# Issuing decline codes

If a transaction performed by a card you issued fails, you may receive an [Authorization declined](https://www.checkout.com/docs/developer-resources/event-notifications/event-types/authorization_declined.md) or [Reversal declined](https://www.checkout.com/docs/developer-resources/event-notifications/event-types/reversal_declined.md) webhook.
The webhook includes a `decline_reason` field that contains one of the decline reasons listed on this page.

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## Authentication errors

Authentication errors occur when the card or user cannot be authenticated.

| Decline reason | Description | Recommended action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `card_authentication_failed` | There was a problem with the physical card, and it may need to be replaced. | Contact your account manager. |
| `contactless_counter_limit_reached` | The number of consecutive unauthenticated contactless transactions on the card has exceeded the threshold.<br>This threshold is set to protect the card from potential fraud. | Before using contactless again, the cardholder must make a Chip and PIN transaction with the card. |
| `contactless_accumulator_limit_reached` | The cumulative cardholder billing amount for unauthenticated contactless transactions on the card has exceeded the threshold. | The cardholder must enter their PIN on the terminal when prompted to complete the transaction.<br><br>Alternatively, the cardholder can perform another transaction and authenticate with their PIN. |
| `contactless_amount_threshold_exceeded` | The contactless transaction was declined because the amount exceeds the limit for the country it was performed in. | The cardholder must perform a Chip and PIN transaction instead. |
| `user_authentication_amount_mismatched` | Authentication failed because the authorization and authentication amounts did not match. | Review the authorization and authentication amounts provided in the payment request. |
| `user_authentication_currency_mismatched` | Authentication failed because the authorization and authentication amounts did not match. | Review the authorization and authentication currencies provided in the payment request. |
| `user_authentication_verification_failed` | Authentication failed because of an issue with the merchant's configuration - `ecommerce cryptogram invalid` | No further action is available. |
| `user_authentication_verification_unavailable` | The card scheme was unable to authenticate the transaction at the user authentication stage. | No further action is available. |
| `original_transaction_not_authenticated` | A recurring or a merchant-initiated transaction was attempted, but the original transaction was not strongly authenticated. | No further action is available. |

---

## Authorization errors

Authorization errors typically occur when there are problems with the information provided when authorizing a transaction.

| Decline reason | Description | Recommended action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `account_currency_mismatched` | Reversal failed because the billing and card sub-account currencies did not match. | No further action is available. |
| `balance_verification_failed` | An internal balance control failed. | No further action is available. |
| `billing_amount_threshold_exceeded` | The transaction amount exceeded the limit allowed for non-Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) transactions. | Attempt the transaction again later. |
| `card_data_verification_failed` | The card could not be verified because the CVV or service code received was incorrect, so the payment was declined. | Contact your account manager. |
| `cvc2_invalid` | The customer provided an incorrect CVV in a card-not-present (CNP) transaction, or the customer did not provide a required CVV. | Validate the CVV, or ask the customer to provide the CVV and retry the transaction. |
| `expiry_date_invalid` | An incorrect card expiry date was provided in a card-not-present (CNP) transaction. | Validate the card's expiry date.<br><br>If this error is received from a physical card, replace the card, or contact your account manager. |
| `insufficient_funds` | The amount required to complete the transaction is higher than the funds available in the card's sub-account. | Add funds to your sub-account. |
| `low_value_payment_amount_failed` | A low-value payment transaction was attempted, but the authorization amount exceeded the low-value payment limit. | The cardholder must reattempt the transaction with 3D Secure. |
| `low_value_payment_count_failed` | Too many low-value payment transactions were attempted with the card within a short period of time. | The cardholder must reattempt the transaction with 3D Secure. |
| `original_transaction_not_found` | A reversal, recurring transaction, or merchant-initiated transaction was attempted, but the original transaction could not be found. | No further action is available. |
| `partial_reversal_amount_invalid` | A partial reversal was attempted, but the reversal amount exceeded the authorization amount. | No further action is available. |
| `reversal_currency_mismatched` | Reversal failed because the reversal and authorization currencies did not match. | No further action is available. |
| `reversal_exceeds_authorized_amount` | The reversal amount exceeded the pending authorization amount. | No further action is available. |
| `system_malfunction` | There was a failure with Checkout.com systems. | Checkout.com monitors the frequency of this error and automatically triggers an investigation if we detect a high number of occurrences.<br>If the issue persists, contact your account manager. |
| `three_d_secure_soft_declined` | Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) was required for the transaction, but no 3D Secure challenge was attempted. | The cardholder must reattempt the transaction with 3D Secure. |
| `state_or_country_invalid` | The country code or state the merchant provided was invalid. | No further action is available. |
| `transaction_not_permitted_to_cardholder` | The type of transaction attempted is not supported by Checkout.com, or has been disabled for the card. | Contact your account manager. |

---

## Authorization relay errors

Authorization relay errors typically occur due to issues with the [authorization relay service](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-issuing-transactions/relay-authorization-requests.md) integration, or client-server communication.

| Decline reason | Description | Recommended action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `authorization_relay_declined` | Your authorization relay server declined the authorization relay request. | If this payment should have been approved, review your authorization logic configuration. |
| `authorization_relay_error` | The authorization relay request was sent, but your server was unreachable. | Reattempt the authorization relay request. If the error persists, contact your account manager. |
| `authorization_relay_response_invalid` | The authorization relay response received from the client was invalid, likely due to a formatting issue. | Review your client-side authorization relay service integration for formatting issues. |
| `authorization_relay_timed_out` | Your authorization relay server timed out during an authorization relay request. | Reattempt the authorization relay request. If the error persists, contact your account manager. |

---

## Card control errors

Card control errors occur when a transaction conflicts with the [spending controls](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards/control-card-spending.md) you applied to the card.

| Decline reason | Description | Recommended action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `card_control_failed` | There was an error with the spending controls. Rules from different controls may be conflicting. | Review the spending controls using the [Dashboard](https://dashboard.checkout.com/) or [API](https://api-reference.checkout.com/tag/Controls/#operation/getControlByTarget), and update them as required. |
| `merchant_category_not_allowed` | A transaction was attempted for a merchant category code (MCC) that is [blocked by your spending controls](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards/control-card-spending.md#Apply_a_merchant_category_code_rule). | To allow transactions for the blocked MCC, [update your spending controls](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards/control-card-spending.md#Update_a_control). |
| `merchant_not_allowed` | A transaction was attempted for a merchant ID (MID) that is [blocked by your spending controls](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards/control-card-spending.md#Apply_a_merchant_category_code_rule). | To allow transactions for the blocked MID, [update your spending controls](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards/control-card-spending.md#Update_a_control). |
| `velocity_reached` | The transaction amount exceeded the card's [velocity limit](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards/control-card-spending.md#Apply_a_velocity_limit). | If the cardholder requires a higher velocity limit, [update your spending controls](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards/control-card-spending.md#Update_a_control). |
| `merchant_identifier_not_allowed` | A transaction was attempted for a merchant ID (MID) that is [blocked by your spending controls](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards/control-card-spending.md#Restrict_merchant_IDs). | To allow transactions for the blocked MID, [update your spending controls](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards/control-card-spending.md#Update_a_control). |

---

## Card errors

Card errors typically occur due to the card's status. You may be able to resolve the problem by [updating the card status](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards.md).

| Decline reason | Description | Recommended action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `card_expired` | The card has expired.<br>All authorizations will be declined, permanently. | To allow the cardholder to continue to perform transactions, [issue them with a replacement card](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/issue-a-card.md). |
| `card_inactive` | The card has not been activated. All&nbsp;authorizations will be declined. | To allow transactions, [activate the card](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/activate-a-card.md). |
| `card_revoked` | The card has been revoked. All&nbsp;authorizations will be declined, permanently. | To enable the cardholder to continue performing transactions, [issue them with a replacement card](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/issue-a-card.md). |
| `card_suspended` | The card has been suspended. All&nbsp;authorizations will be declined. | To allow transactions, [activate the card](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/activate-a-card.md).<br>Alternatively, to permanently block all transactions, [revoke the card](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards/revoke-a-card.md). |

---

## Card scheme errors

Card scheme errors typically occur because the card scheme declined the transaction. In some instances, attempting authentication at a later time may resolve the problem.

| Decline reason | Description | Recommended action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `scheme_fraud_score_missing` | The card scheme authentication failed due to a missing fraud score. | Attempt authentication again later. |
| `scheme_fraud_score_threshold_exceeded` | The card scheme blocked the transaction, and may suspect fraud. | Attempt authentication again later. |
| `scheme_merchant_data_validation_failed` | The merchant information supplied during authentication and authorization did not match. | No further action is available. |

---

## Digital wallet errors

Digital wallet errors typically occur due to a digital card's status, or issues with authentication.
If the card status is the cause, you may be able to resolve this by [updating the card status](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/manage-cards.md).

| Decline reason | Description | Recommended action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `amount_invalid` | Authentication failed because the authorization and authentication amounts did not match. | No further action is available. |
| `digital_card_deleted` | The digital card has been deleted and no longer exists in the digital wallet. | Check if you, or the cardholder, have previously revoked the card.<br>If the card is not revoked, add it to the digital wallet again.<br>Otherwise, no further action is available. |
| `digital_card_expired` | The card has expired. All&nbsp;authorizations will be declined, permanently. | To allow the cardholder to continue to perform transactions, [issue them with a replacement card](https://www.checkout.com/docs/card-issuing/issue-a-card.md). |
| `digital_card_inactive` | The digital card has been deactivated in the digital wallet.<br>All authorizations will be declined. | Check if you, or the cardholder, have previously suspended the card and reactivate if necessary. |
| `digital_card_not_found` | The digital card has not been found in the system. | No further action is available. |
| `digital_card_transaction_analysis_declined` | The transaction was declined on the card scheme's recommendation. | No further action is available. |
| `wallet_type_unsupported` | Card tokenization was attempted from a digital wallet other than Apple Pay or Google Pay. | Contact your account manager. |

---

## PIN errors

PIN errors can typically be resolved by the cardholder reattempting the transaction or changing their PIN.

| Decline reason | Description | Recommended action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `contactless_pin_change_not_allowed` | A physical card PIN change was attempted without inserting the card into the ATM. | The cardholder must insert the card and attempt the PIN change again, or use a different ATM. |
| `new_pin_data_not_received` | A PIN change was attempted, but the new PIN was not received successfully. | The cardholder must attempt to change the PIN again. |
| `pin_change_failed` | An online PIN change attempt failed, or there was an error when attempting to cancel it. | If the cardholder attempts an online PIN change again and it fails, contact your account manager. |
| `pin_invalid` | The PIN provided during the point-of-sale (POS) transaction was invalid, or incorrect. | If the cardholder attempts the transaction again, validate the PIN. |

---

## Risk and fraud errors

Risk and fraud errors typically occur when a transaction triggers Checkout.com's risk and fraud systems.

| Decline reason | Description | Recommended action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `suspected_fraud` | Checkout.com flagged the transaction as potentially fraudulent. | Contact the issuer or processor. |