Card issuer response codes (ISO 8583) · Decline codes
What does card decline code 15 mean?
Checked
Code 15 is an ISO 8583 issuer response code meaning "no such issuer" (Mastercard: "invalid issuer"). Visa's rules explain it as the first 8 digits of the card number not relating to an issuing identifier, so the payment could not be matched to any bank. Visa lists 15 in Category 1, "issuer will never approve": never resubmit the same number. The shopper should re-enter the card or use another.
- Type
- Hard decline (data error)
- Who declined
- The card network, on the issuer's behalf
- Visa category
- Category 1 (issuer will never approve): never resubmit the same card
- Retry
- Never with the same number
- Shopper action
- Re-enter the card number or use another card
- Merchant action
- Ask for correct details
- PlatformDTC renewal (fixed or Smart retry)
- Never retried; customer asked for a new card
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC stops on a raw 15. A Visa checkout declined 15 is never offered to the backup processor, and on either retry schedule, fixed or Smart retry, a renewal is never retried: the subscription is held past due and the customer gets a one-click update-card link instead of more failed attempts on a number no bank recognises.
Why it happens
The start of the card number identifies the issuer. If those digits are wrong, the network cannot route the payment to any bank. A typo near the start of the number is the usual cause.
What the shopper can do
Type the card number again, checking the first digits, or use another payment method.
For developers
On Stripe the raw issuer code arrives in charge.outcome.network_decline_code (here "15"), 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. Visa's Table 7-2 describes 15 as "No such issuer [first 8 digits of account number do not relate to an issuing identifier]". Mastercard's table says "invalid issuer".
Frequently asked questions
- Why does code 15 happen with a real card?
- Usually a mistyped digit at the start of the number. Re-entering the card fixes it.
- Can I retry code 15?
- Not with the same number. Visa forbids resubmitting Category 1 declines.
Sources
Related
- 14 — Invalid account number: no such card number exists at the bank.
- 92 — Unable to route: the network couldn't find the bank to send the payment to.
- 12 — Invalid transaction: the issuer will not accept this kind of transaction on the card.
- 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.