Troubleshooting

❌ Problem: Booking form not displaying on my page

Possible Solutions:

1. Check the shortcode: Make sure you’re using the correct shortcode: [scb_booking_form]
2. Clear your cache: If using a caching plugin, clear all cache and try again
3. Check for JavaScript errors: Open browser console (F12) and look for error messages
4. Test with default theme: Temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme to rule out theme conflicts
5. Disable other plugins: Deactivate other plugins one by one to identify conflicts

❌ Problem: Booking form shows but doesn’t accept submissions

Possible Solutions:

1. Check business hours: Ensure your business hours are properly configured in Settings → Hours & Closures
2. Verify staff availability: Make sure at least one staff member has working hours set
3. Check services: Confirm you have at least one active service created
4. Review browser console: Check for JavaScript errors that might be blocking form submission

❌ Problem: Customers can’t select any available time slots

Possible Solutions:

1. Verify business hours: Check Settings → Hours & Closures to ensure hours are set correctly
2. Check staff schedules: Make sure staff working hours don’t conflict with business hours
3. Review Max Days Ahead: In Settings → General, ensure this value allows future bookings
4. Check for closures: Remove any accidental holiday closures that might block dates

❌ Problem: Emails not being sent to customers or admins

Possible Solutions:

1. Check email addresses: Verify all email addresses are entered correctly in Settings → Notifications
2. Test SMTP connection: If using SMTP, click “Test SMTP Connection” to verify settings
3. Check spam folders: Emails might be marked as spam – check junk/spam folders
4. Enable SMTP: WordPress default mail often fails – use SMTP for reliable delivery
5. Verify SMTP settings: Double-check host, port, username, and password
6. Check “From Email”: Must match your SMTP account/domain

❌ Problem: Emails going to spam

Possible Solutions:

1. Use authenticated SMTP: Enable SMTP in Settings → Notifications with proper credentials
2. Configure SPF records: Add SPF record to your domain’s DNS settings
3. Set up DKIM: Enable DKIM authentication with your email provider
4. Use matching domain: Send emails from an address that matches your website domain
5. Avoid spam trigger words: Review email templates for spam-like content

❌ Problem: SMS notifications not being sent

Possible Solutions:

1. Verify Pro plan: SMS notifications require an active Pro plan subscription
2. Enable SMS: Check that “Enable Email-to-SMS” is turned on in Settings → Notifications
3. Check phone numbers: Ensure customer phone numbers are in correct format
4. Review consent settings: If SMS consent is required, verify customers have opted in
5. Verify SMS events: Check that SMS events (Booking Created, Accepted, etc.) are enabled

❌ Problem: Staff member not showing up in booking form

Possible Solutions:

1. Check staff status: Ensure the staff member is published/active
2. Verify working hours: Staff must have at least one day with working hours set
3. Check service assignment: Staff must be assigned to at least one service
4. Review business hours: Staff hours must fall within business operating hours

❌ Problem: Can’t change business hours – conflict errors

Possible Solutions:

1. Schedule for future date: Use the conflict detection system to schedule changes for a future date
2. Cancel conflicting bookings: Reject or reschedule bookings that fall outside new hours
3. Adjust staff schedules first: Update individual staff hours before changing business hours

❌ Problem: Holidays not blocking bookings

Possible Solutions:

1. Save your changes: Click “Save Business Hours” after adding holidays
2. Check closure dates: Verify dates are entered correctly
3. “Closed” checkbox: Ensure the “Closed” option is checked for full-day closures
4. Clear cache: If using caching, clear all cache after making changes

❌ Problem: Booking form looks broken or unstyled

Possible Solutions:

1. Clear all caches: Clear browser cache, WordPress cache, and CDN cache
2. Check for CSS conflicts: Your theme or another plugin may be overriding styles
3. Test with default theme: Switch to a default WordPress theme to isolate the issue
4. Review customization settings: Check Settings → Customise for any problematic custom styles

❌ Problem: Shortcodes displaying as text instead of content

Possible Solutions:

1. Check shortcode syntax: Ensure square brackets are correct: [scb_booking_form]
2. Verify plugin is active: Make sure SinceCode Booking is activated
3. Use text editor: Switch to text/HTML mode when pasting shortcodes
4. Check for smart quotes: Ensure straight quotes, not curly quotes in shortcode parameters

❌ Problem: Pro features not working after upgrade

Possible Solutions:

1. Verify license activation: Check that your Pro license is properly activated
2. Check subscription status: Ensure your Pro subscription is active and not expired
3. Clear cache: Clear all caches after upgrading
4. Contact support: If issues persist, contact support with your license information

❌ Problem: Can’t add more than 5 services

Solution:

The Free plan is limited to 5 services. To add more services, you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro plan. Click the Upgrade button in the sidebar menu to get unlimited services and other Pro features.

❌ Problem: Booking form loading slowly

Possible Solutions:

1. Enable caching: Use a caching plugin to improve load times
2. Optimize images: Compress staff photos and company logo
3. Check hosting: Ensure your hosting plan has adequate resources
4. Limit plugins: Deactivate unnecessary plugins that may slow down your site
5. Use a CDN: Consider using a Content Delivery Network for faster asset loading