Recurly Payment Declined or Transaction Failed

How to fix it

Try these in order — the most common fix is first.

1. 1. Read the transaction error

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   1. Open the account, then the failed transaction
   2. Note error_code and gateway_error_code
   3. Look it up in Recurly's API transaction errors reference
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. 2. Get the customer to update billing info

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   1. Send the hosted account management link
   2. After update Recurly can retry, a hard decline may change to soft during dunning
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. 3. Tune dunning and retries

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   1. Admin, Configuration, Dunning Management
   2. Review the static retry schedule per decline type
   3. Consider Intelligent Retries if on your plan
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. 4. Fix unmapped errors

   1. Ask Recurly support to map the gateway code for your integration
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

Invoice fails, customer gets a Payment Declined email, transaction shows an error_code.

Why it happens

• Soft decline: insufficient funds, issuer temporary block
• Hard decline: closed card, stolen card
• unmapped_partner_error: decline code not mapped for your gateway
• exceeds_max_amount: card limit exceeded

This guide also covers

• recurly payment declined
• recurly transaction failed
• recurly unmapped_partner_error
• recurly error code

Other Recurly errors

• How to Cancel Recurly Subscription
• Recurly 3D Secure (SCA) Declines on Renewals
• Recurly Webhook Not Received or Missed
• Recurly Refund Creates a New Invoice (Credit Invoice)
• Recurly NetSuite Invoice and Payment Sync Errors
• Recurly QuickBooks Online Integration Errors
• Recurly Admin Console Logs Out Automatically
• Recurly Unexpected Overage and Billing Fees