# Recommendation codes

Recommendation codes provide additional information about how and when to retry a payment.

You can receive the following Checkout.com recommendation codes in the response to Mastercard and Visa payment requests.

> **Information**
>
> You can [simulate recommendation code outcomes](https://www.checkout.com/docs/developer-resources/testing/recommendation-code-testing.md) to test your integration.

| Recommendation code | Recommendation summary | Possible decline reasons |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `01` | Updated or additional information required | One of:<br><br>- Expired card<br>- Updated information available<br>- Authentication may improve likelihood of an approval |
| `02` | Try again later | One of:<br><br>- Over credit limit<br>- Insufficient funds<br>- Credit risk decline<br>- Issuer velocity rule decline<br>- Blocked card |
| `03` | Do not try again | One of:<br><br>- Account closed<br>- Suspected fraud<br>- Recurring agreement canceled |

---

## Partner merchant advice codes

Mastercard uses Merchant Advice Codes (MACs) to provide additional information about a payment. For example, a MAC informs you if the payment was performed using one of the following payment card types:

- A consumer non-reloadable prepaid card
- A consumer single-use virtual card

For declined payments, the MAC typically contains the following information:

- Whether you can retry the payment
- How long to wait before retrying eligible payments

The MAC is returned in the `processing.partner_merchant_advice_code` field included in the payment request response:

```json
{
  "processing": {
    "recommendation_code": "02",
    "partner_merchant_advice_code": "24"
  }
}
```

### Mastercard merchant advice codes

| Merchant advice code | Recommendation summary | Possible decline reasons |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `01` | Updated or additional information required | One of:<br><br>- Expired card<br>- Updated information available<br>- Authentication may improve likelihood of an approval |
| `02` | Try again later | One of:<br><br>- Over credit limit<br>- Insufficient funds<br>- Credit risk decline<br>- Issuer velocity rule decline<br>- Blocked card |
| `03` | Do not try again | One of:<br><br>- Account closed<br>- Suspected fraud<br>- Recurring agreement canceled |
| `04` | Updated or additional information required | Token requirements not fulfilled for this token type |
| `21` | Do not try again | Payment cancellation |
| `24` | Retry after one hour | Insufficient funds |
| `25` | Retry after 24 hours | Insufficient funds |
| `26` | Retry after two days | Insufficient funds |
| `27` | Retry after four days | Insufficient funds |
| `28` | Retry after six days | Insufficient funds |
| `29` | Retry after eight days | Insufficient funds |
| `30` | Retry after 10 days | Insufficient funds |
| `40` | Non-reloadable prepaid card | The issuer recognized the card as a consumer non-reloadable prepaid card. |
| `41` | Single-use virtual card number | The issuer recognized the card as a consumer single-use virtual card. |
| `42` | Sanction score exceeds applicable threshold value | The Sanctions Scoring Service identified that the payment exceeded the applicable threshold. |