What do the transaction error codes mean?

A look into the Raw Acquirer Responses.

Transactions can be refused or cancelled for a number of reasons. The refusal reason is primarily based on the authorization response code we receive from the issuer or card scheme, known as 'raw acquirer response'.

Below you can see the most common raw acquirer responses related to refused or cancelled transactions. The first section is for Visa and Mastercard transactions, followed by American Express.

Visa and Mastercard raw responses

Last journal type	refusalReasonRaw	Description
Cancelled	00: Approved or completed successfully	The transaction was cancelled after being initially approved by the issuer. This can be due to various reasons, for example, if the shopper returns goods after purchase.
Refused	01: Refer to card issuer	The transaction was refused by the card issuer. The shopper should contact their bank for clarification. The shopper can try again after resolving the issue with their bank, or use another payment method.
Refused	03: Invalid merchant	The transaction was refused by the card issuer. The shopper should contact their bank for clarification. The shopper can try again after resolving the issue with their bank, or use another payment method.
Refused	04: Capture card / Pick-up	The card issuer requests to retain the card. This can be due to a suspected counterfeit or stolen card. This reason is used in an E-Commerce environment although it originates from a POS (Point Of Sale) environment.
Refused	05: Do not honor	This is a generic refusal that has several possible causes. The shopper should contact their issuing bank for clarification.
Refused	06: Error	Payment could not be authorised and resulted in an error. The shopper can try again or use another payment method.
Refused	07: Pickup card, special condition	The card issuer requests to retain the card. This can be due to a suspected counterfeit or stolen card.
Cancelled	10: Partial approval	The transaction was cancelled. Some card issuers support partial-approval authorization. This approves a part of the requested transaction, leaving the remainder to be paid with another form of tender.
Refused	12: Invalid transaction	The card issuer does not allow this type of transaction on this card/account. For example, the card is a fleet card for which this type of transaction is not permitted.
Refused	13: Invalid amount	The card issuer has declined the transaction because of an invalid format or field. This response usually occurs with Cirrus or Maestro Debit and Prepaid Cards or cards that are not allowed to do online purchases. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Refused	14: Invalid card number	The card issuer is unable to validate the card/account number.
Refused	15: Invalid issuer	The card number is not within a card number range supported by the scheme.
Refused	19: Re-enter transaction	Applies for Visa. The transaction cannot be processed temporarily.
Refused	30: Format error	The card issuer does not recognize the transaction details being entered. This is due to a format error. The shopper should check the transaction information and retry.
Refused	41: Lost card	The card was reported as lost. Validate the shopper's authenticity and refer them to their bank.
Refused	43: Stolen card	The card was reported as stolen. Validate the shopper's authenticity and refer them to their bank.
Refused	46: Closed account	Applies for Visa. The account is closed. Re-validate the account number for accuracy and do not reattempt with the same PAN or token.
Refused	51: Insufficient funds/over credit limit / Not sufficient funds	Insufficient funds in the cardholder's account. The shopper can try again after adding funds to their bank account, or use another payment method.
Refused	54: Expired card	The card expiration date is in the past. The shopper should correct the date or use another payment method.
Refused	55: Invalid PIN	The shopper has entered an incorrect PIN. The shopper should re-enter their PIN or use another payment method.
Refused	57: Transaction not permitted to issuer/cardholder	The card issuer does not permit the transaction on this card/account. The shopper can use another payment method. For activation or loading of prepaid cards, the Merchant, acquirer BIN, and issuer BIN are not all domestic. An issuer's processing center is not certified to receive transaction-specific data in TLV format (field 104 in request message).
Refused	58: Transaction not permitted to acquirer/terminal	Card issuer does not permit the transaction on this card/account. Shopper can use another payment method or contact their bank.
Refused	59: Suspected fraud	The card issuer suspects this payment to be fraudulent and therefore refuses.
Refused	61: Exceeds withdrawal amount limit(s) / Withdrawal amount limit exceeded	The shopper has exceeded their card limit. The shopper can try again after resolving the issue with their bank, or use another payment method.
Refused	62: Restricted card	The card issuer has restricted where the card can be used. For example, because of embargoes.
Refused	63: Security violation	The card issuer indicated a security issue with this card. The shopper can use another payment method. Alternatively, the shopper can try again after they resolved the issue with their bank.
Refused	65: Exceeds withdrawal count limit / Withdrawal count limit exceeded	The shopper has exceeded their card usage frequency limit. The shopper can use another payment method or try again with the same card after the shopper took care of the card limit issue.
Refused	6P: Customer ID verification failed	Applies for Visa. Incorrect account verification (for example driving license number) related to Visa Direct. Not to be confused for cardholder verification method refusals such as CVV, for example.
Refused	65: Authentication required	Applies for Mastercard. Authentication is required for the transaction. If the transaction is in scope of PSD2 and did not go through 3D Secure, retry with 3D Secure. This is also referred to as a "Soft Decline".
Refused	70: Contact Card Issuer	Applies for Mastercard. The card issuer indicated an issue with this card and requests contact from the shopper. The shopper can use another payment method. Alternatively the shopper can try again after they resolved the issue with their bank.
Refused	70: PIN data required	Applies for Visa. The card issuer requests to use Secure Customer Authentication. Reattempt transaction with PIN. (European Region Only)
Refused	75: Allowable number of PIN tries exceeded	The shopper has entered an incorrect PIN more times than is allowed by the issuing bank. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Refused	78: Invalid/nonexistent account specified (general)	The transaction is from a new cardholder, and the card has not been properly unblocked.
Refused	80: Credit issuer unavailable	The issuing bank cannot be contacted. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Refused	82: Negative online CAM, dCVV, iCVV, CVV, or CAVV results or Offline PIN authentication interrupted	Applies for Visa. The cardholder verification method failed for CAM, dCVV, iCVV, CVV or a service code for card present transactions.
Authorised	85: No reason to decline a request for account number verification, address verification, CVV2 verification, or a credit voucher or merchandise return	Zero-value auth request authorised.
Authorised	85: Not declined (Valid for all zero amount transactions)	Zero-value auth request authorised.
Refused	86: Cannot verify PIN	Applies for Visa. The PIN cannot be validated. If applicable, the transaction can be reattempted as a non-PIN transaction.
Refused	91: Authorization Platform or issuer system inoperative / Issuer not available	The issuing bank cannot be contacted. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Error	91: Issuer unavailable or switch inoperative	The issuer or issuer processor cannot authorize, for example because of downtime.
Refused	92: Destination cannot be found for routing / Unable to route transaction	The shopper is using a test card number on live. The shopper should use another payment method.
Refused	93: Transaction cannot be completed; violation of law	The issuing bank will not allow this transaction. The shopper should use another payment method.
Refused	96: System malfunction	The issuing bank cannot be contacted. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Refused	1A: Authentication Required	Applies for Visa. Authentication is required for the transaction. If the transaction is in scope of PSD2 and did not go through 3D Secure, retry with 3D Secure. This is also referred to as a "Soft Decline".
Refused	R0: Stop payment order	Applies for Visa. The cardholder requested to stop a specific, single recurring payment transaction. Contact the shopper regarding cancellation of this transaction.
Refused	R1: Revocation of authorisation order	Applies for Visa. The cardholder requested to stop all recurring payment transactions. Contact the shopper regarding cancellation of all transactions.
Refused	R3: Revocation of all authorisation orders	Applies for Visa. All recurring payments have been cancelled for the card number in the request. Contact the shopper regarding cancellation of all transactions.
Refused	Z1: Offline-declined	Applies for Visa. Only used in non-cardholder requests such as advice.
Refused	Z3: Unable to go online; offline-declined	Applies for Visa. Only used in non-cardholder requests such as advice.

American Express raw responses

Last journal type	refusalReasonRaw	Description
Cancelled	000: Approved	The transaction was cancelled after being initially approved by the issuer. This can be due to various reasons, for example, if the shopper returns goods after purchase.
Cancelled	001: Approve with ID	The transaction was cancelled after the issuer requested that identification be established through telephone contact between the acquiring center's authoriser and the merchant.
Cancelled	002: Prepaid Card Partial Authorization	Transaction was cancelled. Some card issuers support partial-approval authorization. This approves a part of the requested transaction, leaving the remainder to be paid with another form of tender.
Refused	100: Deny	This is a generic refusal that can have several possible reasons. Shopper should contact their issuing bank for clarification.
Refused	101: Expired Card / Invalid Expiration Date	The card expiration date is in the past. The shopper should correct the date or use another payment method.
Refused	106: PIN tries exceeded	The shopper has entered an incorrect PIN more times than is allowed by the issuing bank. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Refused	109: Invalid Service Establishment	The transaction was refused by the card issuer. The shopper should contact their bank for clarification. The shopper can try again after resolving the issue with their bank, or use another payment method.
Refused	110: Invalid amount	The transaction amount was specified in an invalid format. For example, an invalid character such as a dollar sign or a space was used. The shopper should correct or use another payment method.
Refused	111: Invalid account	The card issuer is unable to validate the card/account number, possibly because an invalid character was used.
Refused	115: Requested function not supported	The card issuer does not allow this type of transaction on this card/account.
Refused	117: Incorrect PIN	The shopper entered an invalid PIN. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Refused	119: Transaction not permitted to Cardmember	The card issuer doesn't permit the transaction on this card/account. The shopper can use another payment method.
Refused	122: Invalid Keyed Printed Card Security Code (PCSC)	The card issuer indicated a security issue with this card. The shopper can use another payment method. Alternatively, the shopper can try again after they resolved the issue with their bank.
Refused	125: Invalid Effective Date on Card	The card expiration date provided is not a valid date format. The shopper should correct or use another payment method.
Refused	130: Additional customer identification required	Authentication is required for the transaction. If the transaction is in scope of PSD2 and did not go through 3D Secure, retry with 3D Secure. This is also referred to as a "Soft Decline".
Refused	181: Format error	The card issuer does not recognize the transaction details being entered. This is due to a format error. The shopper should check the transaction information and retry.
Refused	183: Invalid Currency Code	The currency code provided doesn't comply with standards.
Refused	187: Deny New Card Issued	The card issuer supplied the cardholder with a new card. The shopper should retry with the new card, or use another payment method
Refused	189: Deny Canceled or Closed Card Acceptor	The merchant has stopped operations or is no longer accepting cards from this card scheme.
Refused	200: Deny pick up Card	The card issuer requests to retain the card. This can be due to a suspected counterfeit or stolen card.
Refused	900: Advice accepted	The ExpressPay issuer is unable to respond to an ATC Synchronization Authorization Request.
Refused	911: Card Issuer timed out	The issuing bank cannot be contacted. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.
Refused	912: Host unavailable	The issuing bank cannot be contacted. The shopper should retry or use another payment method.