Credit Card Decline Codes

Standardized response codes that indicate why a credit card transaction was rejected by the issuing bank or payment processor

Credit Card Decline Codes are standardized response codes provided by card issuers and payment processors to explain why a transaction was rejected, helping merchants and customers understand and resolve payment issues.

Common Categories

  • Insufficient funds
  • Card restrictions
  • Security concerns
  • Technical issues
  • Processing errors

Response Types

  • Hard declines
  • Soft declines
  • Technical declines
  • Risk declines
  • Verification fails

Usage Areas

  • Payment processing
  • Error handling
  • Risk assessment
  • Customer service
  • Fraud prevention

Resolution Steps

  • Code interpretation
  • Customer contact
  • Payment retry
  • Alternative payment
  • Issue resolution

Best Practices

  • Clear communication
  • Quick response
  • Alternative options
  • Documentation
  • Staff training

Understanding decline codes helps optimize payment success rates and customer experience.