What causes a payment decline?

Technical issues — Occasionally, technical problems with payment gateways, processors, or the card issuer’s systems can cause transaction declines. When a payment is declined, businesses usually receive a decline reason code from the payment processor.

What happens if a payment is declined?

A declined payment complicates things for everyone involved. The customer suddenly wonders what went wrong with their card or account, while the business is unsure if the transaction can be completed. No type of payment is immune to declines.

What causes a card to decline a payment?

If the customer enters any details - for example, their name, the card number, the CVV, or their PIN if in person - incorrectly, the card issuer will reject the payment. Usually this can be solved by the cardholder re-entering their card details correctly. Insufficient funds are another common reason for a card decline.

What is a credit card decline code?

A credit card decline code 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 get an error that can direct you to what went wrong. You can also get error codes when trying to make online purchases.