Home / Bank Decline Codes
Understand what decline codes mean and how you can resolve them when a charge is declined.
If a card issuer declines a payment, they may provide a reason through the use of a decline code. Below is a list of some possible decline codes that can be returned, along with suggestions for next steps to take to try and complete the payment.
| DECLINE CODE | DESCRIPTION | NEXT STEPS |
|---|---|---|
approve_with_id | The payment cannot be authorized. | The payment should be attempted again. If it still cannot be processed, the customer needs to contact their card issuer. |
call_issuer | The card has been declined for an unknown reason. | The customer needs to contact their card issuer for more information. |
card_not_supported | The card does not support this type of purchase. | The customer needs to contact their card issuer to make sure their card can be used to make this type of purchase. |
card_velocity_exceeded | The customer has exceeded the balance or credit limit available on their card. | The customer should contact their card issuer for more information. |
currency_not_supported | The card does not support the specified currency. | The customer needs to check with the issuer whether the card can be used for the type of currency specified. |
do_not_honor | The card has been declined for an unknown reason. | The customer needs to contact their card issuer for more information. |
do_not_try_again | The card has been declined for an unknown reason. | The customer should contact their card issuer for more information. |
duplicate_transaction | A transaction with identical amount and credit card information was submitted very recently. | Check to see if a recent payment already exists. |
expired_card | The card has expired. | The customer should use another card. |
fraudulent | The payment has been declined as Stripe suspects it is fraudulent. | Do not report more detailed information to your customer. Instead, present as you would the generic_declinedescribed below. |
generic_decline | The card has been declined for an unknown reason. | The customer needs to contact their card issuer for more information. |
incorrect_number | The card number is incorrect. | The customer should try again using the correct card number. |
incorrect_cvc | The CVC number is incorrect. | The customer should try again using the correct CVC. |
incorrect_pin | The PIN entered is incorrect. This decline code only applies to payments made with a card reader. | The customer should try again using the correct PIN. |
incorrect_zip | The ZIP/postal code is incorrect. | The customer should try again using the correct billing ZIP/postal code. |
insufficient_funds | The card has insufficient funds to complete the purchase. | The customer should use an alternative payment method. |
invalid_account | The card, or account the card is connected to, is invalid. | The customer needs to contact their card issuer to check that the card is working correctly. |
invalid_amount | The payment amount is invalid, or exceeds the amount that is allowed. | If the amount appears to be correct, the customer needs to check with their card issuer that they can make purchases of that amount. |
invalid_cvc | The CVC number is incorrect. | The customer should try again using the correct CVC. |
invalid_expiry_year | The expiration year invalid. | The customer should try again using the correct expiration date. |
invalid_number | The card number is incorrect. | The customer should try again using the correct card number. |
invalid_pin | The PIN entered is incorrect. This decline code only applies to payments made with a card reader. | The customer should try again using the correct PIN. |
issuer_not_available | The card issuer could not be reached, so the payment could not be authorized. | The payment should be attempted again. If it still cannot be processed, the customer needs to contact their card issuer. |
lost_card | The payment has been declined because the card is reported lost. | The specific reason for the decline should not be reported to the customer. Instead, it needs to be presented as a generic decline. |
merchant_blacklist | The payment has been declined because it matches a value on the Stripe user’s block list. | Do not report more detailed information to your customer. Instead, present as you would the generic_declinedescribed above. |
new_account_information_available | The card, or account the card is connected to, is invalid. | The customer needs to contact their card issuer for more information. |
no_action_taken | The card has been declined for an unknown reason. | The customer should contact their card issuer for more information. |
not_permitted | The payment is not permitted. | The customer needs to contact their card issuer for more information. |
pickup_card | The card cannot be used to make this payment (it is possible it has been reported lost or stolen). | The customer needs to contact their card issuer for more information. |
pin_try_exceeded | The allowable number of PIN tries has been exceeded. | The customer must use another card or method of payment. |
processing_error | An error occurred while processing the card. | The payment should be attempted again. If it still cannot be processed, try again later. |
reenter_transaction | The payment could not be processed by the issuer for an unknown reason. | The payment should be attempted again. If it still cannot be processed, the customer needs to contact their card issuer. |
restricted_card | The card cannot be used to make this payment (it is possible it has been reported lost or stolen). | The customer needs to contact their card issuer for more information. |
revocation_of_all_authorizations | The card has been declined for an unknown reason. | The customer should contact their card issuer for more information. |
revocation_of_authorization | The card has been declined for an unknown reason. | The customer should contact their card issuer for more information. |
security_violation | The card has been declined for an unknown reason. | The customer needs to contact their card issuer for more information. |
service_not_allowed | The card has been declined for an unknown reason. | The customer should contact their card issuer for more information. |
stolen_card | The payment has been declined because the card is reported stolen. | The specific reason for the decline should not be reported to the customer. Instead, it needs to be presented as a generic decline. |
stop_payment_order | The card has been declined for an unknown reason. | The customer should contact their card issuer for more information. |
testmode_decline | A Stripe test card number was used. | A genuine card must be used to make a payment. |
transaction_not_allowed | The card has been declined for an unknown reason. | The customer needs to contact their card issuer for more information. |
try_again_later | The card has been declined for an unknown reason. | Ask the customer to attempt the payment again. If subsequent payments are declined, the customer should contact their card issuer for more information. |
withdrawal_count_limit_exceeded | The customer has exceeded the balance or credit limit available on their card. | The customer should use an alternative payment method. |
