Invoice errors due to incorrect reference or order numbers

Scenario

Receiving service providers may reject your invoice if reference numbers or order numbers are incorrect or missing. Several factors can cause this issue.

Causes

If you place the reference or order number in the wrong field on your invoice, it may be incorrectly translated and placed in your recipient's invoice. In such cases, the reference or order number might be considered missing. If you consistently place the reference or order number in the same field for other recipients, the issue might be customer-specific. This means the recipient prefers the value in a different location, so you should inquire with your customer.
Another reason for errors related to reference numbers is invalid data. Some service providers enforce stricter policies regarding payment reference numbers and their format. For example, banks may reject an invoice if the reference number contains letters.

Solution

When encountering these errors, it's advisable to contact your customer and ask about the specifics of why they rejected the reference or order number.