Card decline code
lost_card: Lost card
The cardholder reported the card lost and the bank has cancelled it. It will never be approved again, so stop retrying and ask for a new payment method.
What lost_card means
lost_card means the issuer has blocked the card because it was reported lost. The customer usually has a replacement card with a new number already.
Stripe recommends telling the customer only that the card was declined (generic_decline), not that it was reported lost.
Should you retry the payment?
Never retry a lost card. It cannot succeed, and card networks treat repeated attempts on these "will never approve" declines as excessive and may charge fees.
How to recover a subscription payment declined with lost_card
- Stop retrying this card: it will not be approved again.
- Email the customer immediately with a one-click link to add a new payment method.
- Send a reminder on WhatsApp if the email goes unread.
- Charge the open invoice as soon as the new card is saved, then confirm by email.
What to tell the customer
Do not mention that the card was reported lost. Say it was declined and ask them to add a new payment method.
"Hi Sam, your card was declined for this month's $49 Acme payment. Please add a new payment method here to keep your account active."
More wording for every situation is in our dunning email templates.
How Revnio handles lost_card
Revnio never retries a card declined with lost_card automatically: the retry cannot succeed, and card networks can charge fees for reattempting declines like this one. Instead the customer gets a recovery email straight away with a secure link to add a new payment method, followed by WhatsApp (Pro plan) reminders if the email is not clicked. Once the customer adds a new card, the open invoice is collected.
Decline codes are returned by the card issuer through your payment processor. Code names here follow Stripe's; Chargebee and Paddle surface the same issuer reasons with their own wording. Last reviewed 2026-10-15.
Frequently asked questions
What does decline code lost_card mean?
The cardholder reported the card lost and the bank has cancelled it. It will never be approved again, so stop retrying and ask for a new payment method.
Should I retry a payment declined with lost_card?
No. Never retry a lost card. It cannot succeed, and card networks treat repeated attempts on these "will never approve" declines as excessive and may charge fees.
Can Revnio recover payments declined with lost_card?
Revnio picks up the failed payment from Stripe, Chargebee or Paddle, adjusts retry timing to the decline code, and reaches the customer by email and WhatsApp (SMS is coming soon) with a secure link to pay or update their card.
Recover failed payments on autopilot
Revnio retries failed payments at the right time and reaches customers by email and WhatsApp until the card is fixed. Works with Stripe, Chargebee and Paddle.
Related
- stolen_cardThe card was reported stolen and has been cancelled by the bank. Stop retrying immediately; the only fix is a new payment method.
- pickup_cardThe issuer wants the card retained, usually because it may be lost or stolen. It cannot be used; the customer needs to contact their bank or use another card.
- restricted_cardThe card cannot be used for this payment, often because the issuer has restricted it (it may be lost or stolen). The customer should contact their bank or switch cards.
- All decline codesEvery common card decline code, grouped by what to do next.
- Dunning email templatesCopy-ready emails for each kind of failed payment.