Decline Reason Glossary
The following information below will provide more information on specific decline reasons, which may vary from gateway to gateway.
The transaction was declined by the processor – The customer’s bank is unwilling to accept the transaction. The reasons for this response can vary – the customer will need to contact their bank for more details.
Do not honor – The customer’s bank is unwilling to accept the transaction. The customer will need to contact their bank for more details regarding this decline.
Insufficient funds – The account did not have sufficient funds to cover the transaction amount at the time of the transaction.
Transaction not allowed – The customer’s bank is declining the transaction for unspecified reasons, possibly due to an issue with the card itself. They will need to contact their bank or use a different payment method.
No such card issuer – This decline code could indicate that the submitted card number does not correlate to an existing card-issuing bank or that there is a connectivity error with the issuer. The customer will need to contact their bank for more information.
No card number on file with the issuer – The submitted card number is not on file with the card-issuing bank. The customer will need to contact their bank.
Expired card – The card is expired. The customer will need to use a different payment method.
Invalid expiration date – The customer entered an invalid payment method or made a typo in their card expiration date. Have the customer correct their payment information and attempt the transaction again – if the decline persists, they will need to contact their bank.
Invalid card security code – The customer entered an invalid security code or made a typo in their card information. Have the customer attempt the transaction again – if the decline persists, the customer will need to contact their bank.
Pick up card – The customer’s card has been reported as lost or stolen by the cardholder and the card-issuing bank has requested that merchants keep the card and call the number on the back to report it. As an online merchant, you don’t have a physical card and can’t complete this request – obtain a different payment method from the customer.
Lost card – The card used has likely been reported as lost. The customer will need to contact their bank for more information.
Stolen card – The card used has likely been reported as stolen. The customer will need to contact their bank for more information.
Fraudulent card – The customer’s bank suspects fraud – they will need to contact their bank for more information.
Activity Limit Exceeded – This is a decline message that means the credit card being used has reached its limit. Frequently seen if a test card is used on a live account.
Pan Failure – The specified card number is invalid (common test card response).
Invalid Card Number – The specified card number is invalid (common test card response).
Declined – The request is missing one or more fields – The transaction was declined due to a missing field at checkout, such as an email address or phone number.
Soft Decline – The authorization request was approved by the issuing bank but did not pass the Address Verification Service (AVS) check – The customer’s billing information did not pass the AVS check. This transaction will stay in a PENDING state; you may contact us to have the authorization pushed through if you do not believe this transaction to be fraudulent.
Soft Decline – The authorization request was approved by the issuing bank but did not pass the Card Verification Number (CVN) check – The customer’s billing information did not pass the CVN check. This transaction will stay in a PENDING state; you may contact us to have the authorization pushed through if you do not believe this transaction to be fraudulent.