Input error · recoverable

invalid_expiry_month

Expiry month is out of range or wrong format.

What just happened

Customer entered an invalid month (00, 13, etc.).

Retry strategy

Re-prompt for correct expiry.

What to tell the customer

Your card expiry month is invalid. Please re-enter it.

Recommended action

Use a date picker on checkout to prevent this.

Want to see what this looks like on your Stripe?

See how often "invalid_expiry_month" hits your Stripe account in the last 30 days — and how much MRR is at risk because of it.

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Related codes

incorrect_cvc

Customer entered the wrong CVC (3-4 digit code).

incorrect_number

Card number is invalid (wrong digits or fails Luhn check).

incorrect_pin

PIN entered doesn't match the card (in-person/POS context).

incorrect_zip

Postal/ZIP code didn't match the issuer's record (AVS check).

Related guides

Soft Decline vs Hard Decline: What They Mean for Your Revenue

Understand the difference between soft and hard payment declines. Learn how to handle each type to maximize recovery and reduce involuntary churn.

How to Find and Size Failed Payments in Stripe (Step-by-Step)

Find every failed payment in your Stripe account, export it, remove retry duplicates, group by decline code, and calculate your real MRR at risk — step by step.

Stripe Billing Recovery Settings: The Recommended Setup

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Frequently asked questions

Is "invalid_expiry_month" a soft or hard decline?+
It's classified as a input error: Wrong number, expiry, or CVC. Customer needs to re-enter card details.
Should I retry a "invalid_expiry_month" decline?+
Re-prompt for correct expiry.
What should I tell my customer when this happens?+
Your card expiry month is invalid. Please re-enter it.
How do I prevent this decline going forward?+
Use a date picker on checkout to prevent this.
Does Rechurn handle this decline code automatically?+
Yes. Rechurn classifies "invalid_expiry_month" 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.
All decline codes