Please Note: The Sage Virtual Terminal has been updated to a newer version that offers new features and functionality of the program. This article refers to the previous version. For instructions on using the new Sage Exchange Virtual Terminal, please visit New Sage Exchange: Frequently Asked Questions.

How to determine why a transaction declined

Description

How do I figure out why a transaction declined?

Resolution

All transactions processed in the Virtual Terminal return either an approval/authorization code or a decline code. To find a decline code, please follow the steps below. In most cases, you can reference the code against the decline code list found in this knowledgebase to determine a cause of the decline; however, some decline codes are intrinsically and/or intentionally vague.

Locate the declined transaction using the search options in the Reporting menu. Upon finding it, press the View option:

Scroll down to find the Transaction Code and Transaction Message:

This code can be referenced against the codes in this article Decline/Error Codes for all POS systems and applications  for more information on the decline:

If you have questions or require additional information, please submit a ticket and we will be in touch with you shortly.