> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.wegive.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Stripe Decline Codes: What They Mean & How to Fix Them > WeGive Help Center article: Stripe Decline Codes: What They Mean & How to Fix Them When a donation or payment fails, Stripe returns a **decline code** that tells you why. This guide covers every decline code you might encounter so you can quickly troubleshoot failed charges and help your donors get back on track. *** ## **How Decline Codes Work** When a charge fails, Stripe returns a decline code in the API response. These codes expand on the raw issuer response to give you more detail about what went wrong. In some cases, Stripe also includes an `advice_code` with suggested next steps. There are two categories of decline codes: 1. **Card decline codes** — returned when a credit or debit card payment fails 2. **Local payment method (LPM) decline codes** — returned when an alternative payment method fails *** ## **Card Decline Codes** ### **Payment Authentication Issues** | | | | | - | - | - | | Code | What It Means | What to Do | | `authentication_required` | The transaction requires authentication (e.g., 3D Secure). | In most cases, Stripe's front end will trigger an authentication flow automatically. For off-session payments, ask the donor to retry and complete authentication. If the decline persists after successful authentication, the donor should contact their card issuer. | | `authentication_not_handled` | Authentication was required but wasn't performed before proceeding. | Run the 3D Secure / SCA authentication flow. For off-session payments, collect authentication on-session first, then fall back if needed. | | `mobile_device_authentication_required` | The transaction requires mobile device authentication. | Ask the donor to retry by tapping their mobile device again. | ### **Incorrect Payment Details** | | | | | - | - | - | | Code | What It Means | What to Do | | `incorrect_number` | The card number is wrong. | Ask the donor to re-enter their card number. | | `invalid_number` | The card number is invalid. | Ask the donor to re-enter their card number. | | `incorrect_cvc` | The CVC is wrong. | Ask the donor to re-enter the correct CVC. | | `invalid_cvc` | The CVC is invalid. | Ask the donor to re-enter the correct CVC. | | `incorrect_pin` | The PIN entered is wrong (card reader payments only). | Ask the donor to try again with the correct PIN. | | `invalid_pin` | The PIN entered is invalid. | Ask the donor to try again with the correct PIN. | | `incorrect_zip` | The postal/ZIP code is wrong. | Ask the donor to re-enter their billing postal code. | | `incorrect_address` | The billing address is wrong. | Ask the donor to re-enter the correct billing address. | | `invalid_expiry_month` | The expiration month is invalid. | Ask the donor to re-enter the correct expiration date. | | `invalid_expiry_year` | The expiration year is invalid. | Ask the donor to re-enter the correct expiration date. | ### **Card Limits & Insufficient Funds** | | | | | - | - | - | | Code | What It Means | What to Do | | `insufficient_funds` | The card doesn't have enough funds. | Ask the donor to use a different payment method. | | `card_velocity_exceeded` | The donor has hit a balance, credit limit, or transaction limit. | The donor should contact their card issuer. | | `withdrawal_count_limit_exceeded` | The donor has exceeded their balance or credit limit. | Ask the donor to use a different payment method. | | `invalid_amount` | The payment amount is invalid or exceeds the allowed limit. | If the amount looks correct, the donor should check with their issuer about purchase limits. | | `payment_limit_exceeded` | *(LPM)* The order exceeds a limit on the donor's account. | Retry may succeed after the donor resolves the issue with their account. | ### **Card & Account Problems** | | | | | - | - | - | | Code | What It Means | What to Do | | `expired_card` | The card has expired. | Ask the donor to use a different card. | | `invalid_account` | The card or connected account is invalid. | The donor should contact their card issuer. | | `new_account_information_available` | The card or connected account is invalid. | The donor should contact their card issuer. | | `card_not_supported` | The card doesn't support this type of purchase. | The donor should contact their issuer to confirm the card supports this purchase type. | | `currency_not_supported` | The card doesn't support the specified currency. | The donor should check with their issuer about supported currencies. | ### **Fraud & Security Blocks** | | | | | - | - | - | | Code | What It Means | What to Do | | `fraudulent` | Stripe suspects the payment is fraudulent. | Present this to the donor as a generic decline — do **not** share the specific reason. | | `merchant_blacklist` | The payment matches a value on your Stripe block list. | Present this to the donor as a generic decline. | | `stolen_card` | The card is reported stolen. | Present this to the donor as a generic decline. | | `lost_card` | The card is reported lost. | Present this to the donor as a generic decline. | | `security_violation` | Declined for a security-related reason. | The donor should contact their card issuer. | | `restricted_card` | The card can't be used for this payment (possibly lost/stolen). | The donor should contact their card issuer. | | `pickup_card` | The card can't be used for this payment (possibly lost/stolen). | The donor should contact their card issuer. | ### **Generic & Issuer Declines** | | | | | - | - | - | | Code | What It Means | What to Do | | `generic_decline` | Declined for an unknown reason, or blocked by Stripe Radar. | The donor should contact their card issuer. | | `do_not_honor` | Declined for an unknown reason. | The donor should contact their card issuer. | | `call_issuer` | Declined for an unknown reason. | The donor should contact their card issuer. | | `not_permitted` | The payment isn't permitted. | The donor should contact their card issuer. | | `no_action_taken` | Declined for an unknown reason. | The donor should contact their card issuer. | | `revocation_of_all_authorizations` | Declined for an unknown reason. | The donor should contact their card issuer. | | `revocation_of_authorization` | Declined for an unknown reason. | The donor should contact their card issuer. | | `service_not_allowed` | Declined for an unknown reason. | The donor should contact their card issuer. | | `stop_payment_order` | Declined for an unknown reason. | The donor should contact their card issuer. | | `transaction_not_allowed` | Declined for an unknown reason. | The donor should contact their card issuer. | ### **Processing & Retry Issues** | | | | | - | - | - | | Code | What It Means | What to Do | | `approve_with_id` | The payment can't be authorized. | Retry the payment. If it still fails, the donor should contact their issuer. | | `issuer_not_available` | The card issuer couldn't be reached. | Retry the payment. If it still fails, the donor should contact their issuer. | | `processing_error` | An error occurred while processing the card. | Retry the payment. If it still fails, try again later. | | `reenter_transaction` | The issuer couldn't process the payment. | Retry the payment. If it still fails, the donor should contact their issuer. | | `duplicate_transaction` | An identical transaction was submitted very recently. | Check if a recent payment already exists before retrying. | | `try_again_later` *(deprecated)* | Declined for an unknown reason. | Retry the payment. If it keeps failing, the donor should contact their issuer. | | `do_not_try_again` *(deprecated)* | Declined for an unknown reason. | The donor should contact their card issuer. | ### **PIN-Related Declines** | | | | | - | - | - | | Code | What It Means | What to Do | | `offline_pin_required` | The card requires a PIN. | The donor should insert their card and enter a PIN. | | `online_or_offline_pin_required` | The card requires a PIN. | If the reader supports Online PIN, prompt for it. Otherwise, the donor should insert their card and enter a PIN. | | `pin_try_exceeded` | Too many PIN attempts. | The donor must use a different card or payment method. | ### **Test Mode** | | | | | - | - | - | | Code | What It Means | What to Do | | `testmode_decline` | A Stripe test card number was used. | Use a real card to make the payment. | *** ## **Local Payment Method (LPM) Decline Codes** These codes apply to alternative payment methods (not standard credit/debit cards). | | | | | - | - | - | | Code | What It Means | Will a Retry Work? | | `partner_generic_decline` | The payment provider declined the payment. | Possibly. | | `invalid_customer_account` | The donor's account can't be charged. | Possibly, after the donor resolves the account issue. | | `payment_limit_exceeded` | The order exceeds a limit on the donor's account. | Possibly, after the donor resolves the account issue. | | `invalid_billing_agreement` | The donor's billing agreement is invalid. | No. | | `expired_card` *(partner)* | The card registered with the payment provider has expired. | Possibly, after the donor updates their card. | | `processing_error` *(partner)* | The payment provider hit a processing error. | Possibly. | | `insufficient_funds` *(partner)* | The donor has insufficient funds with the provider. | Possibly, after the donor adds funds. | | `currency_not_supported` *(partner)* | The payment provider doesn't support this currency. | No. | | `invalid_amount` *(partner)* | The payment provider doesn't allow this amount. | No. | | `invalid_business_account` | The business account is deactivated. | Possibly, if the account is reactivated. | | `partner_high_risk_customer` | The provider labeled this donor as high risk. | Unlikely. | | `compliance_violation` | The payment violates terms of service or applicable laws. | No. | | `payment_disputed` | There's a dispute over the payment. | Possibly, if the dispute resolves in your favor. | | `invalid_authorization` | The authorization is invalid or revoked. | No. | | `invalid_payment_information` | The payment has invalid information. | No. | | `partner_payment_not_found` | The payment provider can't find this payment. | Possibly. | | `expired_payment_information` | The underlying payment instrument is expired. | Possibly, after the donor updates their payment info. | | `duplicate_transaction` *(partner)* | An identical transaction was submitted recently. | Check for existing payments first. | *** ## **Quick Troubleshooting Tips** **For donors seeing repeated declines:** Ask them to contact their card issuer directly. Many "unknown reason" declines are the issuer's fraud prevention flagging an unfamiliar transaction. **For authentication failures:** Make sure your integration supports 3D Secure / SCA. Most authentication declines resolve when the donor completes the verification step. **For fraud-related declines:** Never share the specific decline reason (`fraudulent`, `stolen_card`, `lost_card`, `merchant_blacklist`) with the donor. Always present these as a generic decline. **For duplicate transactions:** Before retrying, check your dashboard for a recently successful charge with the same amount and card. This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.