Introduction
This document provides an overview of common Merchant Category Codes (MCC) and explains typical reasons for card transaction declines. Understanding these codes and reasons will help you better interpret card processing errors and take appropriate actions to resolve them.
Understanding MCC Codes
Merchant Category Codes (MCC) help categorize transactions, which can be useful for financial reporting, rewards programs, and fraud detection. Here are some common MCCs and their corresponding business activities:
MCC 6051 - Crypto – Foreign Currency, Money Orders (not Wire Transfer), and Travelers Cheques
Description: This code is used for merchants that provide foreign currency exchange, sell money orders (not via wire transfer), and issue travellers cheques. It also covers crypto and crypto exchanges.
Business Activities: Foreign currency exchange, money orders, travellers cheques, cryptocurrency exchanges.
MCC 5815 - Digital Goods – Books, Movies, Music
Description: This code is used for transactions involving the sale of digital goods, specifically books, movies, and music. It includes online platforms and merchants that distribute digital content.
Business Activities: Sales of digital books, movies, and music.
MCC 5818 - Digital Goods – Games
Description: This code is designated for the sale of digital games. It includes purchases made on gaming platforms or stores that sell downloadable or online games.
Business Activities: Sales of digital games and gaming platforms.
MCC 8918 - Tax Payments
Description: This code is used for payments related to taxes. It typically includes payments made to governmental tax authorities for various types of taxes, such as income tax, property tax, etc.
Business Activities: Tax payments to government authorities.
Common Reasons for Card Transaction Declines
Card transactions may be declined for various reasons. Here are some of the most common causes:
Insufficient Funds: The cardholder’s account does not have enough funds to complete the transaction.
Invalid Card Information: Incorrect card number, expiration date, or CVV.
Expired Card: The card has expired and is no longer valid.
Suspected Fraud: The transaction has been flagged as suspicious by the issuer.
Exceeds Limit: The transaction amount exceeds the cardholder’s set credit or transaction limit.
Technical Issues: Network or processing errors prevent the transaction from being completed.
Restricted Card: The card is restricted for use in certain types of transactions or geographic areas.
Error Codes and Messages
Code | Message |
1007 | An internal error occurred. Please retry the transaction. |
3006 | You submitted an expired credit card number with your request. Please verify this parameter and retry the request. |
3007 | Your request has failed the AVS check. Note that the amount may have been reserved on the customer’s card and will be released in 3-5 business days. Please ensure the billing address is accurate before retrying the transaction. |
3009 | Your request has been declined by the issuing bank. |
3013 | Your request has been declined by the issuing bank due to problems with the credit card account. |
3015 | The bank has requested that you process the transaction manually by calling the card holder's credit card company. |
3022 | The card has been declined due to insufficient funds. |
3023 | Your request has been declined by the issuing bank due to its proprietary card activity regulations. |
3024 | Your request has been declined because the issuing bank does not permit the transaction for this card. |
3037 | Your request has been declined because it is invalid. |
3040 | Your request has been declined because the request type is not permitted on the card. |
3054 | The transaction was declined due to suspected fraud. |
4001 | The card number or email address associated with this transaction is in our negative database. |
4002 | The transaction was declined by our Risk Management department. |
By understanding these MCC codes and common transaction decline reasons, you can more effectively troubleshoot and resolve card processing issues. For detailed error codes and messages, please refer to the table above.
This guide aims to provide clarity and support in managing your card transactions efficiently. If you have any questions or require further assistance, please contact our support team.