Decline guide · expired_card
Stripe expired_card: what it means and how to fix it.
expired_card means the card's expiry date has passed, so the bank refuses every payment on it. Retrying won't help. The fix is the customer's new card, and for subscriptions, asking for it before the renewal fails.
Time won't fix this one.
A short balance can come back next week. An expired card doesn't. The customer usually has a replacement with a new date and security code, and you need them to enter it.
| Where you see it | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| CheckoutA new payment | The customer is still there. Show a clear message asking for another card, and they can pay right away. |
| Subscription renewalA saved card | The customer isn't there. Retrying the same expired card fails again unless its details get updated in between, so email them a link to add the new card. |
| Payments exportA CSV from the Dashboard | Failed payments carry their decline reason, so you can see how many renewals expired cards cost you. The free check counts it in your browser. |
Waiting does help with insufficient_funds. That one has its own guide.
Ask for the new card.
Three steps, then one to stop it happening again.
- Stop retrying the old card. Tell the customer plainly that the card on file has expired.
- Send one link where they can add the new card: your billing page, the Stripe customer portal if you use it, or a payment link. Keep the order or subscription on hold, not cancelled, while you wait.
- If they don't reply, send one reminder a few days later. Most people simply hadn't noticed.
To get ahead of it on subscriptions: look in your Stripe Billing settings for the email that warns customers before a saved card expires. Card networks can also update some saved cards automatically when the bank issues a new one.
ActionHi ‹first name›,
We couldn't take the payment for ‹order or plan› because the card we have on file has expired.
You can add your new card here: ‹payment link›. It takes a minute, and nothing else about your ‹order or plan› changes.
Thanks,
‹your name›
Want to see how often it happens to you? Run the free check on your Stripe payments export →
Recover lost revenue.
The Failed-Payment Recovery Kit: a download on Whop, yours right after paying. No subscription, no account with us.
- Dunning email templates to send after a failed payment
- A Stripe settings checklist
- A recovery playbook
One-time purchase · Files, not software