PayPal · Decline codes
What does the PayPal COMPLIANCE_VIOLATION error mean?
Checked
PayPal's COMPLIANCE_VIOLATION error means the transaction was declined due to a compliance violation. PayPal gives no further detail, and retrying will not change the outcome. The buyer needs to use another payment method, and the merchant may need to check with PayPal if the error affects many payments.
- PayPal description
- Transaction is declined due to compliance violation.
- Type
- Hard decline
- Who declined
- PayPal
- Retry
- No
- Shopper action
- Use another payment method
- Merchant action
- Don't retry; contact PayPal if it recurs
- PlatformDTC renewal (Smart retry)
- Never retried; subscription cancelled at once
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC treats COMPLIANCE_VIOLATION as always terminal: regardless of the store's retry setting, a renewal declined with it is cancelled immediately and never retried, recorded as an involuntary payment failure. The customer receives the subscription-ended email with a signed one-click link to manage their subscription.
Why it happens
PayPal declined for a compliance reason it doesn't disclose.
What the shopper can do
Pay with a card or another method.
What the store can do
Don't retry. If you see it often, ask PayPal what rule is being triggered.
For developers
details[0].issue = COMPLIANCE_VIOLATION. Treat it as final for that payment.
Frequently asked questions
- Will COMPLIANCE_VIOLATION clear on retry?
- No. PlatformDTC never retries it.
- Who can explain a compliance violation?
- Only PayPal; the merchant can ask through their PayPal account.
Sources
- Orders v2 API errors — PayPal
Related
- PAYER_ACCOUNT_LOCKED_OR_CLOSED — Payer account locked or closed: the buyer's PayPal account can't be used.
- PAYEE_ACCOUNT_RESTRICTED — Payee account restricted: the merchant's PayPal account is restricted.
- PAYMENT_DENIED — Payment denied: PayPal declined to process the transaction.
- MAX_NUMBER_OF_PAYMENT_ATTEMPTS_EXCEEDED — Max payment attempts exceeded: too many attempts on this order.
- CARD_EXPIRED — Card expired: the card used through PayPal has expired.
- CARD_TYPE_NOT_SUPPORTED — Card type not supported: this kind of card can't be processed; use another.
- AGREEMENT_ALREADY_CANCELLED — Agreement already cancelled: the buyer's PayPal billing agreement has been cancelled.
- REDIRECT_PAYER_FOR_ALTERNATE_FUNDING — Redirect for alternate funding: send the buyer back to pick another funding source.