Skip to content
Elooo SystemHelp Center Go to website

WhatsApp

How to fix WhatsApp error 131042 (payment issue in Meta)

Error 131042 blocks every message because Meta cannot find a valid payment method for your WhatsApp Business account. Go to business.facebook.com › Settings › Billing & payments, link a card to the WhatsApp account, clear any outstanding charges, check time zone, currency and tax info, then test again.

Updated on

Before you start

  • This error comes from Meta's billing (your WhatsApp Business account), not from Elooo System. Meta charges WhatsApp conversations separately and needs a payment method linked to your WhatsApp Business account.
  • You need admin access to the Meta business portfolio at business.facebook.com.
  • Until it is fixed in Meta, no message goes out, even if everything is fine in Elooo System.
  • Have a valid card handy (Meta works better with credit cards than debit cards).
Where to find it

business.facebook.com › Settings › Billing & payments › Accounts › WhatsApp Business accounts

Step by step

  1. Sign in to business.facebook.com and open Settings › Billing & payments.
  2. Click Accounts, then WhatsApp Business accounts.
  3. On the account showing the error, click the three dots and then View details.
  4. If no payment method is listed, click Add payment method and complete both steps: add the card and assign it to this WhatsApp account. Having a card in the portfolio is not enough; it must be linked to the WhatsApp account.

2. Clear outstanding charges and check the limit

  1. In the same Billing & payments area, look for failed or pending charges and pay them. The usual causes are an expired card, insufficient funds, a bank refusing international or recurring charges, or Meta's small verification charge failing when the card was added.
  2. Check the credit line status. If the limit was reached, switch to a card with a higher limit or ask Meta for an increase.

3. Check time zone, currency and tax information

  1. In the WhatsApp Business account settings, confirm the time zone and currency are set for your country. Once set they cannot always be changed; if you need to, contact Meta support.
  2. Open Settings › Business info, scroll to Tax information and enter your company's tax ID (VAT/GST). This is one of the most overlooked causes.
  3. Save and send a test message from Elooo System.

4. Confirm the account is active

  1. In business.facebook.com, check the WhatsApp Business account status. If it shows restricted, disabled or suspended, follow Meta's appeal instructions; without an active account, no card will help.
  2. If it still fails after all of this, contact Elooo System support with: the WhatsApp Business account ID, the affected number, a screenshot of Meta's billing area, the full error text and the list of steps you have already done.

Tips

  • Link the card before you start sending, not once messages are already failing.
  • Update the card before it expires and turn on billing notifications in Meta so you hear about failed charges.
  • Check Meta's billing now and then, even when there are no errors.

Common problems

  • Elooo System is paid and active but I get 131042 → They are separate accounts. The error is in Meta's billing; fix it at business.facebook.com.
  • I added the card and it still fails → The card is in the portfolio but was not assigned to the WhatsApp Business account. Repeat step 1 and confirm the assignment.
  • Valid card, assigned, still failing → Tax info or time zone/currency is missing. Follow step 3.
  • The account shows as restricted in Meta → Not a payment problem. Resolve the restriction first (see the article on restricted accounts).

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the card from my ads account?

You can use the same card, but you must explicitly assign it to the WhatsApp Business account; the ads account and the WhatsApp account are billed separately.

Was this helpful?