Declines
Card declines can be a frustrating aspect of processing payments, both for customers and merchants. They happen when a cardholder's bank or card issuer cannot authorize a transaction.
The table below outlines common reasons for card declines along with recommended resolutions.
| FAILURE CODE | FAILURE MESSAGE | RESOLUTION |
|---|---|---|
insufficient_funds | The account has insufficient funds to complete the transaction. | Suggest a different payment method. |
avs_check_failed | The card was declined for a failed AVS check. | Request re-verification of billing address details. |
generic_decline | Your request has been declined by the issuing bank. | Advise the customer to contact their bank or use another card. |
call_issuer | Your request has been declined by the issuing bank. The customer needs to contact their card issuer for more information. | Advise the customer to contact their bank or use another card. |
expired_card | The card has expired. | Request an updated card with a valid expiration date. |
pickup_card | The customer can't use this card to make this payment. It's possible it was reported lost or stolen. | Advise the customer to contact their bank or use another card. |
invalid_number | The card number is invalid. | Ask the customer to enter a valid card number. |
limit_exceeded | The customer has exceeded the balance or credit limit available on their card. | Suggest a different payment method. |
not_permitted | Transactions are prohibited or limited against this account. | Advise the customer to contact their bank or use another card. |
incorrect_cvc | The CVV/CVC number is incorrect. | Request the correct CVV/CVC number from the customer. |
service_not_allowed | The card was declined by the issuing bank due to its proprietary card activity regulations. | Advise the customer to contact their bank or use another card. |
invalid_expiry | The expiration date is invalid. | Ask for the correct expiration date. |
card_not_supported | The card does not support this type of purchase. | Advise the customer to contact their bank or use another card. |
restricted_card | The customer can't use this card to make this payment. It's possible it was reported lost or stolen. | Advise the customer to contact their bank or use another card. |
fraudulent | The payment was declined because it is suspected to be fraudulent. | Avoid providing your customer with more specific details. Instead, advise the customer to contact their bank. |
processing_error | An error occurred while processing the card. | Retry the transaction or use a different payment method. |
account_closed | The account has been closed. | Suggest a different payment method. |