Avoid coming face to face with and don't pay (4,2,4)

'don't pay' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their base form, I don't see how they can define each other.

'avoid coming face to face with' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'face' could be 'meet' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'meet' is found within the answer.
'to' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'fail' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?