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Mastercard / ISO 8583 response code

Decline code 12: invalid transaction

Hard decline (do not retry)

What decline code 12 means

The transaction type is not valid for this card or this merchant, or a required data element is missing or malformed.

Should you retry?

Do not retry the same message. Fix the request format or transaction type with your processor first.

Retrying hard declines costs money. Visa limits reattempts on a card to 15 in 30 days, and Mastercard charges for attempts beyond its thresholds and for every retry after a Merchant Advice Code 03 or 21. Route this decline to account updater or customer outreach instead. See soft vs hard declines.

Equivalent codes

  • Stripe decline code: transaction_not_allowed

Frequently asked questions

Is decline code 12 a soft or hard decline?

Hard decline (do not retry). The transaction type is not valid for this card or this merchant, or a required data element is missing or malformed.

Should I retry a payment that failed with decline code 12?

Do not retry the same message. Fix the request format or transaction type with your processor first.

Other response codes

Reference information for merchants. Network rules and fee schedules change; confirm current figures with your acquirer. Mastercard is a registered trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated, which does not sponsor or endorse this service.