Test a payment end to end
Use the gateway's test mode and the ERP's sandbox payment to prove a gateway works before parents use it.
Before parents pay real money, prove the whole path with the gateway's test mode: the ERP opens the checkout, the gateway takes a test payment, and the ERP confirms it. The ERP's Start sandbox payment button makes a ₹1 test payment that is not linked to any student and never pays a fee.
Before you start#
- The gateway's test keys are saved in the Test environment of its card. See the gateway's own guide in this section.
- The test Webhook URL is registered in the gateway's test mode, if the gateway's guide asks for it.
- You have the gateway's test payment details (test cards, test UPI IDs or a test bank). Each gateway publishes these in its own documentation.
- You are signed in as the school administrator.
Steps#
- Open General Settings › Payment Configuration.
- Select Open settings on the gateway's card and make sure Test environment is selected.
- If the panel has Test connection, select it first. Fix any error before going on.
- Select Start sandbox payment. The ERP says Starting a ₹1 test payment. This does not pay a student fee.
- Select the Open secure checkout link that appears at the top.
- The school's payment page opens with Secure fee payment and the line Sandbox payment — this will not pay school fees. Select Pay securely.
- Complete the payment on the gateway's form with a test payment method from the gateway's documentation.
- Go back to the ERP. Open Fees, then the Online fee collection panel, and the School fee tab.
- Set Payment status to Test payments. The row shows Sandbox payment with the status Test successful.
- If it still says Awaiting confirmation, select Check status, wait a minute and select Refresh payments.
Also test a failed payment#
- Start another sandbox payment.
- On the gateway's form, use the test method that the gateway's documentation says will fail, or cancel the payment.
- Check the row. It should end as Failed, and nothing is recorded as paid.
After going live#
- Save the live keys and switch the gateway on. See Set up a gateway in Payment Configuration.
- Ask one family (or a staff member who is also a parent) to pay a small real instalment through Pay Online.
- Check that the receipt appears in the family's payment history and in Fees › Online fee collection with the status Successful.
- When the gateway settles to the bank, check that the amount matches, and record the settlement. See Reconciliation and settlements.
Good to know#
- Test payments appear only under the Test payments filter. They do not count in Net online collection or any fee total.
- The sandbox payment works whether or not the gateway is switched on. Do not tick Enable and use this gateway for fee payments in the test environment for a gateway parents are already using; it switches off that gateway's live settings.
- Parents are never offered test settings, even while you test.
Troubleshooting#
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Start sandbox payment is missing | Select Test environment in the panel. The button appears only for saved test settings. |
| Sandbox checkout requires saved test credentials. | Save the test keys first, in Test environment. |
| The checkout opens but the gateway reports a key or account error | The keys may be live keys, or from another account. Copy the test keys again. |
| The row stays Awaiting confirmation | Check that the test webhook is registered with the address on the ERP screen. The ERP also checks the gateway on its own; select Check status and look again after a few minutes. |
