Did your credit card get declined when you tried to utilize it?

Are yous wondering if the reason for your blocked transaction was because yous're out of funds or for location restrictions? Or something else?

With this list of credit card declined codes, you lot can decide the source of the problem.

In this article, nosotros'll help you figure out exactly what's going on with your (or your customer'southward) credit carte du jour and why the transaction didn't go through. We'll embrace all standard — and less common — credit card declined codes in detail, including what they mean and what you should exercise nearly each one.

Let's go!

Cheque Out Our Video Guide With a Complete List of Credit Bill of fare Declined Codes Explained

What Is a Credit Card Decline Code?

A credit card turn down lawmaking is the code that appears on a credit card processor when a transaction, or payment, has been declined.

If you're in a store and can't get your credit card to work, you and the vendor will go an mistake that tin can direct you to what went wrong.

You can also get error codes when trying to make online purchases.

Example of a online credit card purchase being declined (Source: SmarterQueue.com)
Instance of a declined online credit bill of fare purchase (Source: SmarterQueue.com)

This can happen whenever a transaction is stopped by the vendor, bank, or card issuer.

When you have this issue, you lot'll get a short error message of one to three numbers (or messages, in some cases).

This mistake message is what's known as a credit decline code. The code tin can explain what the actual issue is… as long as yous know what information technology means.

Outset, nosotros'll cover some of the near common reasons a card is declined — and the relevant codes associated with them — before doing a deep dive into all potential credit card pass up codes.

If your customers see one of these codes when attempting to check out on your site, learn what could be causing it with this guide ✅ Click to Tweet

Near Common Reasons a Card Is Declined

Offset off, let's start by covering a few mutual reasons that a transaction might be declined.

The problem can be something as simple as the payment processor struggling with your carte, bereft funds, or an electronic effect connecting with your banking company or credit menu visitor.

Some of the well-nigh common bill of fare decline reasons include:

  • Credit menu verification fault (Code CV): There could be an upshot with your card's microchip or magnetic strip, making it impossible to use for transactions.
  • Insufficient funds (Code 51): You don't have plenty money in the accounts associated with your card (both credit and debit cards).
  • Exceeded credit limit (Lawmaking 65): Even if you take coin in your accounts, you need to pay information technology down if yous've exceeded the credit limit for the carte du jour before y'all tin can apply it over again.
  • Expired carte du jour (Code 54): All credit cards have an expiration date, and trying to apply a menu after that engagement volition give you an error message.
  • Transaction non permitted (Code 57): This occurs when you try to employ your menu for a transaction that is not immune (for instance, if you've blocked online transactions or international payments).
  • Wrong card number (Codes 14 & xv): At that place are ii incorrect means to enter the carte number improperly. If the very offset digit is incorrect, you'll run across error code 15 for "no such issuers" since the first digit pinpoints the card's issuing bank. If you become any other wrong numbers, you'll go error code 14 for inbound an invalid menu number.
  • Wrong security code (Code 63): This occurs when yous type the iii-digit CVV or CVC code on the back of your card or the four-digit CID code on the front of your menu incorrectly.
Examples of where to find your CVV, CVC, or CID number (Source: LendingTree)
Examples of where to observe your CVV, CVC, or CID number (Source: LendingTree)

For many of these problems, you may also run into error code 12 or error code 85. These simply announce an invalid transaction. Credit card issuing banks often use these two errors as catch-all response codes, making information technology harder to know what's incorrect.

You might take mistyped a credit bill of fare number, used the incorrect verification code, entered an invalid expiration date, or attempted something inherently impossible, like trying to refund a refund.

If you didn't see your error code in this department, y'all could scan the tabular array beneath, which includes over 50 credit card decline codes in numerical order, along with details as to why each code happens and how to set the problem.

Complete List Credit Card Declined Codes

This table includes a list of all credit menu error codes, exactly what they hateful (the actual problem), and how to set them.

Code Characterization The Problem The Ready
01 Refer to issuer The issuing bank (Mastercard, Visa, Discovery, etc.) prevented the transaction without a specific reason. Call the bank and enquire them to explain the upshot.
02 Refer to issuer (special condition) The customer's bank prevented the transaction (similar to lawmaking 01). Apply the number on the card to call the depository financial institution and enquire for an explanation.
04 Pick up bill of fare, concur phone call (no fraud implied) The client's bank prevented the transaction and is likewise telling the merchant to hold the card. This doesn't imply fraud, but rather overdrawn cards or expired ones. Call the bank to ask why the pick-up notice is showing upwardly for your credit carte.
05 Do not award The client's bank stopped the transaction and told the merchant to "not accolade" the card (not to take payment). Telephone call the bank and enquire for an explanation.
06 Other error The issuing bank can't specify the fault, merely something went wrong with the transaction. Try once more, and call the depository financial institution if the effect persists.
07 Selection upward carte, special condition (fraudulent) The client's banking concern stopped the transaction because the carte du jour or bank business relationship has been flagged as fraudulent. If y'all're the customer, telephone call the bank immediately to clear up whatsoever potential issues. If you're the merchant, withhold the card until you can gain confirmation from the bank and customer about their identity and the card'due south legitimacy.
10 Fractional approval The issuing bank accepts a part of the payment just blocks the rest, typically due to exceeding the credit limit or funds in the account. Call the bank to clear up the issue (and pay down your credit if the credit limit is the issue).
12 Invalid transaction The transaction attempted is invalid. This could be due to whatever number of faulty operations, including trying to refund a refund. Before you lot phone call the banking company, restart the transaction from scratch, and make certain all the data entered is correct.
thirteen Invalid corporeality The corporeality you lot entered for the transaction was invalid, usually due to a non-numerical symbol beingness entered along with the corporeality (east.grand., a dollar sign). But offset the transaction over again and exist careful to avert using symbols when typing the amount.
xiv Invalid carte number The card number is invalid, and the credit card processor can't find the related account. First the transaction over again, and be careful to enter the digits accurately. If the issue persists, telephone call the issuing bank.
15 No such issuer The first digit, which identifies the card'southward issuing banking company, was incorrect. (Credit bill of fare-issuing banks have their ain unique code that starts with the kickoff digit — iii for American Express, 4 for Visa, 5 for Mastercard, or 6 for Observe.) Carefully type the credit carte number again, making sure to include the first digit correctly.
xix Re-enter An unknown error occurred. Restart the transaction and be careful to enter all the information correctly. If the upshot persists, telephone call the carte du jour issuer.
28 No reply/response An fault occurred during the transaction without the reason specified. Restart the transaction and be careful to enter all the information correctly. If the issue persists, call the carte issuer.
41 Lost card, pick up The card's legitimate possessor has reported it lost or stolen, so the carte du jour issuer has denied the transaction. If it's your own bill of fare, you need to telephone call the bank right abroad. If you're the merchant, inquire the customer to use an alternate card or contact their bank.
43 Stolen carte du jour, choice up (fraud account) The legitimate owner has reported the card as stolen, so the card issuer denied the transaction. If it's your own carte, yous need to phone call the bank ASAP with the number on the back of the card. If you're the merchant, enquire them to use an alternating bill of fare or contact their depository financial institution.
51 Insufficient funds The menu issuer is blocking the transaction because the business relationship has already exceeded the credit limit, or the pending transaction would put the menu over. Contact the bank with the number on the back of the card, apply online banking to transfer funds to the card, or utilise an alternate card.
54 Expired card The expiration date has already passed. Use a credit card that is nonetheless valid. (If you only accept 1, the new card should typically have arrived in the mail service earlier the old i expires, and then be certain to contact the bank.)
57 Transaction not permitted – Card This code shows upward when you're trying to utilize a bill of fare for a transaction that's specifically non allowed, like transferring funds to a foreign merchant business relationship. Apply an alternate card without such limitations, or telephone call the issuing bank to articulate up whether y'all have the option to let such transactions.
58 Transaction non permitted – Terminal If the merchant business relationship connected to the terminal or payment processor is not properly configured, you'll see this error. The merchant needs to call their banking concern to clear things up. If you lot're the customer, utilize an alternate payment method, like cash or check.
62 Invalid service code, restricted The invalid service code tin refer to ii specific situations.i: You're trying to process an American Express or Discover menu, just the arrangement doesn't support those card issuers.

2: Yous tried to pay for online buy with a menu that doesn't support online payments.

Try a credit card from a different issuer, like Visa. If the merchant advertises accepting payments from your card issuer, you need to contact the banking company to ask nigh your card's configuration for online payments.
63 Security violation The three-digit CVV2 or CVC or the four-digit CID security lawmaking was incorrect or wasn't read properly. Restart the transaction from scratch and carefully type the correct security code.
65 Activity limit exceeded The credit card user has exceeded the credit limit (or this transaction would put them over). Use another credit card. If you take no other cards, y'all can employ online or telephone banking to pay down the card earlier y'all try it once again.
85 or 00 Issuer system unavailable This error code shows upward when in that location'due south a temporary advice error between the merchant and the issuing bank. Await a few moments, and then start the transaction over from scratch.
85 No reason to refuse The issuing banking company tin't identify a specific problem, but the transaction nonetheless didn't go through. Start the transaction over again from scratch, and if the issue persists, call the issuing bank.You can also try using another credit carte du jour to see if the upshot is merchant-specific.
91 Issuer or switch is unavailable The terminal or payment processor was unable to complete the payment authorization. Beginning the transaction from scratch, and if the trouble persists, call the issuing banking company.
92 Unable to road transaction The final cannot attain the carte du jour issuer to process the transaction. Wait a few minutes and try again. If the issue persists, contact your banking concern.
93 Violation, cannot complete The issuing depository financial institution has recognized (or has been informed of) a legal violation on the part of the credit card user, and assets have been frozen. If you mistakenly get this mistake code, call the issuing banking concern right away to clear up whatsoever problems.
96 System fault There's a temporary outcome with the payment processor. Restart the transaction. If the result persists, try another credit card.If nothing works, it's likely an issue with the merchant's payment processor.
RO or R1 Customer requested stop of specific recurring payment Your customer has specifically asked to stop the recurring payment you're trying to process. First, abolish all scheduled future payments to avert chargebacks and related fees.If the client is in breach of contract, you'll demand to make it touch with them to articulate things upwardly.
CV Carte du jour type verification error The card reader had a trouble verifying the bill of fare. This could exist an issue with the microchip or the magnet strip. Endeavor the age-old trick of wiping the credit card confronting your shirt and carefully swiping it again.If that doesn't work, cardinal in the number or contact the issuing bank.
W1, W2, W9 Fault connecting to depository financial institution This can happen considering of a power or service outage. Wait for the power to come up back on, or look for news of local outages that might touch you.If there isn't any apparent reason, contact your merchant bank.

Fault Codes for Fraud

Whether you're a merchant or a cardholder, the worst-example scenario is when you get an error code for fraud.

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Equally a merchant, yous desire to avoid chargebacks and related fees and damages. As a cardholder, you plainly don't want to have someone else using your card at will.

But credit carte fraud is a lot more common than you might think. In 2019, there were 271,823 cases of credit menu fraud in the US alone.

2019 US credit card fraud cases (Source: The Ascent)
2019 U.s.a. credit card fraud cases (Source: The Ascent)

With hundreds of thousands of instances of credit card fraud each yr, you need to be on the lookout man for customers who aren't the real owners of the cards they're using. Yous also need to be vigilant and aware of how your own cards are beingness utilized.

Here are all the credit carte pass up codes associated with fraud:

  • Code seven — Choice up the bill of fare, special condition (fraud account): The menu issuer has flagged the business relationship for fraud and therefore denied the transaction.
  • Lawmaking 41 — Lost bill of fare, option upward (fraud account): The real owner reported this carte du jour as lost or stolen, and the card issuer has blocked the transaction.
  • Code 43 — Stolen card, pick up (fraud business relationship): The owner has reported the bill of fare stolen, and the issuing banking company has blocked the transaction.
  • Code 215 — Lost/stolen menu: The real cardholder has reported the card every bit lost or stolen, and the card issuer blocks the transaction.
  • Code 534 — Practise not award, high fraud: The transaction failed PayPal or Google Checkout risk modeling.
  • Code 596 — Suspected fraud: Again, the card issuer suspects fraud and has blocked the transaction.

Note: If you lot accept payments online and you're worried well-nigh fraud and chargebacks, we've written a guide on how to reduce credit card fraud by up to 98%.

What Practise I Do if My Credit Card Is Declined?

The first thing you should practise when your credit card is declined is to look for the error code (or write it downwardly if yous're using the payment processor yourself).

Then, check if the issue with your credit card/account or with the merchant's last.

Finally, you lot must take the appropriate action required to solve that item upshot. That could be restarting the transaction, typing in everything advisedly, calling the bank, or trying some other card.

Troubleshooting boils down to a simple three-step process:

  1. Ask for the declined code.
  2. Acquire the meaning of the code.
  3. Take appropriate activeness (usually calling the issuing bank or trying another credit menu).

You may think that you've got your funds in social club or that your credit card limit hasn't been met, merely information technology never hurts to check with the bank.

Most of usa have multiple cards, and it tin can be hard to keep track of them all. There are over one billion credit cards in use in the United states of america solitary.

Graph of the number of credit cards in the US and in the world (Source: Shift)
Graph of the number of credit cards in the United states and in the world (Source: Shift)

And then if you ever become an error lawmaking when using one of your cards, avoid moving straight to using the adjacent card. First, make certain you contact the banking concern to observe out the real situation.

You lot don't want to get hit with unnecessary overdraft or belatedly payment fees, or a nasty surprise bill afterwards you've been the victim of fraud.

Credit Card Declined Codes FAQs

Are you lot yet confused near the error codes? Check out these frequently asked questions.

Why Is My Credit Card Declined When I Have Money?

There are a number of reasons why your credit bill of fare might be declined, even though you take money in your account:

  • You might accept exceeded your credit limit. Unless you've set up automated payments, you must clear your credit card debt before you tin use it over again.
  • You could exist trying to use a credit menu for a transaction it'due south non approved for, similar online payments or payments in a foreign country.
  • Your credit card number may have been flagged for fraud.
  • You lot may have typed in your credit card number, CVV2 code, or Pin incorrectly.
  • The event mayhap with the merchant's last and non with your credit card at all.

What Does Credit Card Code 51 Mean?

The credit card declined lawmaking "51" means that you've exceeded your credit limit (if information technology's a credit carte du jour) or run out of funds (if using a debit card).

Why Is My Card Declined When I Order Online?

Your credit bill of fare tin can be declined for iii potential reasons: account settings, lack of funds, and inaccurate information.

  1. Your credit carte du jour may not be fix up to handle online payments. Contact your bank to confirm whether this is the case.
  2. You may be entering the credit card number, CVV2, CVC, CID, Pivot, or name incorrectly.
  3. You may not have plenty funds remaining in your account or have exceeded your credit limit.

Don't let these credit card codes stop you (or your customers!) from making online transactions 🙅‍♀️ Learn what they mean & how to fix them here ⬇️ Click to Tweet

Summary

Whether information technology'south your own credit card or a customer's credit card that gets rejected, knowing the actual reason is crucial to deciding on the right response.

If y'all don't know which upshot yous're having, y'all might just utilize another credit card and get on with your day. However, exercise circumspection at all times by monitoring your credit usage and protecting yourself from identity theft.

Hopefully, this list has helped you figure out what was going on with your credit bill of fare and has given you the knowledge needed to have appropriate steps to ready the issue.


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