Authorize.Net · Decline codes
What does Authorize.Net 3 “This transaction has been declined (referral)” mean?
Checked
Authorize.Net response reason code 3 is a referral: the issuing bank declined the transaction pending a voice authorization. Authorize.Net's documentation says the merchant can call the card brand's authorization center for a code and then submit the sale as a Capture Only transaction in the Virtual Terminal. For an online store, asking the shopper for another card is usually faster than a phone referral.
- Type
- Soft decline (referral)
- Who declined
- The shopper's bank
- Retry
- Not as-is. Approval needs a voice authorization code from the card network's center.
- Shopper action
- Use another card, or call the bank to clear the hold.
- Merchant action
- Ask for another card; online stores rarely complete phone referrals.
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC treats Authorize.Net code 3 as a decline another processor may approve, so a store with PayPal card payments set as its backup gets an instant second route for the shopper instead of a phone call. On a subscription renewal it gets one more try 48 to 72 hours later, then the customer is asked for a new card.
Why it happens
A referral means the bank wants a voice authorization before approving. Authorize.Net returns the same headline text as code 2, but the guidance attached to code 3 is to call the card brand's authorization center.
What the shopper can do
Paying with a different card is the quickest fix. Calling the bank and asking it to approve the purchase can also clear the referral for a later attempt.
What the store can do
Authorize.Net lists the authorization center numbers: Visa/Mastercard (800) 228-1122, American Express (800) 528-2121, Discover/Novus (800) 347-1111, Diners Club (800) 525-9040, JCB (800) 522-9345. Once you receive an authorization code you can submit a Capture Only transaction in the Virtual Terminal.
For developers
errors[0].errorCode "3" with responseCode "2". A Capture Only transaction (captureOnlyTransaction) needs the authCode from the voice authorization.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a voice authorization for Authorize.Net code 3?
- A phone call to the card brand's authorization center, which can issue an approval code that you then submit as a Capture Only transaction.
- Should an online store call for every code 3?
- Rarely worth it. Asking the shopper for another card or wallet resolves most referrals faster.
Sources
- Authorize.Net Response Code Tool (response reason codes) — Authorize.Net
- Authorize.Net response codes (JSON list behind the Response Code Tool) — Authorize.Net
Related
- 2 — The card issuer, or the processor on its behalf, refused the payment without a specific reason.
- 4 — The processor reports the card must be picked up: the issuer wants it out of use.
- 41 — Your own FraudScreen.Net threshold blocked the payment because its fraud score was too high.
- 141 — FraudScreen.Net rejected the payment, but the automatic void of the authorization did not go through.
- 44 — The processor declined because the card's security code (CVV) did not match the bank's records.
- 45 — Both the address check and the security code check hit the rejection rules you set.
- 145 — Your AVS and card code filters rejected the sale, but the automatic void of the authorization failed.