card_declined
Generic decline — the issuer didn't give a specific reason.
What just happened
Stripe's catch-all when the bank doesn't return a more specific code. Could be funds, fraud check, or random network jitter.
Retry strategy
Retry on day 1, 3, 7. ~30-40% recover with personalized email between attempts.
What to tell the customer
Your bank declined the charge without a specific reason. Often resolves with another attempt.
Recommended action
Send a friendly email with an update-card link as fallback. Auto-retry 3x over 7 days.
Want to see what this looks like on your Stripe?
See how often "card_declined" hits your Stripe account in the last 30 days — and how much MRR is at risk because of it.
Related codes
Frequently asked questions
Is "card_declined" a soft or hard decline?+
It's classified as a soft decline: Temporary issue. Retry later — most resolve within 7 days with the right cadence.
Should I retry a "card_declined" decline?+
Retry on day 1, 3, 7. ~30-40% recover with personalized email between attempts.
What should I tell my customer when this happens?+
Your bank declined the charge without a specific reason. Often resolves with another attempt.
How do I prevent this decline going forward?+
Send a friendly email with an update-card link as fallback. Auto-retry 3x over 7 days.
Does Rechurn handle this decline code automatically?+
Yes. Rechurn classifies "card_declined" and runs the optimal retry cadence with a personalized email sequence. Run a free audit to see how many of your failed charges are this code.