Checkout.com · Decline codes
What does Checkout.com 20182 “Policy” mean?
Checked
Checkout.com 20182 "Policy" means the transaction does not comply with card policies, so it was declined. Checkout.com points to recommendation codes for the next step. The card may be valid for other purchases; this payment breaks a rule set by the bank or the card programme.
- Type
- Soft decline (20xxx)
- Who declined
- The shopper's card issuer
- Retry
- Possibly. Visa category 4 (generic): at most 15 retries in 30 days
- Shopper action
- Use another card
- Merchant action
- Check the recommendation code before retrying
What PlatformDTC does
For Checkout.com 20182, PlatformDTC's checkout does not offer PayPal card fields or any backup processor. Unlisted codes never reroute, because guessing wrong costs more than the one recovery it might win. A subscription renewal declined with 20182 is never retried: the subscription is held past due and the customer is emailed a link to add a new card.
Why it happens
A rule on the card, such as a restriction on the type of purchase or merchant, was not met.
What the shopper can do
Pay with a different card, or ask the bank what policy blocked it.
What the store can do
Follow the recommendation code; 03 means do not try again.
For developers
The payment comes back with status Declined, response_code 20182 and a response_summary such as "Policy" (Checkout.com notes the text can vary by endpoint). Checkout.com's Visa table puts this code in category 4, which it pairs with recommendation code 02 (try again later); read processing.recommendation_code on the response.
Frequently asked questions
- Whose policy is it in Checkout.com 20182?
- Checkout.com describes it as card policies, meaning the issuer's or programme's rules.
- Should I retry 20182?
- Only if the recommendation code says try again later.
Sources
- API response codes — Checkout.com
- Recommendation codes — Checkout.com
Related
- 20179 — The card data is no longer valid, for example an outdated card.
- 20183 — The payment is suspected to be fraudulent.
- 20159 — The bank's authentication server failed during 3-D Secure.
- 30004 — The bank wants the card taken out of use, without saying fraud. Never retry.
- 30007 — The bank withdrew the card under special conditions. Never retry.
- 30015 — The card number does not belong to any known bank. Usually a typo.
- 30020 — The payment amount was not valid.
- 30021 — The card has reached its total spending limit.