PayPal · Decline codes
What does PayPal processor response code PPEF mean?
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PayPal processor response code PPEF (EXPIRED_FUNDING_INSTRUMENT) means the funding instrument, the card or account the payment was drawn from, has expired. Retrying won't work. The shopper should update the expired card, in their PayPal wallet if that's where it is saved, or choose another way to pay; subscribers need to add a current card.
- PayPal label
- EXPIRED_FUNDING_INSTRUMENT
- Type
- Hard decline
- Who declined
- PayPal
- Retry
- No, a new or updated card is needed
- Shopper action
- Update the card or pick another funding source
- Merchant action
- Ask the customer to update their payment method
- PlatformDTC renewal
- No retry; one-click update-card link and reminders
What PlatformDTC does
PlatformDTC records PayPal PPEF as an expired card (expired_card). Expired cards are never retried automatically: on either retry schedule (the default Fixed schedule or Smart retry), the renewal is held past due, the card is marked blocked, and the customer is emailed a signed one-click link to add a new card, with no login. The link is re-sent up to 4 times per billing cycle, at least 3 days apart.
Why it happens
The card or account behind the payment is past its expiry.
What the shopper can do
Add your new card (in your PayPal wallet if saved there), or choose another funding source.
What the store can do
Send the customer a link to update their payment method; don't retry the expired one.
For developers
PayPal returns PPEF 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 EXPIRED_FUNDING_INSTRUMENT.
Keep the raw code with the order. PayPal's label is the only official meaning, and the exact code tells support which branch of PayPal's table fired.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a funding instrument?
- PayPal's term for the card, bank account or balance a payment is drawn from.
- Will PPEF fix itself when the bank sends a new card?
- Not until the customer adds the new card.
Sources
Related
- 5400 — Expired card: the card is past its expiry date.
- PPEX — Expiry date: the payment was refused over the card's expiry date.
- 1380 — Invalid expiration: the expiry date sent doesn't match a valid card.
- PPEL — Exceeds frequency limit: too many payments in a period on this card.
- PPFR — Restricted funding instrument: the card or account has a restriction on it.
- INSTRUMENT_DECLINED — Instrument declined: the card or bank in the buyer's PayPal was refused.
- PAYER_ACTION_REQUIRED — Payer action required: the buyer must go back to PayPal to finish the payment.
- PAYER_CANNOT_PAY — Payer cannot pay: this buyer's and this seller's PayPal settings don't allow the payment.