Transaction refusal reasons

Modified on: Fri, 14 Jul, 2023 at 9:38 AM

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Visa and Mastercard raw responses

These are the most common raw responses from Visa and Mastercard for refused or cancelled transactions. The response code returns with or without a leading zero.

Last journal typerefusalReasonRawDescription
Cancelled00: Approved or completed successfullyThe transaction was cancelled after being initially approved by the issuer. This can be due to various reasons, for example, if the shopper returns goods after purchase.
Refused01: Refer to card issuerThe transaction was refused by the card issuer. The shopper should contact their bank for clarification. The shopper can try again after resolving the issue with their bank, or use another payment method.
Refused03: Invalid merchantThe transaction was refused by the card issuer. The shopper should contact their bank for clarification. The shopper can try again after resolving the issue with their bank, or use another payment method.
Refused04: Capture card / Pick-upThe card issuer requests to retain the card. This can be due to a suspected counterfeit or stolen card. This reason is used in an E-Commerce environment although it originates from a POS (Point Of Sale) environment.
Refused05: Do not honorThis is a generic refusal that has several possible causes. The shopper should contact their issuing bank for clarification.
Refused06: ErrorPayment could not be authorised and resulted in an error. The shopper can try again or use another payment method.
Refused07: Pickup card, special conditionThe card issuer requests to retain the card. This can be due to a suspected counterfeit or stolen card.
Cancelled10: Partial approvalThe transaction was cancelled. Some card issuers support partial-approval authorization. This approves a part of the requested transaction, leaving the remainder to be paid with another form of tender.
Refused12: Invalid transactionThe card issuer does not allow this type of transaction on this card/account. For example, the card is a fleet card for which this type of transaction is not permitted.
Refused13: Invalid amountThe card issuer has declined the transaction because of an invalid format or field. This response usually occurs with Cirrus or Maestro Debit and Prepaid Cards or cards that are not allowed to do online purchases. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Refused14: Invalid card numberThe card issuer is unable to validate the card/account number.
Refused15: Invalid issuerThe card number is not within a card number range supported by the scheme.
Refused19: Re-enter transactionApplies for Visa. The transaction cannot be processed temporarily.
Refused30: Format errorThe card issuer does not recognize the transaction details being entered. This is due to a format error. The shopper should check the transaction information and retry.
Refused41: Lost cardThe card was reported as lost. Validate the shopper's authenticity and refer them to their bank.
Refused43: Stolen cardThe card was reported as stolen. Validate the shopper's authenticity and refer them to their bank.
Refused46: Closed accountApplies for Visa. The account is closed. Re-validate the account number for accuracy and do not reattempt with the same PAN or token.
Refused51: Insufficient funds/over credit limit / Not sufficient fundsInsufficient funds in the cardholder's account. The shopper can try again after adding funds to their bank account, or use another payment method.
Refused54: Expired cardThe card expiration date is in the past. The shopper should correct the date or use another payment method.
Refused55: Invalid PINThe shopper has entered an incorrect PIN. The shopper should re-enter their PIN or use another payment method.
Refused57: Transaction not permitted to issuer/cardholderThe card issuer does not permit the transaction on this card/account. The shopper can use another payment method. For activation or loading of prepaid cards, the Merchant, acquirer BIN, and issuer BIN are not all domestic. An issuer's processing center is not certified to receive transaction-specific data in TLV format (field 104 in request message).
Refused58: Transaction not permitted to acquirer/terminalCard issuer does not permit the transaction on this card/account. Shopper can use another payment method or contact their bank.
Refused59: Suspected fraudThe transaction is refused because the card issuer suspects this payment to be fraudulent.
Refused61: Exceeds withdrawal amount limit(s) / Withdrawal amount limit exceededThe shopper has exceeded their card limit. The shopper can try again after resolving the issue with their bank, or use another payment method.
Refused62: Restricted cardThe card issuer has restricted where the card can be used. For example, because of embargoes.
Refused63: Security violationThe card issuer indicated a security issue with this card. The shopper can use another payment method. Alternatively, the shopper can try again after they resolved the issue with their bank.
Refused65: Exceeds withdrawal count limit / Withdrawal count limit exceededThe shopper has exceeded their card usage frequency limit. The shopper can use another payment method or try again with the same card after the shopper took care of the card limit issue.
Refused6P: Customer ID verification failedApplies for Visa. Incorrect account verification (for example driving license number) related to Visa Direct. Not to be confused for cardholder verification method refusals such as CVV, for example.
Refused65: Authentication requiredApplies for Mastercard. Authentication is required for the transaction. If the transaction is in scope of PSD2 and did not go through 3D Secure, retry with 3D Secure. This is also referred to as a "Soft Decline".
Refused70: Contact Card IssuerApplies for Mastercard. The card issuer indicated an issue with this card and requests contact from the shopper. The shopper can use another payment method. Alternatively the shopper can try again after they resolved the issue with their bank.
Refused70: PIN data requiredApplies for Visa. The card issuer requests to use Secure Customer Authentication. Reattempt transaction with PIN. (European Region Only)
Refused75: Allowable number of PIN tries exceededThe shopper has entered an incorrect PIN more times than is allowed by the issuing bank. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Refused78: Invalid/nonexistent account specified (general)The transaction is from a new cardholder, and the card has not been properly unblocked.
Refused79: Life CycleApplies for Mastercard. The transaction is refused due to invalid card data. View the Merchant Advice Code for follow-up action.
Refused80: Credit issuer unavailableThe issuing bank cannot be contacted. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Refused82: PolicyApplies for Mastercard. The transaction is refused due to a policy reason. View the Merchant Advice Code for follow-up action.
Refused82: Negative online CAM, dCVV, iCVV, CVV, or CAVV results or Offline PIN authentication interruptedApplies for Visa. The cardholder verification method failed for CAM, dCVV, iCVV, CVV or a service code for card present transactions.
Refused83: Fraud / SecurityApplies for Mastercard. The transaction is refused because the card issuer suspects this payment to be fraudulent. View the Merchant Advice Code for follow-up action.
Authorised85: No reason to decline a request for account number verification, address verification, CVV2 verification, or a credit voucher or merchandise returnZero-value auth request authorised.
Authorised85: Not declined (Valid for all zero amount transactions)Zero-value auth request authorised.
Refused86: Cannot verify PINApplies for Visa. The PIN cannot be validated. If applicable, the transaction can be reattempted as a non-PIN transaction.
Refused91: Authorization Platform or issuer system inoperative / Issuer not availableThe issuing bank cannot be contacted. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Error91: Issuer unavailable or switch inoperativeThe issuer or issuer processor cannot authorize, for example because of downtime.
Refused92: Destination cannot be found for routing / Unable to route transactionThe shopper is using a test card number on live. The shopper should use another payment method.
Refused93: Transaction cannot be completed; violation of lawThe issuing bank will not allow this transaction. The shopper should use another payment method.
Refused96: System malfunctionThe issuing bank cannot be contacted. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Refused1A: Authentication RequiredApplies for Visa. Authentication is required for the transaction. If the transaction is in scope of PSD2 and did not go through 3D Secure, retry with 3D Secure. This is also referred to as a "Soft Decline".
RefusedR0: Stop payment orderApplies for Visa. The cardholder requested to stop a specific, single recurring payment transaction. Contact the shopper regarding cancellation of this transaction.
RefusedR1: Revocation of authorisation orderApplies for Visa. The cardholder requested to stop all recurring payment transactions. Contact the shopper regarding cancellation of all transactions.
RefusedR3: Revocation of all authorisation ordersApplies for Visa. All recurring payments have been cancelled for the card number in the request. Contact the shopper regarding cancellation of all transactions.
RefusedZ1: Offline-declinedApplies for Visa. Only used in non-cardholder requests such as advice.
RefusedZ3: Unable to go online; offline-declinedApplies for Visa. Only used in non-cardholder requests such as advice.

American Express raw responses

These are the most common raw responses from American Express for refused or cancelled transactions.

Last journal typerefusalReasonRawDescription
Cancelled000: ApprovedThe transaction was cancelled after being initially approved by the issuer. This can be due to various reasons, for example, if the shopper returns goods after purchase.
Cancelled001: Approve with IDThe transaction was cancelled after the issuer requested that identification be established through telephone contact between the acquiring center's authoriser and the merchant.
Cancelled002: Prepaid Card Partial AuthorizationTransaction was cancelled. Some card issuers support partial-approval authorization. This approves a part of the requested transaction, leaving the remainder to be paid with another form of tender.
Refused100: DenyThis is a generic refusal that can have several possible reasons. Shopper should contact their issuing bank for clarification.
Refused101: Expired Card / Invalid Expiration DateThe card expiration date is in the past. The shopper should correct the date or use another payment method.
Refused106: PIN tries exceededThe shopper has entered an incorrect PIN more times than is allowed by the issuing bank. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Refused109: Invalid merchantThe transaction was refused by the card issuer. The shopper should contact their bank for clarification. The shopper can try again after resolving the issue with their bank, or use another payment method.
Refused110: Invalid amountThe transaction amount was specified in an invalid format. For example, an invalid character such as a dollar sign or a space was used. The shopper should correct or use another payment method.
Refused111: Invalid accountThe card issuer is unable to validate the card/account number, possibly because an invalid character was used.
Refused115: Requested function not supportedThe card issuer does not allow this type of transaction on this card/account.
Refused117: Incorrect PINThe shopper entered an invalid PIN. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Refused119: Transaction not permitted to CardmemberThe card issuer doesn't permit the transaction on this card/account. The shopper can use another payment method.
Refused122: Invalid Keyed Printed Card Security Code (PCSC)The card issuer indicated a security issue with this card. The shopper can use another payment method. Alternatively, the shopper can try again after they resolved the issue with their bank.
Refused125: Invalid Effective Date on CardThe card expiration date provided is not a valid date format. The shopper should correct or use another payment method.
Refused130: Additional customer identification requiredAuthentication is required for the transaction. If the transaction is in scope of PSD2 and did not go through 3D Secure, retry with 3D Secure. This is also referred to as a "Soft Decline".
Refused181: Format errorThe card issuer does not recognize the transaction details being entered. This is due to a format error. The shopper should check the transaction information and retry.
Refused183: Invalid Currency CodeThe currency code provided doesn't comply with standards.
Refused187: Deny New Card IssuedThe card issuer supplied the cardholder with a new card. The shopper should retry with the new card, or use another payment method
Refused189: Deny Canceled or Closed Card AcceptorThe merchant has stopped operations or is no longer accepting cards from this card scheme.
Refused200: Deny pick up CardThe card issuer requests to retain the card. This can be due to a suspected counterfeit or stolen card.
Refused900: Advice acceptedThe ExpressPay issuer is unable to respond to an ATC Synchronization Authorization Request.
Refused911: Card Issuer timed outThe issuing bank cannot be contacted. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Refused912: Host unavailableThe issuing bank cannot be contacted. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.

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