diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/Qr/AccountController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/Qr/AccountController.php
index 65d949d..2cb8baf 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/Qr/AccountController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/Qr/AccountController.php
@@ -174,12 +174,17 @@ class AccountController extends Controller
         );
 
         $provider = (string) ($data['gateway_provider'] ?? '');
-        if ($provider !== '' && $this->subscriptions->canUsePaymentGateway($account)) {
+        if ($this->subscriptions->canUsePaymentGateway($account)) {
             $existing = PaymentGatewaySetting::query()->firstOrNew([
                 'owner_ref' => $account->public_id,
             ]);
-            $existing->provider = $provider;
-            $existing->is_active = $request->boolean('gateway_is_active', true);
+            if ($provider === '' && ! $existing->exists) {
+                return redirect()->route('account.settings')->with('success', 'Settings saved.');
+            }
+            if ($provider !== '') {
+                $existing->provider = $provider;
+            }
+            $existing->is_active = $provider !== '' && $request->boolean('gateway_is_active');
             if (filled($data['gateway_public_key'] ?? null)) {
                 $existing->public_key = $data['gateway_public_key'];
             }
diff --git a/app/Models/PaymentGatewaySetting.php b/app/Models/PaymentGatewaySetting.php
index 7c34791..72e0d40 100644
--- a/app/Models/PaymentGatewaySetting.php
+++ b/app/Models/PaymentGatewaySetting.php
@@ -39,12 +39,13 @@ class PaymentGatewaySetting extends Model
             return false;
         }
 
+        $public = trim((string) $this->public_key);
         $secret = trim((string) $this->secret_key);
 
-        return $secret !== '' && in_array($this->provider, [
-            self::PROVIDER_PAYSTACK,
-            self::PROVIDER_FLUTTERWAVE,
-            self::PROVIDER_HUBTEL,
-        ], true);
+        return match ($this->provider) {
+            self::PROVIDER_PAYSTACK => str_starts_with($public, 'pk_') && str_starts_with($secret, 'sk_'),
+            self::PROVIDER_FLUTTERWAVE, self::PROVIDER_HUBTEL => $public !== '' && $secret !== '',
+            default => false,
+        };
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/Services/Events/EventRegistrationService.php b/app/Services/Events/EventRegistrationService.php
index 2e80d7c..b50216d 100644
--- a/app/Services/Events/EventRegistrationService.php
+++ b/app/Services/Events/EventRegistrationService.php
@@ -133,30 +133,54 @@ class EventRegistrationService
         $feeTier = $mode === 'contributions' ? 'donations' : 'sales';
         $callbackUrl = LadillLink::path($qrCode->short_code, 'register/callback');
 
-        $payOrder = $this->pay->createCheckout([
-            'merchant' => $qrCode->user->public_id,
-            'fee_tier' => $feeTier,
-            'source_service' => 'events',
-            'source_ref' => (string) $qrCode->id,
-            'callback_url' => $callbackUrl,
-            'customer_name' => $name,
-            'customer_email' => $email,
-            'customer_phone' => $registration->attendee_phone,
-            'line_items' => [
-                [
+        $usesOwnerGateway = $this->gateway->shouldUseOwnerGateway($qrCode->user);
+        $payOrder = null;
+        if ($usesOwnerGateway) {
+            try {
+                $payOrder = $this->gateway->initializeCheckout(
+                    $qrCode->user,
+                    $amountMinor,
+                    (string) ($content['currency'] ?? 'GHS'),
+                    (string) config('pay.mini_checkout_email', 'pay@ladill.com'),
+                    $callbackUrl,
+                    'EVTP-'.strtoupper(Str::random(16)),
+                    [
+                        'title' => $lineName,
+                        'registration_id' => $registration->id,
+                        'registration_reference' => $registration->reference,
+                        'qr_code_id' => $qrCode->id,
+                        'mode' => $mode,
+                        'attendee_email' => $email,
+                    ],
+                );
+            } catch (\Throwable) {
+                $usesOwnerGateway = false;
+            }
+        }
+        if (! $usesOwnerGateway) {
+            $payOrder = $this->pay->createCheckout([
+                'merchant' => $qrCode->user->public_id,
+                'fee_tier' => $feeTier,
+                'source_service' => 'events',
+                'source_ref' => (string) $qrCode->id,
+                'callback_url' => $callbackUrl,
+                'customer_name' => $name,
+                'customer_email' => $email,
+                'customer_phone' => $registration->attendee_phone,
+                'line_items' => [[
                     'name' => $lineName,
                     'unit_price_minor' => $amountMinor,
                     'quantity' => 1,
+                ]],
+                'metadata' => [
+                    'registration_id' => $registration->id,
+                    'registration_reference' => $registration->reference,
+                    'qr_code_id' => $qrCode->id,
+                    'mode' => $mode,
+                    'attendee_email' => $email,
                 ],
-            ],
-            'metadata' => [
-                'registration_id' => $registration->id,
-                'registration_reference' => $registration->reference,
-                'qr_code_id' => $qrCode->id,
-                'mode' => $mode,
-                'attendee_email' => $email,
-            ],
-        ]);
+            ]);
+        }
 
         $checkoutUrl = (string) ($payOrder['checkout_url'] ?? '');
         if ($checkoutUrl === '') {
@@ -164,10 +188,11 @@ class EventRegistrationService
         }
 
         $registration->update([
-            'pay_order_id' => $payOrder['id'] ?? null,
+            'pay_order_id' => $usesOwnerGateway ? null : ($payOrder['id'] ?? null),
             'payment_reference' => $payOrder['reference'],
             'metadata' => array_merge((array) $registration->metadata, [
-                'ladill_pay_init' => [
+                ($usesOwnerGateway ? 'merchant_gateway_init' : 'ladill_pay_init') => [
+                    'provider' => $payOrder['provider'] ?? 'ladill_pay',
                     'platform_fee_minor' => $payOrder['platform_fee_minor'] ?? null,
                     'merchant_amount_minor' => $payOrder['merchant_amount_minor'] ?? null,
                 ],
diff --git a/app/Services/Payments/MerchantGatewayService.php b/app/Services/Payments/MerchantGatewayService.php
index 14da68a..38633bc 100644
--- a/app/Services/Payments/MerchantGatewayService.php
+++ b/app/Services/Payments/MerchantGatewayService.php
@@ -19,11 +19,13 @@ class MerchantGatewayService
 
     public function isConfigured(User|string $owner): bool
     {
-        if (! $this->ownerMayUseGateway($owner)) {
-            return false;
-        }
+        return $this->shouldUseOwnerGateway($owner);
+    }
 
-        return (bool) $this->settingFor($owner)?->isConfigured();
+    public function shouldUseOwnerGateway(User|string $owner): bool
+    {
+        return $this->ownerMayUseGateway($owner)
+            && (bool) $this->settingFor($owner)?->isConfigured();
     }
 
     /**
@@ -55,7 +57,12 @@ class MerchantGatewayService
      */
     public function verify(User|string $owner, string $reference): array
     {
-        $setting = $this->requireConfigured($owner);
+        // Do not re-check the current plan here: an owner-gateway payment
+        // initiated before a downgrade must remain verifiable.
+        $setting = $this->settingFor($owner);
+        if (! $setting?->isConfigured()) {
+            throw new RuntimeException('The payment gateway used for this transaction is no longer configured.');
+        }
 
         return match ($setting->provider) {
             PaymentGatewaySetting::PROVIDER_PAYSTACK => $this->paystackVerify($setting, $reference),
diff --git a/resources/views/qr/account/settings.blade.php b/resources/views/qr/account/settings.blade.php
index c4d89a0..ce327e0 100644
--- a/resources/views/qr/account/settings.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/qr/account/settings.blade.php
@@ -272,9 +272,31 @@
             <div class="rounded-2xl border border-slate-200 bg-white p-5 space-y-4">
                 <div>
                     <h2 class="text-base font-semibold text-slate-900">Online payments</h2>
-                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-slate-500">Ticket and contribution payments are processed by Ladill Pay (Paystack). Funds settle to your Ladill wallet — no API keys required.</p>
+                    <p class="mt-1 text-sm text-slate-500">Ladill Pay is the recommended default and needs no API keys. Pro and Business may optionally select an owner gateway.</p>
                 </div>
-                <p class="rounded-lg bg-emerald-50 px-3 py-2 text-sm text-emerald-800">Ladill Pay is active for paid tickets and contributions on all plans.</p>
+                <p class="rounded-lg bg-emerald-50 px-3 py-2 text-sm text-emerald-800">Ladill Pay is active on all plans and remains the automatic fallback.</p>
+                @if ($canUsePaymentGateway ?? false)
+                    <select name="gateway_provider" class="w-full rounded-lg border-slate-200 text-sm">
+                        @php $selectedGateway = old('gateway_provider', $gateway?->is_active ? $gateway?->provider : ''); @endphp
+                        <option value="">Ladill Pay (recommended)</option>
+                        @foreach (['paystack' => 'Paystack', 'flutterwave' => 'Flutterwave', 'hubtel' => 'Hubtel'] as $value => $label)
+                            <option value="{{ $value }}" @selected($selectedGateway === $value)>{{ $label }}</option>
+                        @endforeach
+                    </select>
+                    <div class="grid gap-3 sm:grid-cols-2">
+                        <input name="gateway_public_key" value="" placeholder="{{ $gateway?->public_key ? 'Public key saved — leave blank to keep' : 'Public key / merchant account' }}" class="rounded-lg border-slate-200 text-sm">
+                        <input type="password" name="gateway_secret_key" value="" placeholder="{{ $gateway?->secret_key ? 'Secret saved — leave blank to keep' : 'Secret / API key' }}" autocomplete="new-password" class="rounded-lg border-slate-200 text-sm">
+                    </div>
+                    <input type="password" name="gateway_webhook_secret" value="" placeholder="Webhook secret (optional)" autocomplete="new-password" class="w-full rounded-lg border-slate-200 text-sm">
+                    <label class="flex items-center gap-2 text-sm text-slate-700">
+                        <input type="hidden" name="gateway_is_active" value="0">
+                        <input type="checkbox" name="gateway_is_active" value="1" @checked(old('gateway_is_active', $gateway?->is_active ?? false)) class="rounded border-slate-300 text-indigo-600">
+                        Use my gateway instead of Ladill Pay
+                    </label>
+                    <p class="text-xs text-slate-500">Incomplete or invalid credentials automatically fall back to Ladill Pay.</p>
+                @else
+                    <p class="rounded-lg bg-indigo-50 px-3 py-2 text-sm text-indigo-800">Free uses Ladill Pay only. Upgrade to Pro to optionally connect your own gateway.</p>
+                @endif
             </div>
 
             <button type="submit" class="btn-primary">
diff --git a/tests/Feature/EventsProTest.php b/tests/Feature/EventsProTest.php
index a81602e..d3f3a2b 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/EventsProTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/EventsProTest.php
@@ -103,4 +103,26 @@ class EventsProTest extends TestCase
         $this->assertTrue($svc->canUsePaymentGateway($user));
         $this->assertTrue(app(\App\Services\Payments\MerchantGatewayService::class)->isConfigured($user));
     }
+
+    public function test_invalid_credentials_and_downgrade_disable_owner_gateway_without_deleting_keys(): void
+    {
+        $user = $this->user();
+        ProSubscription::create([
+            'user_id' => $user->id, 'plan' => 'enterprise', 'status' => 'active',
+            'price_minor' => 14900, 'current_period_end' => now()->addMonth(),
+        ]);
+        $setting = \App\Models\PaymentGatewaySetting::create([
+            'owner_ref' => $user->public_id, 'provider' => 'paystack',
+            'public_key' => 'bad', 'secret_key' => 'bad', 'is_active' => true,
+        ]);
+        $gateway = app(\App\Services\Payments\MerchantGatewayService::class);
+        $this->assertFalse($gateway->shouldUseOwnerGateway($user));
+
+        $setting->update(['public_key' => 'pk_test_saved', 'secret_key' => 'sk_test_saved']);
+        $this->assertTrue($gateway->shouldUseOwnerGateway($user));
+
+        ProSubscription::where('user_id', $user->id)->update(['status' => 'past_due']);
+        $this->assertFalse($gateway->shouldUseOwnerGateway($user->fresh()));
+        $this->assertDatabaseHas('payment_gateway_settings', ['id' => $setting->id, 'is_active' => true]);
+    }
 }