Card decline code
restricted_card: Restricted card
The 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.
What restricted_card means
restricted_card means the issuer has placed a restriction on the card. It might be reported lost or stolen, frozen by the cardholder, or limited to certain countries or merchant types.
Stripe's guidance is for the customer to contact the issuer for more information.
Should you retry the payment?
Do not retry until the customer confirms the restriction is lifted or provides a new card.
How to recover a subscription payment declined with restricted_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
Explain that their bank has restricted the card and give them a link to switch cards.
"Hi Sam, your bank has restricted the card on your Acme account, so this month's $49 payment failed. You can add another card here or contact your bank."
More wording for every situation is in our dunning email templates.
How Revnio handles restricted_card
Revnio never retries a card declined with restricted_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 restricted_card mean?
The 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.
Should I retry a payment declined with restricted_card?
No. Do not retry until the customer confirms the restriction is lifted or provides a new card.
Can Revnio recover payments declined with restricted_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
- 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.
- transaction_not_allowedThe bank does not allow this transaction on the card, for an unspecified reason. The customer should contact their bank or use another card.
- card_not_supportedThe card does not support this type of purchase, for example recurring or international payments. The customer needs to enable it with their bank or use another card.
- All decline codesEvery common card decline code, grouped by what to do next.
- Dunning email templatesCopy-ready emails for each kind of failed payment.