Stripe · Decline codes
What does the Stripe withdrawal_count_limit_exceeded decline code mean?
Checked
The Stripe decline code withdrawal_count_limit_exceeded means the customer has exceeded the balance or credit limit available on their card. Stripe's next step is for the customer to use an alternative payment method. The limit often resets after a payment to the card or a new period, so the same card may work later, but at checkout another card is the quickest fix.
- Type
- Soft decline (limit)
- Who declined
- The card's bank
- Retry
- Later, once the limit resets
- Shopper action
- Use another payment method
- Merchant action
- Offer alternatives; don't retry immediately
- PlatformDTC renewal
- Retried 2, 5 and 8 days after the first decline (Smart retry)
What PlatformDTC does
At checkout PlatformDTC adds the hint "You've exceeded your card's limit. Try another card." and does not reroute the card to a backup processor, since the same limit applies there. With Smart retry on, renewals declined this way are treated as a temporary limit decline: retried 2, 5 and 8 days after the first decline, at most 4 attempts, never twice in 24 hours.
Why it happens
The card has hit a limit set by the bank: its available balance, its credit limit, or a cap on how often or how much it can be used in a period.
What the shopper can do
Pay with another card or wallet now. To use this card, wait for the limit to reset, pay down the balance or ask the bank to raise the limit.
What the store can do
Show other payment methods. Avoid retrying the card several times in a row; it will keep failing until the limit changes.
For developers
decline_code = withdrawal_count_limit_exceeded. On Visa, raw codes 61 (exceeds approval amount limit) and 65 (exceeds withdrawal frequency limit) are Category 2: reattempt permitted up to 20 times in 30 days. Mastercard uses 61 and 65 for withdrawal amount and count limits.
Frequently asked questions
- Is withdrawal_count_limit_exceeded the same as insufficient funds?
- Close, but not the same code. Stripe describes it as exceeding the balance or credit limit available on the card; the fix is the same: another payment method, or wait until the limit allows the charge.
- Will the card work tomorrow?
- It might, once the limit resets or the balance is paid. That is why spaced retries work for subscriptions.
Sources
Related
- card_velocity_exceeded — The card's balance, credit limit or amount limit has been reached.
- insufficient_funds — The card doesn't have enough money or credit for this payment.
- invalid_amount — The payment amount is invalid or above what the card allows.
- try_again_later — Deprecated code: the bank declined for an unknown reason; try again later.
- mobile_device_authentication_required — The payment needs authentication; the customer should tap their phone again.
- card_declined — Stripe's error code for any declined card; the decline_code says why.
- payment_intent_authentication_failure — The card failed the bank's authentication check (such as 3-D Secure).
- authentication_required — The bank wants the cardholder to verify the payment, usually with 3D Secure.