🔍 What This Error Actually Means
When you try to submit a press release and see the message 'payment information needs to be updated', your first instinct may be to check your credit card or billing details. However, in most cases your payment method is perfectly fine.
This error message is misleading. It is almost always triggered by an insufficient Hyperdrive credit balance — not a billing or payment issue. Your subscription can be fully active and your card completely valid, yet the error will still appear if you do not have enough Hyperdrive credits to cover the cost of your selected distribution.
📦 What Are Hyperdrive Credits?
Hyperdrive credits are the in-platform currency used to submit press releases through the PR Distribution tool in Search Atlas. Each submission requires a minimum number of credits depending on the distribution tier and the number of outlets selected.
- Credits are separate from your subscription billing.
- You must have enough credits before you submit — the system does not automatically charge your card to top up your balance.
- The minimum credit requirement varies by distribution package. For example, a standard submission may require 23 or more credits.
⚠️ Why the Error Message Is Confusing
The platform surfaces a generic payment-related error when a submission cannot be processed due to insufficient credits. This is a known display issue. The underlying cause is a low or empty Hyperdrive credit balance, not a problem with your saved payment method.
Steps like clearing your browser cache, re-entering your credit card, or contacting your bank will not resolve this error. The only fix is to ensure your Hyperdrive credit balance meets or exceeds the minimum required for your submission.
✅ How to Check Your Hyperdrive Credit Balance
- Log in to your Search Atlas account.
- Navigate to the PR Distribution tool from the left-hand menu.
- Look for your Hyperdrive Credits balance, displayed in the top section of the PR Distribution dashboard.
- Note your current balance and compare it to the credit requirement shown for your selected distribution package.
🛒 How to Add More Hyperdrive Credits
- Click your Avatar → Billing → Plans & Top-ups (Billing), then click the Top Up button next to HyperDrive Credits.
- Select the credit package that meets or exceeds the amount required for your press release submission.
- Complete the purchase using your saved payment method.
- Once the credits are added to your account, return to your press release draft and resubmit.
Your credit balance updates immediately after a successful purchase, so you can resubmit your press release right away.
📋 Quick Troubleshooting Reference
- Error appears even though card is valid: Check your Hyperdrive credit balance first — this is the most common cause.
- Submission fails partway through: Your credit balance may have dropped below the minimum mid-session. Refresh the page and recheck your balance.
- Not sure how many credits your submission requires: The credit cost is displayed on the submission review screen before you confirm. You can also check the pricing breakdown in the PR Distribution settings.
- Credits were deducted but submission did not go through: Do not resubmit before contacting support, as you may be charged twice. Use the chat widget described below.
💡 Tips to Avoid This Error in the Future
- Check your Hyperdrive credit balance before drafting a new press release, especially if you have submitted recently.
- Keep a buffer of credits in your account if you submit press releases regularly.
- Review the credit cost for each distribution tier before selecting your package so you are never caught short at the submission stage.
🙋 Still Need Help?
If you have confirmed your credit balance is sufficient but the error persists, or if credits were deducted without a successful submission, please reach out. If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.