Card issuer response codes (ISO 8583) · Decline codes
What does card decline code 14 mean?
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Code 14 is an ISO 8583 issuer response code. Visa defines it as "invalid account number (no such number)" and Mastercard as "invalid card number". The bank has no account with that card number, usually because of a typo or an old saved number. Visa puts 14 in Category 1: the same card number must never be resubmitted. The shopper should re-enter the card carefully or use another one.
- Type
- Hard decline (data error)
- Who declined
- The card's issuing bank
- Visa category
- Category 1 (issuer will never approve): never resubmit the same card
- Retry
- Never with the same number
- Shopper action
- Re-type the card number or use another card
- Merchant action
- Ask for correct card details; don't retry the stored number
- PlatformDTC renewal (fixed or Smart retry)
- Never retried; customer asked for a new card
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC treats a raw 14 as a hard stop. A Visa checkout declined 14 is never offered to the backup processor. On either retry schedule, fixed or Smart retry, a renewal is not retried; the subscription is held past due and the customer receives a signed one-click link to enter a card that works, re-sent up to 4 times per billing cycle at least 3 days apart.
Why it happens
The digits do not match any account at the issuer. A mistyped or out-of-date saved number is one likely cause.
What the shopper can do
Check the 16 digits against the physical card and type them again, or pay another way.
For developers
On Stripe the raw issuer code arrives in charge.outcome.network_decline_code (here "14"), next to Stripe's own decline_code. Read it together with the card brand: the same two characters can mean different things on Visa and Mastercard. Mastercard sends 14 with MAC 01 (new account information available) or MAC 03 (do not try again). PlatformDTC stops on both.
Frequently asked questions
- Is code 14 the same as an expired card?
- No. Expired cards return 54. Code 14 means the number itself doesn't exist.
- Can a card updater fix code 14?
- Sometimes, when the card was replaced and Mastercard sends MAC 01 (new account information available). Otherwise the customer must enter the new number.
Sources
Related
- 15 — No such issuer: the card number does not belong to any known bank.
- 54 — Expired card: the card is past its expiry date, or the date was missing.
- N7 — Decline for CVV2 failure: the security code didn't match.
- 19 — Re-enter transaction: the issuer asks for the payment to be sent again.
- 21 — No action taken: the issuer did not process the request.
- 41 — Lost card, pick up: the card was reported lost. Never retry it.
- 43 — Stolen card, pick up: the card was reported stolen. Never retry it.
- 46 — Closed account: the card's account has been closed. Never retry it.