Did your credit card get declined when yous tried to use it?

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

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

In this article, nosotros'll assistance you figure out exactly what'southward going on with your (or your customer'southward) credit card and why the transaction didn't go through. Nosotros'll cover all standard — and less common — credit bill of fare declined codes in particular, including what they hateful and what you lot should exercise about each i.

Let's go!

Check Out Our Video Guide With a Consummate List of Credit Carte Declined Codes Explained

What Is a Credit Bill of fare Turn down Code?

A credit carte du jour reject code is the lawmaking that appears on a credit card processor when a transaction, or payment, has been declined.

If you're in a store and can't go your credit card to work, you and the vendor volition go an error that can directly you to what went wrong.

You can likewise get fault codes when trying to make online purchases.

Example of a online credit card purchase being declined (Source: SmarterQueue.com)
Example of a declined online credit carte buy (Source: SmarterQueue.com)

This tin can happen whenever a transaction is stopped by the vendor, banking company, or carte issuer.

When you lot accept this event, you'll get a short error message of i to 3 numbers (or letters, in some cases).

This error message is what'due south known as a credit refuse code. The lawmaking tin explain what the actual issue is… as long as yous know what it means.

First, we'll cover some of the virtually common reasons a card is declined — and the relevant codes associated with them — before doing a deep swoop into all potential credit menu decline codes.

If your customers encounter one of these codes when attempting to bank check out on your site, learn what could exist causing information technology with this guide ✅ Click to Tweet

Nearly Common Reasons a Carte du jour Is Declined

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

The problem can be something as simple every bit the payment processor struggling with your card, bereft funds, or an electronic event connecting with your bank or credit card company.

Some of the about common card turn down reasons include:

  • Credit carte du jour verification fault (Code CV): There could be an issue with your carte du jour'due south microchip or magnetic strip, making information technology incommunicable to employ for transactions.
  • Insufficient funds (Lawmaking 51): You don't have enough money in the accounts associated with your card (both credit and debit cards).
  • Exceeded credit limit (Lawmaking 65): Fifty-fifty if you have money in your accounts, you lot need to pay it downwards if you've exceeded the credit limit for the card earlier y'all can apply it again.
  • Expired card (Code 54): All credit cards have an expiration date, and trying to utilise a card after that date will give yous an error message.
  • Transaction not permitted (Code 57): This occurs when yous try to use your card for a transaction that is not allowed (for example, if you've blocked online transactions or international payments).
  • Incorrect card number (Codes xiv & 15): There are two wrong ways to enter the card number improperly. If the very first digit is wrong, you'll meet mistake lawmaking 15 for "no such issuers" since the offset digit pinpoints the card's issuing bank. If yous get any other wrong numbers, you lot'll get error code fourteen for inbound an invalid card number.
  • Incorrect security code (Code 63): This occurs when you type the iii-digit CVV or CVC lawmaking on the dorsum of your card or the four-digit CID code on the forepart of your carte du jour incorrectly.
Examples of where to find your CVV, CVC, or CID number (Source: LendingTree)
Examples of where to discover your CVV, CVC, or CID number (Source: LendingTree)

For many of these issues, yous may likewise see mistake code 12 or error code 85. These simply denote an invalid transaction. Credit card issuing banks oftentimes employ these two errors equally catch-all response codes, making it harder to know what'southward incorrect.

You might accept mistyped a credit card number, used the incorrect verification lawmaking, entered an invalid expiration date, or attempted something inherently impossible, like trying to refund a refund.

If yous didn't see your fault lawmaking in this section, you could browse the table beneath, which includes over 50 credit card reject codes in numerical order, along with details as to why each code happens and how to fix the problem.

Complete List Credit Menu Declined Codes

This tabular array includes a list of all credit carte error codes, exactly what they mean (the actual trouble), and how to fix them.

Lawmaking Label The Problem The Set up
01 Refer to issuer The issuing bank (Mastercard, Visa, Discovery, etc.) prevented the transaction without a specific reason. Phone call the bank and inquire them to explain the event.
02 Refer to issuer (special condition) The client'due south bank prevented the transaction (similar to code 01). Apply the number on the card to call the bank and ask for an explanation.
04 Choice up card, hold telephone call (no fraud unsaid) The customer'south bank prevented the transaction and is also telling the merchant to hold the carte. This doesn't imply fraud, only rather overdrawn cards or expired ones. Call the bank to ask why the pick-up notice is showing up for your credit card.
05 Exercise non honor The client'south banking company stopped the transaction and told the merchant to "not honor" the card (not to take payment). Call the depository financial institution and ask for an explanation.
06 Other error The issuing bank can't specify the fault, simply something went wrong with the transaction. Try once more, and call the bank if the issue persists.
07 Choice up menu, special condition (fraudulent) The client's bank stopped the transaction because the card or bank account has been flagged equally fraudulent. If you're the customer, call the bank immediately to clear up any potential issues. If you're the merchant, withhold the card until you can gain confirmation from the banking concern and customer virtually their identity and the carte du jour'due south legitimacy.
x Partial approval The issuing bank accepts a part of the payment but blocks the residue, typically due to exceeding the credit limit or funds in the account. Call the bank to clear upward the issue (and pay downwardly your credit if the credit limit is the issue).
12 Invalid transaction The transaction attempted is invalid. This could exist due to whatever number of faulty operations, including trying to refund a refund. Before you call the bank, restart the transaction from scratch, and make sure all the data entered is correct.
13 Invalid amount The amount you entered for the transaction was invalid, unremarkably due to a non-numerical symbol being entered along with the amount (e.1000., a dollar sign). Merely outset the transaction over over again and exist careful to avoid using symbols when typing the amount.
14 Invalid card number The bill of fare number is invalid, and the credit card processor can't detect the related account. Start the transaction over over again, and be careful to enter the digits accurately. If the issue persists, call the issuing bank.
15 No such issuer The first digit, which identifies the card's issuing banking company, was incorrect. (Credit card-issuing banks have their own unique code that starts with the first digit — 3 for American Limited, 4 for Visa, five for Mastercard, or 6 for Discover.) Carefully type the credit card number again, making sure to include the start digit correctly.
19 Re-enter An unknown error occurred. Restart the transaction and exist careful to enter all the information correctly. If the issue persists, telephone call the card issuer.
28 No reply/response An error occurred during the transaction without the reason specified. Restart the transaction and be conscientious to enter all the information correctly. If the issue persists, call the card issuer.
41 Lost card, choice up The card'southward legitimate owner has reported information technology lost or stolen, so the menu issuer has denied the transaction. If information technology's your own card, you need to call the banking concern right away. If you're the merchant, ask the customer to use an alternate card or contact their banking concern.
43 Stolen card, selection upwardly (fraud account) The legitimate possessor has reported the card as stolen, and then the card issuer denied the transaction. If information technology'south your own card, yous need to call the bank ASAP with the number on the dorsum of the carte. If yous're the merchant, ask them to utilise an alternate card or contact their depository financial institution.
51 Bereft funds The card issuer is blocking the transaction because the account has already exceeded the credit limit, or the pending transaction would put the card over. Contact the banking concern with the number on the dorsum of the card, use online cyberbanking to transfer funds to the card, or utilize an alternate card.
54 Expired card The expiration engagement has already passed. Utilise a credit card that is still valid. (If you only accept one, the new card should typically take arrived in the mail earlier the one-time i expires, so be sure to contact the bank.)
57 Transaction not permitted – Card This lawmaking shows up when yous're trying to apply a card for a transaction that'due south specifically not allowed, like transferring funds to a strange merchant business relationship. Use an alternate card without such limitations, or call the issuing bank to clear upward whether you accept the option to allow such transactions.
58 Transaction not permitted – Terminal If the merchant account connected to the terminal or payment processor is not properly configured, you'll come across this error. The merchant needs to call their bank to clear things upwards. If you're the customer, utilize an alternate payment method, like cash or cheque.
62 Invalid service code, restricted The invalid service code can refer to two specific situations.1: Y'all're trying to process an American Limited or Observe card, but the organisation doesn't support those carte du jour issuers.

ii: Y'all tried to pay for online purchase with a card that doesn't support online payments.

 Try a credit card from a unlike issuer, like Visa. If the merchant advertises accepting payments from your carte du jour issuer, y'all need to contact the bank to ask about your card'due south 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 advisedly type the right security code.
65 Activity limit exceeded The credit carte user has exceeded the credit limit (or this transaction would put them over). Apply another credit bill of fare. If yous have no other cards, you can use online or telephone cyberbanking to pay down the carte du jour before yous endeavor it again.
85 or 00 Issuer system unavailable This error code shows up when at that place'southward a temporary communication fault between the merchant and the issuing bank. Wait a few moments, then start the transaction over from scratch.
85 No reason to decline The issuing banking concern tin can't identify a specific problem, just the transaction nonetheless didn't go through. Offset the transaction once again from scratch, and if the event persists, telephone call the issuing bank.Yous tin likewise attempt using another credit card to see if the issue is merchant-specific.
91 Issuer or switch is unavailable The terminal or payment processor was unable to complete the payment authorization. Start the transaction from scratch, and if the trouble persists, call the issuing banking concern.
92 Unable to road transaction The terminal cannot accomplish the card issuer to process the transaction. Wait a few minutes and endeavor again. If the effect persists, contact your bank.
93 Violation, cannot complete The issuing bank has recognized (or has been informed of) a legal violation on the office of the credit carte user, and assets have been frozen. If you mistakenly get this fault lawmaking, call the issuing depository financial institution correct away to clear up any bug.
96 Organization fault There's a temporary issue with the payment processor. Restart the transaction. If the effect persists, endeavor another credit card.If nothing works, it's probable 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. Start, cancel all scheduled futurity payments to avoid chargebacks and related fees.If the client is in breach of contract, you'll demand to arrive touch with them to clear things up.
CV Card type verification mistake The card reader had a problem verifying the card. This could exist an upshot with the microchip or the magnet strip. Try the historic period-old play a trick on of wiping the credit card confronting your shirt and advisedly swiping information technology over again.If that doesn't work, primal in the number or contact the issuing banking company.
W1, W2, W9 Error connecting to bank This tin happen considering of a power or service outage. Wait for the ability to come back on, or look for news of local outages that might affect you.If there isn't whatever apparent reason, contact your merchant depository financial institution.

Fault Codes for Fraud

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

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As a merchant, you want to avert chargebacks and related fees and damages. As a cardholder, you obviously don't want to have someone else using your card at will.

Only credit card fraud is a lot more than common than yous might recall. In 2019, at that place were 271,823 cases of credit bill of fare fraud in the The states alone.

2019 US credit card fraud cases (Source: The Ascent)
2019 US credit card fraud cases (Source: The Ascent)

With hundreds of thousands of instances of credit card fraud each year, you lot demand to exist on the lookout for customers who aren't the real owners of the cards they're using. You lot also demand to exist vigilant and aware of how your own cards are beingness utilized.

Here are all the credit carte turn down codes associated with fraud:

  • Code 7 — Option up the card, special condition (fraud account): The bill of fare issuer has flagged the account for fraud and therefore denied the transaction.
  • Code 41 — Lost card, pick up (fraud business relationship): The real owner reported this card every bit lost or stolen, and the card issuer has blocked the transaction.
  • Code 43 — Stolen card, selection up (fraud account): The owner has reported the menu stolen, and the issuing banking concern has blocked the transaction.
  • Code 215 — Lost/stolen card: The real cardholder has reported the card every bit lost or stolen, and the card issuer blocks the transaction.
  • Code 534 — Practice not laurels, high fraud: The transaction failed PayPal or Google Checkout chance modeling.
  • Lawmaking 596 — Suspected fraud: Again, the card issuer suspects fraud and has blocked the transaction.

Notation: If you take payments online and you're worried about fraud and chargebacks, we've written a guide on how to reduce credit menu fraud by up to 98%.

What Do I Do if My Credit Card Is Declined?

The first affair you should do when your credit card is declined is to look for the error code (or write information technology downwards if you're using the payment processor yourself).

And so, check if the issue with your credit bill of fare/account or with the merchant's final.

Finally, y'all must take the advisable action required to solve that particular upshot. That could be restarting the transaction, typing in everything carefully, calling the bank, or trying some other carte.

Troubleshooting boils down to a simple 3-step procedure:

  1. Ask for the declined code.
  2. Acquire the meaning of the code.
  3. Take appropriate action (ordinarily calling the issuing bank or trying some other credit bill of fare).

You may remember that you've got your funds in order or that your credit carte du jour limit hasn't been met, but it never hurts to check with the bank.

About of united states take multiple cards, and information technology can be hard to keep track of them all. There are over one billion credit cards in apply in the United states of america lonely.

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 of america and in the world (Source: Shift)

And then if you e'er get an mistake lawmaking when using 1 of your cards, avoid moving straight to using the side by side card. Outset, make sure you lot contact the bank to notice out the existent situation.

You don't want to get hit with unnecessary overdraft or tardily payment fees, or a nasty surprise bill after yous've been the victim of fraud.

Credit Card Declined Codes FAQs

Are you withal dislocated about the error codes? Cheque out these oftentimes asked questions.

Why Is My Credit Menu Declined When I Accept Money?

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

  • You might accept exceeded your credit limit. Unless y'all've set up automated payments, you must articulate your credit bill of fare debt before you tin use it again.
  • You could be trying to utilize a credit card for a transaction it'south not approved for, like online payments or payments in a foreign country.
  • Your credit card number may take been flagged for fraud.
  • You may accept typed in your credit card number, CVV2 lawmaking, or PIN incorrectly.
  • The result possibly with the merchant'due south terminal and not with your credit card at all.

What Does Credit Card Code 51 Mean?

The credit card declined code "51" means that you've exceeded your credit limit (if it'due south a credit card) or run out of funds (if using a debit card).

Why Is My Card Declined When I Order Online?

Your credit carte tin be declined for three potential reasons: account settings, lack of funds, and inaccurate information.

  1. Your credit carte du jour may not be set upward to handle online payments. Contact your banking concern to ostend whether this is the case.
  2. You may be entering the credit card number, CVV2, CVC, CID, PIN, or proper name incorrectly.
  3. Y'all may not take enough funds remaining in your account or have exceeded your credit limit.

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

Summary

Whether it'due south your own credit card or a customer'southward credit menu that gets rejected, knowing the bodily reason is crucial to deciding on the right response.

If you don't know which issue you're having, you might simply use another credit menu and get on with your day. Even so, exercise caution at all times by monitoring your credit usage and protecting yourself from identity theft.

Hopefully, this list has helped you effigy out what was going on with your credit carte du jour and has given you the knowledge needed to take appropriate steps to fix the issue.

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