PayPal · Decline codes
What does PayPal processor response code 5170 mean?
Checked
PayPal processor response code 5170 (AVS_FAILURE) means the address check failed: the billing address given didn't match what the card's bank holds, and the payment was declined. The shopper should enter the billing address exactly as the bank has it, especially the postcode, or use another card. Retrying unchanged details gives the same result.
- PayPal label
- AVS_FAILURE
- Type
- Data error
- Who declined
- The card's bank or the merchant's address rules
- Retry
- Yes, a few days later; switch method if it repeats
- Shopper action
- Re-enter the billing address exactly as on the bank statement
- Merchant action
- Let the shopper correct the address; review address-check settings
- PlatformDTC renewal (Smart retry)
- PayPal ladder: up to 7 attempts, 3+ days apart, aimed at payday
What PlatformDTC does
PayPal 5170 is not one of the processor codes PlatformDTC maps, so the decline is recorded under the Orders API issue PayPal returned, or as INSTRUMENT_DECLINED, a generic PayPal refusal, when there is none; the raw 5170 stays in the failure message. With Smart retry on, a PayPal subscription renewal then follows the PayPal ladder: up to 7 attempts at least 3 days apart, moved to the next payday within a week, inside a window of at least 24 days.
Why it happens
The address verification service compares the billing address typed at checkout with the bank's record. A recent move, a different format, or the delivery address entered in place of the billing one are frequent causes.
What the shopper can do
Use the address on your card statement, especially the street number and postcode.
If you recently moved, your bank may still have the old address.
What the store can do
Make the billing address easy to edit after a decline.
PayPal's processor response also carries an avs_code you can store for support.
For developers
PayPal returns 5170 in processor_response.response_code on the capture (purchase_units[].payments.captures[]) or authorization of a card payment. PayPal's own name for it is AVS_FAILURE.
The same processor_response object also carries avs_code, the address-check result, which is worth storing alongside the order.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the billing address the same as the shipping address?
- Not always. The address check uses the billing address the bank holds for the card.
- Can a store relax address checks?
- That depends on its PayPal and fraud settings. Looser checks let more orders through but also more fraud.
Sources
Related
- PPAD — Billing address: the payment was refused over the billing address.
- 5110 — CVV2 failure: the card's security code didn't match.
- 1382 — Invalid card verification value: the security code (CVV) was rejected.
- 5180 — Invalid or restricted card: this card can't be used; PayPal says try another.
- 5200 — Duplicate transaction: a matching payment was already submitted.
- 5400 — Expired card: the card is past its expiry date.
- 5650 — SCA required: the bank needs the cardholder to authenticate the payment.
- 5700 — Transaction not permitted: outside the scope of accepted business for this card.