So you dipped a customer’s credit card, and it was declined. Ugh. In addition to a flustered and potentially indignant customer, you now have to figure out what to do. Should you try to override the decline? Ask the customer to call their bank? Panic? With this handy guide, you certainly won’t have to do that last one. Here’s our cheat sheet to the decline codes your machine might produce and what to do about them.
Code 01, 04, 05, 57, or 93
If you see any of these decline codes appear, something is wrong with the customer’s account and the transaction is being blocked by the cardholder’s issuing bank. Instruct the customer to step to the side and call the bank to determine the issue. Once the bank has resolved the problem, the customer can again present the card for payment and the transaction should proceed without issue. If the customer can’t or doesn’t want to call their bank, they will need to provide an alternative method of payment to complete the transaction.
Code 07, 41, 63, or CV
These are classic fraud alerts. Fraudulent activity has already been detected with the customer’s account, the customer has reported the card as lost or stolen, or the CVV2/CID code is incorrect. If you know and trust the customer, ask them to provide an alternative method of payment so you can complete the transaction, then encourage them to call their bank to figure out what’s going on. If you’ve never seen the customer before, don’t complete the purchase. Assume it’s fraudulent. If you see a CV code, there is a chance it could be your account configuration that’s causing the problem. Call your credit card processor just to be sure.
Code 12
An decline code 12 means that the type of transaction you are trying to make is invalid or not supported. This frequently occurs when attempting to refund a credit card payment. Double check the payment type and payment information to make sure it’s all correct. When you’re satisfied, try the transaction again. It should process without issue.
Code 13, 14, or 15
These decline codes mean that there is some sort of mistake with the card number or transaction details. This is usually the result of a typo. Check to make sure the credit card number is correct (codes 14 and 15) and that the transaction amount is not negative and contains no errant numbers or symbols (code 13), then try the transaction again.
Code 19, 28, 85, 91, 96, or 00
A temporary or unknown problem occurred while authorizing the transaction. Try the transaction again. If repeated attempts still fail, contact your credit card processor for troubleshooting steps.
Code 51, 54, or 65
The customer has exceeded their credit limit (code 51 or 65) or the card is expired (code 54). The customer should contact their issuing bank to request an increase in their credit limit or request the new expiration date. If they cannot provide this information, they will need to provide an alternative method of payment to complete the transaction. Be alert – if this is a first-time customer it’s possible the transaction is fraudulent.
Code 58 or 62
Your account is not set up to process the type of transaction you are attempting. Perhaps, for instance, you are trying to process an international card for which your terminal is not configured. Contact your payment processor to have your account updated. The customer may need to present an alternative method of payment in the meantime. If you see decline code 62, it is possible that the issue is actually with the customer’s card. While you call your credit card processor, have them call their bank to ensure that their card is set up to process the type of transaction you’re attempting.
Code R0 or R1
These decline codes appear when a customer has instructed their card issuer to not process any further installments of a recurring transaction. To protect yourself from chargebacks, stop attempting to process right away and contact the customer to figure out how they want to move forward. To use the original card, they will need to contact their issuer to restart recurring payments. They can also, of course, provide you with a different card.
Your Payments Partner
You may notice that a lot of these courses of action suggest that you call your credit card processing provider. This is by design – your payments processor should be able to provide you with the education and tools needed to handle transaction decline codes quickly and confidently. If they can’t or won’t, it’s time to start shopping around. Give360 Paymentsa try – you can always reach us by phone at 1-855-360-0360 ordrop us a line on our website.
FAQs
Some common reasons that your credit card might get declined include having the card's credit limit maxed out, accidentally triggering the card's fraud protections and even entering incorrect payment information on a website.
Are credit card decline codes universal? ›
The first group of decline codes is universal. It does not matter which credit card processor you use, these codes are the same for all processors. The issuing bank is declining to authorize the card. The cause can sometimes be insufficient funds, although that is usually a decline 000051.
What is the code for insufficient funds decline? ›
Typically, payment processors provide their merchants with a decline code guide with their terminals. The credit card declined code 51 is one of the most common responses a merchant receives. Decline code 51 is the processing response for insufficient funds, or an exceeded credit limit.
What is a card decline code? ›
A card decline code is an alpha-numeric token indicating rejected payments and explains why a transaction has failed. 10 min read • Last edited: 23 February 2024.
What is the invalid account decline code? ›
The decline code “14: Invalid Account Number” in the context of a credit card transaction means that the credit card number entered is incorrect or does not exist. This could be due to a mistake in entering the numbers, a typo, or the card number being outdated or not issued by any financial institution.
Why is my card declining even though I have enough money? ›
There are several reasons why a debit card may be declined even if you have money in your account. Common reasons include travel and reaching your daily purchase limit. Stay on top of your cards and consider using budgeting apps to help avoid debit card denial.
Why is my card being declined as a payment method? ›
A credit card decline is when a credit card payment isn't authorized or accepted. There are a few reasons why a customer's card might not work – whether their card has expired, they've spent too much on it, or the issuing bank thinks there might be suspicious activity, among other reasons.
Why is my credit card not working for online payments? ›
Check your transaction amount and the available limit on your Credit Card. If your available limit is lesser than the transaction amount, the transaction may get declined. You can check if you are eligible for increasing your credit limit.
What is the Z3 code on a declined credit card? ›
The code Z3 or Y3 appears when the terminal is unable to go online.
What is the secret code on a credit card? ›
The CSC is typically printed on the back of a credit card (usually in the signature field). On some cards, all or part of the card number appears before the CSC, for example, 1234 567. In this example, 1234 are the last four digits of the credit card number, and 567 is the CSC.
Key Takeaways. An authorized transaction is a debit or credit card payment that has been approved by the cardholder's bank. While almost instantaneous, the process involves multiple entities. A card can be declined for many reasons, such as if not enough funds or credit are available on it, or if it has expired.
What is the error code for insufficient funds? ›
51 – Insufficient Funds
Error code 51 appears when a purchase has been declined due to insufficient funds in the account. Either the funds in a customer's bank account subceed the transaction amount, or if paying by credit card, they have hit their credit limit.
How to fix card declined by issuer? ›
Contact Customer Service
The card provider may need to manually activate the card. Often, your card is declined for your protection to prevent fraudulent purchases. In this case, your card provider may just need to verify your identity and authenticate your purchase.
What is decline code 300? ›
300 Series
These transactions are rejected by the gateway. They never make it to the merchant processor. Most often, this means you are attempting to process a specific service that you are not set up for, e.g., ACH/Bank Drafts.
What is the 6 digit authorization code on a credit card? ›
Understanding Authorization Codes
For example, a credit card authorization code is a five- or six-number code from the issuing bank to the vendor, that authorizes the sale. If the credit card used is counterfeit or if the card is over its predetermined limit, the credit card company will automatically decline the sale.
What is a decline code 7 on a credit card? ›
07 – Pick up card, special condition (fraud account)
The issuing bank (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) prevented the transaction because it has flagged this account as fraudulent. If it's for a one-time transaction, do not run the card again, and don't provide any more goods or services for the cardholder.
What is code 12 declined credit card? ›
Also known as the "invalid transaction" code, a credit card error code 12 is given when the issuing bank does not accept a transaction. That's super vague, but it's true. The issuing bank is the bank that gave the customer their card, and a declined 12 code is sort of a catch-all for error codes.
What is the reason code for no cardholder authorization? ›
4837 Chargeback: No Cardholder Authorization
Chargeback reason code 4837, or the “No Cardholder Authorization,” is relevant when customers claim a card transaction was unauthorized but feel the issue can't be resolved through the merchant.
