Card decline code
stolen_card: Stolen card
The card was reported stolen and has been cancelled by the bank. Stop retrying immediately; the only fix is a new payment method.
What stolen_card means
stolen_card means the issuer has blocked the card after it was reported stolen. Any further attempts are refused.
Stripe recommends showing the customer a generic decline rather than revealing that the card was reported stolen.
Should you retry the payment?
Never retry. Card networks count repeated attempts on cards that will never be approved as excessive and can charge fees for them.
How to recover a subscription payment declined with stolen_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
Keep it neutral: the card was declined; please add a new payment method.
"Hi Sam, we could not charge the card on your Acme account. Please add a new payment method here so your subscription continues without interruption."
More wording for every situation is in our dunning email templates.
How Revnio handles stolen_card
Revnio never retries a card declined with stolen_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 stolen_card mean?
The card was reported stolen and has been cancelled by the bank. Stop retrying immediately; the only fix is a new payment method.
Should I retry a payment declined with stolen_card?
No. Never retry. Card networks count repeated attempts on cards that will never be approved as excessive and can charge fees for them.
Can Revnio recover payments declined with stolen_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
- lost_cardThe 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.
- fraudulentStripe's fraud systems judged the payment likely fraudulent and blocked it. Do not retry the card; for a known subscriber, ask them to confirm their details or use another card.
- 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.
- All decline codesEvery common card decline code, grouped by what to do next.
- Dunning email templatesCopy-ready emails for each kind of failed payment.