Card payments have become a crucial part of the fintech industry, providing customers with a convenient and secure way to make transactions. However, with any technology, there are bound to be card payment errors and issues that arise. In this article, we will be discussing the top card payment errors and how to solve them. From payer authentication issues to error codes 203 and 481, we will explore the causes of these errors and provide preventative measures to ensure a smooth card payment process for your business. We will also discuss best practices for card payment processing, such as customer verification and regular updates, to further secure your transactions. This article is designed for businesses that rely on card payments to understand and solve the most common errors that occur during payment processing.
Card Error 102
Error 102 occurs when the payment gateway or processor detects that one or more fields in the request contain invalid data. It may also indicate that the card type is not configured for payer authentication.
Causes
Incorrectly formatted or missing required information in the request mostly addresses for payments where address validation is required and highly important. This could also mean that the card you’re using is not Visa or MasterCard, which are the only card types IntaSend accepts for now.
Solution
Verify that all required information in the request is properly formatted and included. For payments where addresses are validated, ensure that they are properly filled in, including the zip code, country, city, state, and address. Contact the payment gateway or processor for further assistance, if the issue persists.
Card Error 208
Error 208 occurs when the card issuer declines the transaction because the card is inactive or not authorized for card-not-present transactions.
Causes
As mentioned earlier, error 208 is caused by the card being marked as inactive by the issuing card. This may mean that the card has only been configured for ATMs, Point-of-sales, and never for card-not-present transactions.
Solution
The simplest solution would have been to reach out to issuing bank to configure the card for online transactions. However, this could take forever as the issuing bank may not respond in time to make the payment, which is why we recommend using a different card to make the payment while also keeping the first option open.
Card Error 101
Error 101 occurs when one or more required fields in the payment request are missing. This can include information such as the card number, expiration date, CVV code, or the name on the card.
Causes
The missing fields can be caused by human error, or the integration not passing all the required information to the payment gateway or processor.
Solution
Verify that all required information in the request is properly formatted and included. This should include your first and last names, card information (CVV, card number, and expiration date), address, and amount (if required).
Card Error 204
Error 204 is an error message that is returned when a transaction is declined by the card issuer because the cardholder's account does not have enough funds to cover the cost of the transaction. The card issuer is unable to process the transaction because there are not enough funds available in the cardholder's account to cover the cost of the purchase.
Cause
The cardholder's account may have insufficient funds due to a variety of reasons, mostly insufficient deposits. This happens when a deposit has been made to the bank account but it's yet to reflect due to bank processes.
Solution
If the cardholder confirms that there are insufficient funds in their account, it is always ideal for them to try a different card that is confirmed to hold a sufficient amount for the transaction in question.
Card Error 211
Error 211 occurs when the card issuer declines the transaction because the card verification number (CVV) provided by the cardholder is invalid. The CVV is a security feature on credit and debit cards, and it is used to verify that the person making the purchase has the physical card in their possession.
Cause
The most common cause of this error is the cardholder entering an incorrect CVV code. This could be due to a mistake while typing, or the cardholder not being familiar with the location of the CVV on their card.
Solution
The cardholder is to double-check the CVV code for any typos or errors. They must ensure the CVV code is correct and is exactly what they have on the back of their card. However, if the problem persists, they may have to contact the issuing bank.
Card Error 481
Error 481 occurs when the payment gateway or processor is unable to authorize the transaction due to safety reasons. This error indicates that there is an issue with the payment authorization process and the transaction cannot be completed.
Cause
The causes of this error can vary but it is often related to security measures put in place by the payment gateway or processor to prevent fraud. One common cause of this error is the failure to provide a valid one-time pin sent by the bank.
Solution
This error is quite different from the ones we’ve highlighted so far. To solve this error, reach out to the issuing bank to inform them to enable 3D support for your card if it has already not been done.
Card Error 233
Error 233 is a general card decline error that occurs when the payment gateway or processor is unable to process the transaction for some reason. This error indicates that there is an issue with the payment request, and the transaction cannot be completed.
Cause
The causes of this error can vary, but it often indicates that there is a problem with the cardholder's personal information or card details. This could be due to an incorrect card number, expiration date, or CVV code, or a problem with the cardholder's personal information such as a mismatched billing address.
Solution
The cardholder's personal information and card details must be entered correctly, including the card number, expiration date, CVV code, and billing address. If the problem persists, the cardholder should try a different card.
Card Error 476
Error 476 occurs when a payment request cannot be authenticated by the payment gateway or processor. This error indicates that there is an issue with the payer authentication process and the transaction cannot be completed.
Cause
The most common cause of this error is a problem with the payer authentication, which is a security feature used to verify that the person making the purchase has the physical card in their possession. This error can be caused when the issuing bank is not able to send a one-time pin to authenticate the transaction.
Solution
The best thing to do in this situation is to try and ensure the OTP is sent so the payment can be authenticated. Otherwise, one may have to try a new card to try and complete the payment.
Card Error 231
Error 231 occurs when the payment gateway or processor is unable to process the transaction due to an error in the credit card number. This error indicates that the card number provided by the cardholder is invalid or incorrect.
Cause
The most frequent reason for this issue is human error, where the cardholder types in their credit card number incorrectly. This might be the result of a typing error or the cardholder not knowing where to find the card number on their card.
Solution
The cardholder should check the credit card number on their card and confirm that the number they entered is correct. Alternatively, they can try a different card.
Card Error 150
Error 150 is a general system failure error that occurs when a payment request cannot be completed due to a technical issue. This error indicates that there is a problem with the payment system and the transaction cannot be completed.
Cause
The causes of this error can vary, but it is often related to a technical issue on the end of the payment provider, card partners, or banks. This could be due to system maintenance, updates, or unexpected technical difficulties.
Solution
The best thing is to try again at a later time as the payment provider is automatically notified as soon as the error occurs. This prompts them to start looking for the best ways to solve it, so it most likely will come up sooner rather than later.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the article has outlined some of the most common card payment errors and provided solutions for resolving them. It is important to understand that these errors can be caused by a variety of factors, including incorrect information provided by the cardholder, technical issues with the payment system, or security measures put in place by the payment gateway or processor.
By being aware of these errors and their causes, individuals can take steps to prevent them from occurring and ensure a smooth payment process. However, it's always important to reach out to the support team of the payment gateway or processor for further assistance if the error persists or if the cardholder is unable to resolve the issue on their own.
For more information about error codes, their meanings, and the best solutions, you can check the full information on this IntaSend troubleshooting page. If you would also like to open an IntaSend, which doesn’t take up to 5 minutes, thanks to its feasible KYC, click here to sign up and send your first payment request.
Cover Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
