A "Generic Decline" indicates that the payment was declined by the card-issuing bank for an unspecified reason. The payment processor receives a decline message but no specific details about the cause.
The reason for the decline is not communicated the merchant, but the most common causes are:
Bank's Fraud Rules: The bank's automated fraud detection system flagged the transaction as suspicious, possibly due to a large purchase, an unusual location, or other security concerns.
Insufficient Funds: There may not be enough funds or credit available in the customer's account to cover the transaction.
Card Issues: The card may be expired, not activated, or a temporary hold has been placed on the account by the bank.
Since the specific reason for the decline is unknown, the best course of action is to have the cardholder contact their bank directly.
Advise the cardholder to contact their bank: Ask the customer to call the number on the back of their credit or debit card.
Explain the situation: The customer should tell their bank that a recent transaction was declined and they received a "Generic Decline" error code from the merchant.
Request a solution: The bank can provide the exact reason for the decline and, if possible, lift any holds or correct the issue so the transaction can be processed.
In some cases, the customer may be able to simply retry the transaction, as a temporary network issue or a momentary lack of funds could be the cause. However, if the issue persists, contacting the bank is the most reliable solution.