Decline codes

A decline code tells you why a payment was declined, so you know whether to retry it or ask the customer for another payment method. It’s the decline_code on the payment error, whose customer_message is safe to show the customer. Test payment methods produce declines in a sandbox.

Bias retries a declined subscription or invoice charge unless the decline can’t succeed on retry. After a decline such as expired_card, lost_card or debit_not_authorized, Bias also deactivates the saved payment method. The subscriptions guide covers retries.

Codes

Code	Meaning	What to do
`account_closed`	The card account or bank account is closed.	Ask the customer for a different payment method.
`authentication_required`	The issuer requires the cardholder to authenticate the payment.	Ask the customer to pay again or use a different card. Don’t retry it yourself.
`call_issuer`	The issuer declined and asks the cardholder to contact them.	Ask the customer to contact their card issuer, or to use a different card.
`card_not_supported`	The card doesn’t support this kind of purchase.	Ask the customer to use a different card.
`card_velocity_exceeded`	The customer has gone over the card’s balance, credit limit or transaction limit.	Retry later, or ask the customer to use a different card.
`currency_not_supported`	The card doesn’t support the payment’s currency.	Ask the customer to use a different card.
`debit_not_authorized`	The account holder told their bank the debit wasn’t authorized, or revoked their authorization.	Don’t debit the account again. Ask the customer for a new payment method.
`do_not_honor`	The issuer declined without giving a reason.	Ask the customer to contact their card issuer, or to use a different card.
`duplicate_transaction`	A payment with the same amount and card was just made.	Check whether the earlier payment succeeded before trying again.
`expired_card`	The card has expired.	Ask the customer for a new card.
`fraudulent`	The issuer suspects the payment is fraudulent.	Review the order before trying again. The issuer may approve a later attempt.
`generic_decline`	The payment was declined for an unspecified reason, or a bank returned the debit without a known reason.	Ask the customer to contact their issuer or bank, or to use a different method.
`incorrect_address`	The billing address doesn’t match the issuer’s records.	Ask the customer to check their billing address.
`incorrect_cvc`	The security code is incorrect.	Ask the customer to check the security code.
`incorrect_number`	The card number is incorrect or doesn’t belong to any issuer.	Ask the customer to check the card number.
`incorrect_postal_code`	The billing postal code doesn’t match the issuer’s records.	Ask the customer to check their postal code.
`insufficient_funds`	The card or bank account doesn’t have enough funds or available credit.	Retry later, or ask the customer to use a different payment method.
`invalid_account`	The card or bank account number is invalid.	Ask the customer to check their details or use a different payment method.
`issuer_not_available`	The issuer couldn’t be reached.	Retry the payment.
`lost_card`	The card was reported lost.	Ask the customer to use a different card.
`new_account_information_available`	The card or account has new details, such as a new number or expiry date.	Ask the customer for their updated card details.
`no_action_taken`	The issuer couldn’t process the payment.	Ask the customer to contact their card issuer, or to use a different card.
`no_account`	The bank account doesn’t exist or can’t be found.	Ask the customer to check their account details or use a different method.
`not_permitted`	The issuer doesn’t allow this payment on the card.	Ask the customer to use a different card.
`offline_pin_required`	The card requires a PIN, which can’t be entered online.	Ask the customer to use a different card.
`online_or_offline_pin_required`	The card requires a PIN, which can’t be entered online.	Ask the customer to use a different card.
`pickup_card`	The issuer wants the card taken out of use, for example because it was reported lost or stolen.	Ask the customer to use a different card.
`pin_try_exceeded`	The cardholder entered an incorrect PIN too many times.	Ask the customer to use a different card.
`processing_error`	An error occurred while processing the payment.	Retry the payment. If it keeps failing, try again later.
`reenter_transaction`	The issuer asks for the payment to be tried again.	Retry the payment.
`restricted_card`	The issuer has restricted the card.	Ask the customer to use a different card. The issuer may approve it later.
`security_violation`	Risk rules declined the payment before it reached the issuer.	Don’t retry. A different card is unlikely to get past the same rules.
`service_not_allowed`	This kind of payment isn’t allowed for the card or for your account.	Ask the customer to use a different card. If every card fails, contact support.
`stolen_card`	The card was reported stolen.	Ask the customer to use a different card.
`stop_payment_order`	The customer asked their issuer or bank to stop this payment, or all recurring payments to you.	Don’t charge the payment method again. Ask the customer for a new one.
`transaction_not_allowed`	This payment isn’t allowed on the card or bank account, such as a frozen account or one without debits.	Ask the customer to use a different payment method.
`try_again_later`	The payment was declined temporarily.	Retry later.
`withdrawal_count_limit_exceeded`	The customer has gone over the card’s limit on the number or amount of purchases.	Retry later, or ask the customer to use a different card.

The network_decline_code property holds the raw response code from the network, when available.