Card issuer response codes (ISO 8583) · Decline codes
What does card decline code 78 mean?
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Code 78 is a Visa issuer response code in the ISO 8583 set meaning "blocked, first used": the transaction comes from a new card that was not properly unblocked. Visa's rules also cover a special condition where the account is temporarily blocked. Visa places 78 in Category 2, allowing up to 20 reattempts in 30 days. The cardholder usually just needs to activate the card or ask the bank to lift the block.
- Type
- Soft decline (card not activated)
- Who declined
- The card's issuing bank
- Visa category
- Category 2 (issuer cannot approve at this time): up to 20 reattempts in 30 days
- Retry
- After the card is activated
- Shopper action
- Activate the new card, then pay again
- Merchant action
- Ask the customer to activate the card or use another
- PlatformDTC renewal (fixed or Smart retry)
- Never retried; customer asked for a new card
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC is stricter than Visa on 78 and does not retry it. On either retry schedule, fixed or Smart retry, a renewal is held past due and the customer receives a one-click link to confirm or update the card, since only the cardholder can activate it. The link is re-sent up to 4 times per billing cycle, at least 3 days apart.
Why it happens
New cards often need activating before first use. Paying with one before activation, or using an account the bank has temporarily blocked, returns 78.
What the shopper can do
Activate the card in the banking app or by phone, then try again.
For developers
On Stripe the raw issuer code arrives in charge.outcome.network_decline_code (here "78"), 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 wording: "Blocked, first used or special condition [account is temporarily blocked]". It is not in Mastercard's table.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does a brand-new card get code 78?
- It hasn't been activated yet. Activation removes the block.
- Will retrying code 78 work?
- Only after the cardholder activates the card or the bank lifts the block.
Sources
Related
- 62 — Restricted card: the card can't be used here, often because of region or country.
- 9G — Blocked by cardholder: the cardholder set a block. Contact the cardholder.
- 5C — Transaction not supported or blocked by issuer.
- 82 — Negative card verification result on Visa; invalid transaction or merchant on Mastercard.
- 91 — Issuer or switch inoperative: the bank's system couldn't be reached.
- 92 — Unable to route: the network couldn't find the bank to send the payment to.
- 93 — Transaction can't be completed: completing it would violate law.
- 94 — Duplicate: the request matched one the issuer had already received.