Hard decline · recoverable

restricted_card

Card has restrictions that block this charge.

What just happened

Could be regional restrictions, MCC restrictions, or category blocks set by the issuer.

Retry strategy

Don't retry — restrictions persist. Need a different card.

What to tell the customer

Your card has restrictions that block this charge. Please use a different card.

Recommended action

Halt retries, send update-card email.

Want to see what this looks like on your Stripe?

See how often "restricted_card" 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

card_not_supported

The card doesn't support this type of purchase.

currency_not_supported

The card doesn't support the transaction currency.

do_not_try_again

Issuer explicitly said: don't retry this card.

expired_card

Card's expiration date has passed.

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

Every Stripe setting that affects failed payment recovery — retries, customer emails, end-of-retry status, card updates, automations — where it lives in the Dashboard and what to set it to.

Frequently asked questions

Is "restricted_card" a soft or hard decline?+
It's classified as a hard decline: Permanent issue with the card. Retries will keep failing — you need a new payment method from the customer.
Should I retry a "restricted_card" decline?+
Don't retry — restrictions persist. Need a different card.
What should I tell my customer when this happens?+
Your card has restrictions that block this charge. Please use a different card.
How do I prevent this decline going forward?+
Halt retries, send update-card email.
Does Rechurn handle this decline code automatically?+
Yes. Rechurn classifies "restricted_card" 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