Stripe decline code
card_declined
The issuing bank declined the charge without a more specific reason. It's a catch-all that can stem from several underlying causes.
Primary source: Stripe’s official decline codes reference
Why it happens
- The bank's risk checks blocked this particular charge.
- A temporary hold or limit on the account.
- An issue the issuer chose not to specify for security reasons.
Should you retry it?
Sometimes — it depends on the issuer
Some generic declines clear on a later attempt; others persist until the customer contacts their bank or updates their card. A measured retry schedule plus a reminder covers both.
How to recover it
Retry on a moderate schedule and email the customer in parallel so they can update their card or call their bank if retries don't clear it.
Let Stripe's retry schedule run first. For invoices that stay unpaid after it ends, Recoverly opens a case and — with your approval — sends a 3-step payment-update sequence (Day 0 / 3 / 7) linking to Stripe's hosted payment page.
See how much failed-payment revenue you can recover
Connect Stripe (we only read) and Recoverly shows your recoverable revenue in 30 seconds.
Related decline codes
Written by the Recoverly team · Published June 25, 2026 · Last reviewed July 17, 2026
Recoverly finds invoices Stripe’s retries left unpaid and — with your approval — sends payment-update emails, then verifies what actually came back. This page is informational and not affiliated with Stripe.