Decline code guide · generic_decline
Stripe generic_decline: what it means and how to fix it.
generic_decline is the catch-all: the payment was refused and no specific reason came back. Usually the customer's bank said no without saying why. Stripe's docs note it can also come from a blocked payment rule, so check which one it was before you email anyone.
Who said no?
Open the failed payment in your Stripe Dashboard and read what it says about the outcome.
| What the payment shows | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Declined by the card issuerThe bank refused it | The reason sits with the bank, and it didn't share it. Only the customer can find out, by asking their bank. Go to the steps below. |
| Blocked by Stripe or one of your rulesFor example a Radar rule | The bank never saw it. Look at the rule or risk note on the payment. If the customer is clearly genuine, review the rule before you ask them to try again. |
The wording in the Dashboard can change over time. What matters: was it refused by the bank, or stopped before it reached the bank?
Ask, then offer another way.
When the bank declined it, three steps, in this order.
- Tell the customer plainly: their bank declined the payment and didn't give a reason. Ask them to contact the bank (the number on the back of the card), then try again.
- Offer another card, or another payment method you already accept in Stripe. Often that's the fastest fix.
- For subscriptions, send a short "update your card" email with a link to your billing page instead of waiting for automatic retries to fail.
Don't keep retrying the same card: without a new fact (they called the bank, or used a new card), the answer is likely the same.
ActionHi ‹first name›,
We tried to take the payment for ‹order or plan›, but your bank declined it without giving us a reason.
A quick call to your bank usually clears it up. Then you can pay here: ‹payment link›. Another card works too.
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