When processing credit card transactions, some transactions will come back with an error message. Below are some common error messages you'll see and what they mean. The first group of decline codes is universal. It does not matter which credit card processor you use, these codes are the same for all processors.

Decline code 00 or 000005: Do Not Honor

The issuing bank is declining to authorize the card. The cause can sometimes be insufficient funds, although that is usually a decline 000051. Please have your customer contact their bank for a more detailed explanation of the decline. We recommend not attempting this transaction again for 24 hours after the initial decline.

Decline codes 000001, 000004, 000007, 000041, or 000043: Hold Call or Hold Card

These decline codes indicate that the card has been lost, stolen, or otherwise flagged for pickup by the issuing bank. If you have the physical card in your possession, you should not return the card to the customer. You should retain the card and call the phone number on the back of the card to report the decline.
If you do not have the card, it is possible to look up the issuing bank's phone number by using a BIN search engine online and entering the first six digits of the card number. These digits comprise the BIN and are used to identify the bank that issued a particular card. You can find a number of commonly used BIN search engines by performing a Google search for 'bin lookup.'

Decline code 000014: Invalid Card Number

If the card number was manually key entered incorrectly, re-enter the card number and try the transaction again.
If you are swiping a transaction, the credit card magnetic strip may be damaged, the card reader may need to be cleaned or simply replaced.

Decline code 000015: No Such Issuer

The card number entered is invalid.

Decline code 000051: Insufficient Funds

Not enough money on the card to authorize the transaction.

Decline code 000054: Expired Card

Card expired or canceled by issuing bank.

Decline code 000057: Service Not Allowed - Transaction Not Permitted

The cardholder's issuing bank has declined the authorization due to a restriction on the credit card or account. This restriction may involve the type of businesses where the card can be used, or the type of transaction itself (in-store, online, etc.); however, for a definite and precise explanation of the decline, the cardholder will need to contact their bank directly.

Decline code 000061: Exceeds Withdrawal Limit

Not enough money on the card to authorize the transaction.

Decline code 00062: Invalid Service Code, Restricted

Every business has a Service Industry Code, or SIC. This is a four-digit number that denotes the merchant's industry type. For example, 5812 designates "Eating Places"; 8111 designates "Legal Services".

Some cards may have restrictions in place that limit the types of business at which they can be used -- for instance, an FSA card may only function at a pharmacy, or an EBT card might only be authorized at a grocery store. A decline 000062 indicates that the customer's card has a restriction of this type in place, which is preventing them from using that card at your type of business. Your customer will need to contact their bank for a further explanation and/or provide you with an alternate form of payment.

Decline code 000065: Activity Limit Exceeded

Issuing bank has restricted the activity limit on the credit card.

Decline code 000091: No Reply

Unable to reach card holder's issuing bank for authorization. 

Decline code 0000R1: Stop Recurring

The cardholder’s issuing bank has declined the authorization because the customer has requested a stop of all recurring payments from a specific merchant. 

For a list of all decline codes, please visit the Paya support website.

Below are some known error messages specific to Authorize.net and Transfirst.

Authorize.net

Error: E00003: An error occurred while parsing the XML request

This error typically appears when you are trying to update an expiration date or billing address within an existing saved payment method. To resolve this error, enter the entire credit card number in card number field and then make your changes to the other fields in the form.

Error: E00039 A duplicate customer payment profile already exists error

To resolve this error, login to Authorize.net, select Tools and Customer Information Manager. Look up tenant name (select Description from dropdown), click on Profile ID and click Delete button.

Transfirst

Error 10000 "Undefined error. Contact the vendor." Transfirst processing system is temporarily down.

Error 50011 Validation Failure error is due to an incorrect character in one of the fields. If it looks like the information is being entered correctly, make sure that there is no space at end of the account number as that could potentially be triggering this message.

Error 51308 Track data or Primary Account Number (PAN) failed format validation.

Error 51421 Invalid card number. Primary Account Number (PAN) entered is incorrect. Re-enter the credit card number.