK
Turn Android devices into payment terminals with the Surfboard Android SoftPOS SDK. Complete integration guide from setup to production.
EMV Terminal Integration
Integrate traditional card-present terminals through Surfboard's unified API. From account setup to live payments in one guide.
Payment Page
Redirect customers to a Surfboard-hosted checkout page. The fastest way to accept online payments with minimal integration effort.
Inter-App Integration
Integrate your POS app with CheckoutX using native app switch. Register terminals, process payments, and scan NFC tags through a bi-directional deep link flow.
Self-Hosted Checkout
Embed a payment form directly in your web app with the Surfboard Online SDK. Full UI control with Surfboard handling PCI compliance.
Server-to-Server API
Process online payments entirely from your backend with Merchant Initiated Transactions. Full control over recurring payments, subscriptions, and tokenized card flows.
Create an Order
Learn how to create orders with line items, tax, customer details, and control functions. The starting point for accepting payments with the Surfboard API.
Merchant Onboarding
Set up merchants and stores on the Surfboard platform. Walk through the full onboarding flow from merchant creation to KYB completion and store setup.
Payment Lifecycle
Manage the full payment lifecycle from order creation through capture, void, cancel, and refund operations using the Surfboard Payments API.
Capture a Payment
Finalize a previously authorized payment by capturing funds. Covers delay capture and pre-authorization flows with step-by-step API examples.
Terminal & Device Management
Manage payment terminals and devices via the Surfboard API. Register in-store and online terminals, configure settings, and handle device operations.
Webhooks & Notifications
Receive real-time event notifications via webhooks, email, Slack, and SFTP. Subscribe to payment events and settlement reports for merchants and partners.
Recurring Payments
Implement subscription billing and recurring charges using tokenization, recurring payment configuration, and Merchant Initiated Transactions.
Void a Payment
Reverse a completed payment before settlement. Voiding stops funds from transferring to the merchant's account, avoiding incorrect transactions.
Receipts
Generate, email, print, and customise receipts for in-store transactions using the Surfboard Receipts API.
Refund an Order
Process a full refund by creating a return order with negative quantities. Covers the complete refund flow with API examples and payment method requirements.
Partial Refund
Refund specific items or a reduced amount from a completed order. Process partial returns by creating a return order with only the items to be refunded.
Tips Configuration
Configure tipping on Surfboard payment terminals at the merchant, store, or terminal level using a hierarchical override model.
NFC Tag Reading
Use the NFC Reading API to create tag-reading sessions on payment terminals, scan NFC/RFID-tagged products, and retrieve scanned tag data.
Partial Payments
Split an order across multiple payment methods or transactions. Accept card, cash, and Swish in any combination to settle a single order.
Multi-Merchant Terminals
Set up shared payment terminals for multiple merchants using the Multi-Merchant Group API. Ideal for food courts, events, and co-located businesses.
Store Management
Create, update, verify, and manage in-store and online stores using the Surfboard Payments Store APIs.
Gift Cards & Promotions
Issue and manage gift cards, track transactions, and create marketing promotions using the Surfboard Payments APIs.
Product Catalog
Create and manage product catalogs, products, variants, inventory levels, and analytics through the Catalog API.
Settlements & Reporting
Retrieve settlement reports, view adjustments, manage merchant charges, and register customer profiles for reconciliation and billing.
Account & Service Provider Management
Create merchant and partner accounts, manage user roles, register service providers, and configure external notifications via the Surfboard API.
Payment Methods
Activate, deactivate, and list payment methods for a merchant. Manage card, Swish, Klarna, AMEX, Vipps, MobilePay, and more via the API or Partner Portal.
Client Auth Tokens
Generate client-side authentication tokens for secure API access from browsers and mobile apps without exposing your API key or secret.
Partner Branding
Configure white-label branding for terminals and payment pages. Set colors, fonts, logos, and cover images at the partner level via API or Partner Portal.
Ready to get started?
Create a sandbox account and start building your integration today.