A charge was declined — what it means and what to do
"Declined" means the card company said no. The message tells you why. Most declines are fixed with another card, a call, or a new-card link.
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Where you see it
On the gift form a red box shows the processor's message. Declined gifts also appear under the bell → "Declined payments".
All declined payments in one place. - 2
Read the reason
Common reasons: "insufficient funds" (not enough money), "do not honor" / "generic decline" (the bank said no, no reason given), "expired card", "invalid card number", "CVV" or "ZIP / address mismatch" (a typo), "lost or stolen" (don't retry).
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A typo? Try again
For a wrong number, date, CVV or ZIP, check with the donor and press "Charge card" again. A decline never charges, and a new try is a new charge.
Check the card details and charge again. - 4
The bank said no
Ask the donor to call the number on the back of the card, or to use another card. Big gifts are often blocked until the donor approves them with the bank.
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A recurring gift was declined
Yahiv tries again on your retry days and emails the donor a card-update link. See "A recurring gift stopped because the card expired".
Declined recurring gifts and where each one stands. - 6
On Collect
Declined card gifts show in "Today" as "declined (not counted)" — they don't count in your total.
Tips
- Never ask a donor to text or email a card number. Send a card-update link or pay link.
- In test mode, a card ending 0002 shows "Card declined (test)".
- Many declines in a row on the giving page trigger card-testing protection.
If something isn't working
"No answer from the processor" — and you don't know if it went through.
Don't charge again. Check it under Payments to check (/gifts/review).
Every card is declined, even good ones.
Something is wrong with the processor connection or account. Check Settings → Payment processors and call your processor.
The donor says the money left their account but Yahiv says declined.
Usually a temporary hold that disappears in a few days. Check the processor's website before charging again.