Authorize.Net · Decline codes
What does Authorize.Net 36 “The authorization was approved but settlement failed” mean?
Checked
Authorize.Net response reason code 36 means the authorization was approved but settlement failed: the customer was approved at the time of authorization, yet the payment failed when it settled. The money did not reach you, so treat the order as unpaid. Ask your merchant service provider why settlement was refused before you ship or charge the shopper again.
- Type
- Settlement failure
- Who declined
- The processor or issuer, at settlement
- Retry
- Contact your merchant service provider before charging again.
- Shopper action
- Nothing unless the store asks for a new payment.
- Merchant action
- Hold the order and check with your merchant service provider.
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC records the Authorize.Net transaction ID with every sale it takes on a store's own Authorize.Net account, so a settlement failure like code 36 can be traced straight to the order it belongs to.
Why it happens
Authorization and settlement are separate steps. Something rejected the transaction at the settlement stage, after the issuer had said yes.
What the store can do
Check the transaction in the Merchant Interface, contact your merchant service provider for the reason, and contact the customer for a new payment if needed.
For developers
errors[0].errorCode "36". Authorize.Net: "The customer was approved at the time of authorization, but failed at settlement."
Frequently asked questions
- Did I get paid when Authorize.Net returns code 36?
- No. Settlement failed, so the funds were not transferred.
- Can I ship an order with code 36?
- Not until you collect payment again or your provider resolves the settlement.
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.
- 16 — The transaction ID you referenced (for a refund or void) is not on this Authorize.Net account.
- 6 — The card number failed validation: a typo, a missing digit, or not a real card number.
- 37 — The card number was rejected as invalid (same text as code 6).
- 315 — The processor declined the card number as invalid.
- 7 — The expiry date was sent in the wrong format or is not a valid date.
- 316 — The processor rejected the card's expiry date as invalid.
- 8 — The card's expiry date has passed, so it can no longer be charged.