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All Decline Codes
01

Refer to Issuer

soft decline Do not retry

The issuing bank has flagged the transaction for review. The cardholder should contact their bank to authorize or clarify the transaction.

Why does code 01 occur?

  • Unusual spending pattern detected by fraud monitoring
  • Transaction flagged for manual review
  • Bank requires verbal confirmation for high-value purchase
  • First-time transaction at an unfamiliar merchant category

Can this transaction be retried?

Code 01 is a soft decline, but it is not automatically retryable. The cardholder typically needs to take action (such as contacting their bank) before the transaction can succeed. Do not retry automatically — wait for the cardholder to resolve the underlying issue.

What merchants should do

Ask the customer to contact their bank and retry the transaction. Do not retry automatically — the issuer wants to speak to the cardholder directly.

What cardholders should do

Call the number on the back of your card and ask your bank to approve the transaction. Once resolved, retry the purchase.

Code 01 at a glance

Response Code

01

Name

Refer to Issuer

Category

soft decline

Retryable

No

FAQ

Decline Code 01 FAQ

Frequently asked questions about decline code 01: Refer to Issuer.

Skip the 18-Month Bank Negotiation.