Declined Transaction: What should I do?

Declined Transaction: What should I do?

Ensure secure payments and reduce risks by following these Visa and Mastercard guidelines when handling declined cards:


✅ Always Process the Full Amount

  • Run the card for the entire amount owed.

  • Splitting charges into smaller amounts increases the risk of delayed or incomplete payments.


🚨 Notify the Cardholder Immediately

  • If a card is declined, inform the customer right away.

  • Ask them to contact their issuing bank to resolve any issues.


🔁 Retry Only After Resolution

  • Attempt a second charge only if the cardholder confirms that issues are resolved with their bank.


⛔ Limit Daily Attempts

  • Do not try the same card more than twice in a single day.

  • If it fails twice:

    • Ask for a different payment method, or

    • Wait 24 hours before retrying.


🕒 After 24 Hours

  • If the card declines again on the third attempt, request a new form of payment.


🔒 Why These Steps Matter

Following these steps:

  • Reduces the risk of false authorizations caused by multiple attempts.

  • Improves payment security and reliability for your business.


📌 Tip for Merchants: Always be upfront with customers about declines—it builds trust and helps resolve issues faster.