Each chargeback received a numeric code which is known as the “reason code”. Reason codes are just what they sound like, an identification code used to categorize why a transaction is being refuted by the card holder. These codes are given by the card issuer at the point of time that the customer disputes a given transaction. This system of codes helps both merchants and the payment acquirer to diagnose errors and improve overall customer satisfaction. Below is a generalized list of Visa and MasterCard reason codes.
- Technical - Expired authorization, non-sufficient funds, or bank processing error.
- Clerical - Duplicate billing, incorrect amount billed, or refund never issued.
- Quality - Consumer claims to have never received the goods as promised at the time of purchase.
- Fraud - Consumer claims they did not authorize the purchase, or identity theft.
- 30 Services not provided or Merchandise not received
- 41 Cancelled recurring transaction
- 53 Not as Described or Defective merchandise
- 57 Fraudulent multiple transactions
- 60 Requested copy illegible or Invalid
- 62 Counterfeit transaction
- 70 Account number on exception file
- 71 Declined authorization
- 72 No authorization obtained
- 73 Expired card
- 74 Late presentment
- 75 Cardholder does not recognize transaction
- 76 Incorrect transaction code
- 77 Non-matching account number
- 79 Requested transaction information not received
- 80 Incorrect transaction amount or account number
- 81 Fraudulent transaction (Card present)
- 82 Duplicate
- 83 Fraudulent transaction (Card not present)
- 85 Credit not processed
- 86 Paid by other means
- 90 Services not rendered (ATM or Visa travel/money)
- 93 Risk identification service (RIS)
- 96 Transaction exceeds limited amount
- 4801 Requested transaction information not received
- 4802 Requested / Required information illegible or missing
- 4807 Warning bulletin file
- 4808 Requested / Required authorization not obtained
- 4812 Account number not on file
- 4831 Transaction amount differs
- 4834 Duplicate processing
- 4835 Card not valid or expired
- 4837 No cardholder authorization
- 4840 Fraudulent processing of transaction
- 4841 Canceled recurring transaction
- 4842 Late presentation
- 4846 Correct transaction currency code not provided
- 4847 Requested/Required Authorization Not Obtained and Fraudulent Transaction
- 4849 Questionable merchant activity
- 4850 Credit posted as a purchase
- 4853 Cardholder disputes - Services / merchandise defective or not as described
- 4854 Cardholder disputes - Not classified in other category (US cardholders only)
- 4855 Non receipt of merchandise
- 4857 Card activated telephone transaction
- 4859 Services not rendered
- 4860 Credit not processed
- 4862 Counterfeit Transaction - Magnetic stripe POS fraud
- 4863 Cardholder does not recognize - potential fraud (US Only)
- 4870 Chip Liability Shift
- 4871 Chip/PIN Liability Shift
- 4999 Domestic Chargeback Dispute (Europe Region Only)