Authorize.Net · Decline codes
What does Authorize.Net 54 “The referenced transaction does not meet the criteria for issuing a credit” mean?
Checked
Authorize.Net response reason code 54 means the referenced transaction does not meet the criteria for issuing a credit. Authorize.Net lists the usual reasons: it may be unsettled, an invalid type, the wrong currency, an invalid reference transaction ID, or settled more than 180 days ago. Fix whichever applies, or return the money another way.
- Type
- Error (refund)
- Who declined
- Authorize.Net's refund rules
- Retry
- Only after fixing the reason.
- Shopper action
- Nothing; the store handles refunds.
- Merchant action
- Check the transaction's status, type, currency and age.
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC sends Authorize.Net refunds only against settled payments it recorded itself, with the masked card details Authorize.Net requires, which rules out most code 54 causes except the 180-day limit.
Why it happens
Refunds must point at a settled, refundable transaction in the same currency, within 180 days of settlement.
What the store can do
Look up the original transaction. If it is unsettled, void it; if it is older than 180 days, refund the customer by another method.
For developers
errors[0].errorCode "54". refundTransaction needs refTransId plus the card's last four digits and expiry (XXXX).
Frequently asked questions
- How long do I have to refund on Authorize.Net (code 54)?
- Authorize.Net's code 54 description lists transactions settled more than 180 days ago as not refundable.
- What if a code 54 refund is too old?
- Return the money another way, for example a bank transfer, and record it.
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
- 50 — You can only refund a settled transaction; this one has not settled yet.
- 55 — This refund plus earlier refunds would be more than the original payment.
- 16 — The transaction ID you referenced (for a refund or void) is not on this Authorize.Net account.
- E00027 — The API reports the transaction failed; the real reason is in the transaction's errorCode.
- E00007 — The API Login ID or Transaction Key is wrong, or sent to the wrong environment.
- E00001 — Authorize.Net hit an internal error; the request was not completed.
- E00003 — The request sent to the API was malformed, so Authorize.Net could not read it.
- E00013 — One field in the request has an invalid value; the response text names it.