Stripe decline code
merchant_blacklist
The issuer blocked the charge because your business matched something on the cardholder's or bank's block list.
Primary source: Stripe’s official decline codes reference
Why it happens
- The customer previously blocked charges from your business.
- A bank-level block on this merchant category or name.
- Fallout from an earlier dispute.
Should you retry it?
No — the customer must update their card
A block-list entry won't clear on retry; only the customer or their bank can lift it. Retrying just adds failed attempts.
How to recover it
Don't retry. Ask the customer to allow the charge with their bank, or to pay with a different card.
Repeated attempts won't clear this code and risk further declines. Recoverly never auto-retries, and for codes tied to lost, stolen, or fraudulent cards it does not contact the customer at all.
See how much failed-payment revenue you can recover
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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.