Soft declines vs hard declines

Most merchant-facing declines fall into two buckets. Knowing which you have changes the next operational step.

Soft

Often retryable

Temporary issues like insufficient funds, activity limits, or issuer timeouts. Ask the customer to try again later, use another card, or lower the amount when appropriate.

Hard

Usually stop

Problems like invalid card number, expired card, or do-not-honor with fraud/risk flags. Retrying the same data rarely helps. Collect a different card or have the customer contact their bank.

What to do when a sale declines

Read the code and message. “Insufficient funds” and “do not honor” need different scripts for your customer.
Decide soft vs hard. Soft: one careful retry or another payment method. Hard: do not hammer the same card.
Check your filters. A spike in CVV/AVS failures may mean bad data entry, or card testing.
Coach the customer clearly. Tell them whether to retry, update the card, or call their bank.
Watch trends weekly. One decline is noise. A surge in a single code is a signal.

Decline patterns that signal a bigger problem

One decline is normal. These patterns usually mean something upstream needs attention.

Fraud

Sudden CVV / do-not-honor spikes

Often card testing or stolen-card traffic. Tighten velocity limits and review fraud prevention settings.

Ops

Expired card on renewals

Recurring billing needs card-updater flows and customer reminders before the renewal attempt fails.

Config

One code across many cards

Can point to gateway misconfiguration, MCC issues, or an issuer/network outage, not just “bad customers.”

Risk

Forced sales that later charge back

Pushing past hard declines can create disputes later. Declines are sometimes protecting your ratio.

Read the chargebacks guide

Common decline codes

These are the responses merchants see most often. Use this as a quick scan, then open the full directory below when you need a less common code.

Code	Name	Type	What to do
05	Do not honor	Hard	Ask the customer to contact their bank or try another card. Review fraud filters if 05 declines spike.
14	Invalid card number	Hard	Have the customer re-enter the number carefully or use a different card.
51	Insufficient funds	Soft	Ask the customer to use another payment method or retry later.
54	Expired card	Hard	Collect an updated expiration date or a new card for recurring billing.
61	Exceeds withdrawal limit	Soft	Try a lower amount, split payment if appropriate, or use another card.
65	Activity limit exceeded	Soft	Retry later or request another payment method; review for card testing patterns.

Responses can vary by issuer and gateway wording. If a code is missing here, use the full directory below.

Decline code lookup

Type a code or keyword to filter the directory. Messaging can vary by network and processor. When in doubt, use the full response text from your gateway log. Linked codes and names open a deeper Zen article when one is available.

Type

Showing 48 of 48 codes

Credit card decline codes

Soft declines vs hard declines

Often retryable

Usually stop

What to do when a sale declines

Decline patterns that signal a bigger problem

Sudden CVV / do-not-honor spikes

Expired card on renewals

One code across many cards

Forced sales that later charge back

Common decline codes

Decline code lookup

Frequently asked questions

Should I retry a declined card?

Why do processors show different wording for the same code?

Can my MCC cause more declines?

What's the difference between a decline and a chargeback?

Need help interpreting declines?

Code	Name	Details
00informational	Approved informational Authorization approved (not a decline). Proceed with the sale.	Authorization approved (not a decline). Proceed with the sale.
01soft	Refer to card issuer soft Issuer wants the merchant or cardholder to contact the bank. Ask the customer to call the number on the back of the card, then retry.	Issuer wants the merchant or cardholder to contact the bank. Ask the customer to call the number on the back of the card, then retry.
02soft	Refer to issuer (special) soft Similar to 01 with a special-condition referral. Have the customer contact their bank before retrying.	Similar to 01 with a special-condition referral. Have the customer contact their bank before retrying.
03hard	Invalid merchant hard Merchant ID or terminal configuration is not accepted for this transaction. Contact your processor. Often an account or MCC configuration issue.	Merchant ID or terminal configuration is not accepted for this transaction. Contact your processor. Often an account or MCC configuration issue.
04hard	Pick up card hard Issuer requests the card be retained (fraud or compromised card). Do not retry. For card-present, follow pickup procedures; online, stop the sale.	Issuer requests the card be retained (fraud or compromised card). Do not retry. For card-present, follow pickup procedures; online, stop the sale.
05 (opens related guide)hard	Do not honor hard The issuing bank declined without a more specific reason. Often related to risk rules, suspected fraud, or account restrictions. Ask the customer to contact their bank or try another card. Review fraud filters if 05 declines spike.	The issuing bank declined without a more specific reason. Often related to risk rules, suspected fraud, or account restrictions. Ask the customer to contact their bank or try another card. Review fraud filters if 05 declines spike.
06soft	Error soft General error response from the issuer or switch. Retry once; if it continues, try another card or contact support.	General error response from the issuer or switch. Retry once; if it continues, try another card or contact support.
07hard	Pick up card (special) hard Issuer requests card pickup for special conditions. Do not retry the same card.	Issuer requests card pickup for special conditions. Do not retry the same card.
10informational	Partial approval informational Issuer approved only part of the requested amount. Capture the approved amount or cancel and collect another tender for the balance.	Issuer approved only part of the requested amount. Capture the approved amount or cancel and collect another tender for the balance.
12hard	Invalid transaction hard Transaction type is not allowed for this card or merchant. Verify transaction type, MCC, and card product support.	Transaction type is not allowed for this card or merchant. Verify transaction type, MCC, and card product support.
13hard	Invalid amount hard Amount is invalid or outside allowed limits. Check formatting, currency, and ticket size rules.	Amount is invalid or outside allowed limits. Check formatting, currency, and ticket size rules.
14hard	Invalid card number hard The card number failed validation or was entered incorrectly. Have the customer re-enter the number carefully or use a different card.	The card number failed validation or was entered incorrectly. Have the customer re-enter the number carefully or use a different card.
15hard	No such issuer hard BIN does not map to a known issuing bank. Re-check the card number; try another card.	BIN does not map to a known issuing bank. Re-check the card number; try another card.
19soft	Re-enter transaction soft Temporary issue; issuer asks to try again. Retry the authorization once.	Temporary issue; issuer asks to try again. Retry the authorization once.
21soft	No action taken soft Issuer did not take action on the request. Review gateway logs; retry or use another method.	Issuer did not take action on the request. Review gateway logs; retry or use another method.
30hard	Format error hard Message format or required field failed validation. Usually a gateway/integration bug. Escalate to technical support.	Message format or required field failed validation. Usually a gateway/integration bug. Escalate to technical support.
41hard	Lost card hard Card reported lost. Do not retry. Ask for another payment method.	Card reported lost. Do not retry. Ask for another payment method.
43hard	Stolen card hard Card reported stolen. Do not retry. Treat as high fraud risk.	Card reported stolen. Do not retry. Treat as high fraud risk.
46hard	Closed account hard The account is closed. Request a different card.	The account is closed. Request a different card.
51soft	Insufficient funds soft The account does not have enough available balance for the purchase. Ask the customer to use another payment method or retry later.	The account does not have enough available balance for the purchase. Ask the customer to use another payment method or retry later.
52hard	No checking account hard No checking account associated with the card. Use another card or payment method.	No checking account associated with the card. Use another card or payment method.
53hard	No savings account hard No savings account associated with the card. Use another card or payment method.	No savings account associated with the card. Use another card or payment method.
54 (opens related guide)hard	Expired card hard The expiration date on file is past due. Collect an updated expiration date or a new card for recurring billing.	The expiration date on file is past due. Collect an updated expiration date or a new card for recurring billing.
55soft	Incorrect PIN soft PIN verification failed. Allow a PIN retry if card-present; otherwise use another method.	PIN verification failed. Allow a PIN retry if card-present; otherwise use another method.
57 (opens related guide)hard	Transaction not permitted to cardholder hard Issuer blocks this transaction type for the cardholder. Ask the customer to enable the transaction type with their bank or use another card.	Issuer blocks this transaction type for the cardholder. Ask the customer to enable the transaction type with their bank or use another card.
58hard	Transaction not permitted to terminal hard Merchant/terminal is not allowed to process this transaction type. Contact your processor about MCC, terminal, or capability settings.	Merchant/terminal is not allowed to process this transaction type. Contact your processor about MCC, terminal, or capability settings.
59hard	Suspected fraud hard Issuer flagged the authorization as potentially fraudulent. Do not force the sale. Ask for another card and review fraud controls.	Issuer flagged the authorization as potentially fraudulent. Do not force the sale. Ask for another card and review fraud controls.
61soft	Exceeds withdrawal limit soft The transaction exceeds the cardholder's available limit or velocity rules. Try a lower amount, split payment if appropriate, or use another card.	The transaction exceeds the cardholder's available limit or velocity rules. Try a lower amount, split payment if appropriate, or use another card.
62hard	Restricted card hard Card is restricted (region, product, or status). Customer should contact their bank; try another card.	Card is restricted (region, product, or status). Customer should contact their bank; try another card.
63hard	Security violation hard Security data failed validation. Re-check AVS/CVV and card data; do not store CVV.	Security data failed validation. Re-check AVS/CVV and card data; do not store CVV.
65 (opens related guide)soft	Activity limit exceeded soft Too many transactions or spend on the card in a period. Retry later or request another payment method; review for card testing patterns.	Too many transactions or spend on the card in a period. Retry later or request another payment method; review for card testing patterns.
75hard	PIN tries exceeded hard Too many incorrect PIN attempts. Customer must unlock/reset with their bank.	Too many incorrect PIN attempts. Customer must unlock/reset with their bank.
76hard	Invalid / nonexistent account hard Account specified is invalid. Re-enter card details or use another card.	Account specified is invalid. Re-enter card details or use another card.
77hard	Inconsistent with original hard Reversal or follow-up does not match the original transaction. Escalate to gateway support with reference IDs.	Reversal or follow-up does not match the original transaction. Escalate to gateway support with reference IDs.
78soft	Blocked / first use soft Card blocked pending activation or first use. Customer should activate the card with their bank, then retry.	Card blocked pending activation or first use. Customer should activate the card with their bank, then retry.
80soft	Credit issuer unavailable soft Credit issuer system unavailable. Retry later or use another card.	Credit issuer system unavailable. Retry later or use another card.
82hard	Negative CAM / CVV failure hard Security code or policy check failed (wording varies by network). Confirm CVV and billing details; do not store CVV after authorization.	Security code or policy check failed (wording varies by network). Confirm CVV and billing details; do not store CVV after authorization.
85informational	No reason to decline / AVS-only informational Often used when AVS is checked without a purchase authorization. Interpret with your gateway docs; may not mean the sale failed.	Often used when AVS is checked without a purchase authorization. Interpret with your gateway docs; may not mean the sale failed.
91soft	Issuer unavailable soft The issuing bank or network could not be reached in time. Retry once after a short wait; if persistent, ask for another card.	The issuing bank or network could not be reached in time. Retry once after a short wait; if persistent, ask for another card.
92soft	Unable to route soft Transaction could not be routed to the issuer. Retry later; if persistent, verify BIN/network support.	Transaction could not be routed to the issuer. Retry later; if persistent, verify BIN/network support.
93hard	Violation / cannot complete hard Legal or network violation prevents completion. Do not retry without processor guidance.	Legal or network violation prevents completion. Do not retry without processor guidance.
94informational	Duplicate transmission informational Duplicate of a recent authorization was detected. Check whether the first attempt already approved before retrying.	Duplicate of a recent authorization was detected. Check whether the first attempt already approved before retrying.
96soft	System malfunction soft Issuer or network system error. Retry once later; escalate if widespread.	Issuer or network system error. Retry once later; escalate if widespread.
97informational	Reconciliation error informational Settlement/reconciliation mismatch response. Usually back-office. Contact processor support.	Settlement/reconciliation mismatch response. Usually back-office. Contact processor support.
N7hard	CVV2 failure hard Visa-style CVV2 mismatch (code varies by processor display). Re-enter the security code; confirm card-not-present data.	Visa-style CVV2 mismatch (code varies by processor display). Re-enter the security code; confirm card-not-present data.
R0hard	Stop recurring payment hard Cardholder requested stop on recurring charges. Cancel the subscription and confirm with the customer.	Cardholder requested stop on recurring charges. Cancel the subscription and confirm with the customer.
R1hard	Revocation of authorization hard Cardholder revoked authorization for recurring charges. Stop future billing on that credential.	Cardholder revoked authorization for recurring charges. Stop future billing on that credential.
R3hard	Revocation of all authorizations hard All authorizations for the merchant revoked by cardholder. Stop billing and obtain a new payment method intentionally.	All authorizations for the merchant revoked by cardholder. Stop billing and obtain a new payment method intentionally.