Customer Resource Centre

News and insights

New Visa rules on authorisation decline reason codes

Effective from April 2021, Visa has updated new rules which when implemented will:

• Cluster existing decline response codes into four categories and require Issuers to use descriptive values when they are unable to approve a transaction
• Limit authorisation reattempts to a maximum of 15 over 30 days
• Data Quality – Category 3 declines exceed 25,000 attempts in a 30-day rolling period in Europe

In October 2021 Visa increases the rule to:

• Prohibit reattempts against certain response codes (Category 1)

In addition, on a date as yet to be agreed, but by way of advance notice:

• Require consistent use of key data elements in Merchant reattempts

What do these changes mean for me? 

You will find all changes in Elavon Connect, your online account portal, including new decline response reason codes, as advised by Visa.

Simply login or register to review the actions that you will need to implement to ensure compliance with the new Visa rules. 

Please also ensure that you amend your procedures and potentially systems to reflect the new Visa rules and to prevent reattempting declines that may break the rules. 
 

Here to help

As always, if we can be of any assistance, please contact your Relationship Manager or Customer Account Manager.