> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.auctionplusapp.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.auctionplusapp.com/auctions/payment-deadlines.md).

# Payment Deadlines and Unpaid Wins

Payment deadlines give auction winners a fixed window to pay. When a deadline passes without payment, Auction Plus can cancel the win automatically, record a non-payment strike against the customer, and—after repeated strikes—ban the customer from bidding.

These settings are found under **Settings > Auctions** in the **Automations** section.

> **Note:** Payment deadlines and automatic cancellation are available on the Basic plan and above. Automatic banning is available on the Grow plan and above.

***

## How It Works

1. When an auction ends, the highest bidder is [declared the winner](/auctions/managing-winners-and-second-chance-offers.md) and a payment deadline is set on their win.
2. If the deadline passes without payment and **Automatically cancel overdue wins** is on, the win is canceled and a non-payment strike is recorded against the customer.
3. If the customer reaches your strike threshold and **Automatically ban bidders with multiple unpaid wins** is on, they are banned from placing further bids.

***

## Setting a Payment Deadline

1. Navigate to **Settings > Auctions**.
2. Find the **Automations** section.
3. Turn on **Enable payment deadlines**.
4. Choose **Due within** and select a timeframe (1 to 30 days).
5. Click **Save**.

The deadline is calculated when the winner is declared. Leave **Enable payment deadlines** off to declare winners with no payment deadline.

***

## Automatically Canceling Overdue Wins

When **Enable payment deadlines** is on, you can also turn on **Automatically cancel overdue wins**.

When a winning bid's payment deadline has passed and no payment has been received, the win is canceled and a non-payment strike is recorded against the customer.

The product is **not** relisted automatically. After a win is canceled you can [relist the auction](/auctions/relisting-auctions.md) or [send a second-chance offer](/auctions/managing-winners-and-second-chance-offers.md#sending-offers-from-bids) to another bidder.

Turn **Automatically cancel overdue wins** off to leave overdue wins in place for [manual review](/auctions/managing-winners-and-second-chance-offers.md#cancelling-a-winner).

***

## Strikes

A non-payment strike is recorded each time a win is canceled for non-payment—both when it's canceled automatically and when you cancel it manually and select non-payment as the reason. You can see a customer's total strikes on their detail page under **Non-Payment Strikes**.

Strikes are used to drive automatic banning. Customers are not notified when a strike is recorded.

***

## Automatically Banning Repeat Offenders

To ban customers who repeatedly fail to pay:

1. Navigate to **Settings > Auctions**.
2. Find the **Automations** section.
3. Turn on **Automatically ban bidders with multiple unpaid wins**.
4. Choose **Ban after** and select a number of strikes (2 to 5).
5. Click **Save**.

When a customer reaches the strike threshold, they are banned automatically. A banned customer cannot place bids or make offers. Their existing maximum bids remain active until they are outbid or removed manually.

You can ban and unban customers manually at any time. See [Banning Customers](/customers-and-bidders/banning-customers.md).

> **Note:** Automatic banning is available on the Grow plan and above.

***

## Related

* [Declaring and Managing Winners](/auctions/managing-winners-and-second-chance-offers.md)
* [Global Auction Settings](/auctions/global-auction-settings.md)
* [Payment Reminders](/customers-and-bidders/payment-reminders.md)
* [Banning Customers](/customers-and-bidders/banning-customers.md)