What Are Virtual POS Error Codes and Their Solutions?

In a period of rapidly increasing digital payments, virtual POS systems have become indispensable for e-commerce websites. However, encountering errors such as “payment declined error code,” “card authorization error,” or a general payment failure error code during the payment step can result in time and revenue losses for businesses. For this reason, it is important to understand what virtual POS error codes mean, which errors originate from the user and which originate from the bank, and how they can be resolved. In this Papel Blog article, we answer questions such as how virtual POS works, what a virtual POS error code is, and what the most common error explanations are.

What is a virtual POS, and how does it work?

A virtual POS, which is the online version of a physical POS, is a type of POS that allows payments to be received via credit/debit cards through e-commerce websites, mobile applications, and payment pages.

In its simplest form, a virtual POS system works as follows:

• The user enters card information into the payment form.

• This information is transmitted to the bank through secure protocols (SSL, 3D Secure, etc.).

• The bank checks the card limit, security rules, internet usage permission, and risk score.

• The transaction is approved or declined.

• In declined transactions, a POS error code is displayed.

In a smoothly operating virtual POS, this process is completed within seconds, directly increasing the efficiency of e-commerce sales. Especially for businesses with high transaction volumes, Papel’s strong virtual POS infrastructure provides uninterrupted transaction flow.

What are virtual POS error codes?

During virtual POS transactions, error codes returned by the bank are divided into two categories:

Bank-side errors

These errors indicate that the bank has declined the card or the transaction for various reasons:

• The bank did not provide authorization.

• The transaction failed security / suspicious transaction checks.

• Bank services are temporarily not responding.

• The transaction type is not supported by the bank.

In this case, the error is not caused by the payment service provider or the merchant; it is a rejection response directly returned by the bank.

User/card-side errors

These errors are caused by issues on the cardholder’s side:

• The card is closed to online shopping.

• Insufficient limit.

• Card details entered incorrectly.

• The card’s expiration date has passed.

• A security block has been applied to the card by the bank.

In this case, the user needs to contact their bank or review their card settings.

The most common POS error codes and their explanations

The most frequently searched and commonly encountered POS error code explanations in e-commerce are as follows:

057 error code: Card not enabled for transaction

The cardholder’s bank did not approve the transaction. The card may be closed to online transactions, the spending limit may be restricted, or a security block may have been applied.

005 error code: General decline (payment declined)

This is a general decline code where no specific reason is returned by the bank. The payment may have failed due to limits, security, or risk controls.

012 error code: Invalid transaction

The card or the bank does not support the transaction type. It is frequently seen in installment, foreign currency, or international transactions.

RED 58 error code: Transaction type not permitted

The card may only be enabled for physical POS usage. The card is closed to online shopping or the relevant transaction type.

RED Z3 error code: Security authentication failed

This error occurs if the 3D Secure authentication step cannot be completed. The user may have canceled the authentication, or the bank’s SMS verification may have failed.

Z3 error code: Cardholder could not be authenticated

Authentication could not be completed in the 3D Secure system. This may be caused by the bank or the user.

H54 error code: Card expired / invalid date

The card’s expiration date has passed, or the user may have entered the date incorrectly.

076 error code: Bank system error

The bank’s transaction services are temporarily not responding. It is typically seen during bank-side technical outages.

RED 62 error code: Card restricted

The bank may have restricted the card for security reasons. This may be due to high-risk transactions, suspicious activity, or fraud suspicion.

RED 14 error code: Invalid card number

This error occurs when the card number is entered incorrectly or when the card number is not recognized by the system.

RED 91 error code: Bank not responding

The transaction was transmitted to the bank, but the bank did not return a response in time. This may be caused by service congestion or system outages.

How are virtual POS error codes resolved?

When an error code is received, the issue can be resolved quickly by following the steps below:

• Ask the user to check their card details and settings

  • Is online shopping enabled?

  • Is the limit sufficient?

  • Are the card details correct?

  • Has the card’s expiration date passed?

• Check bank-related errors

  • Especially, your error codes such as RED 91, 076, and 005 indicate situations where the bank cannot provide service. These errors are usually temporary.

• Test 3D Secure authentication

  • If the SMS code does not arrive or the authentication screen cannot be opened, the transaction cannot be completed.

• Check whether the virtual POS integration is working correctly

  • API responses, parameters, return URLs, and security settings must be configured correctly.

• Provide clear guidance to the user

  • “Please make sure your card is enabled for online shopping.”

  • “Please contact your bank.”

  • “Please try the transaction again in a few minutes.”

Displaying the correct message to the user will increase conversion rates.

Points to consider in virtual POS integration

To create a successful and smoothly functioning virtual POS infrastructure, businesses should pay particular attention to certain technical and security-focused points. First of all, the payment page must be protected with SSL/HTTPS to ensure the secure transmission of card information. Ensuring that the API integration is implemented in accordance with the documentation of the bank or payment service provider, properly logging error codes, and analyzing recurring issues are critical for operational efficiency. Additionally, implementing security standards such as 3D Secure and PCI-DSS increases transaction security on the user side. While a simple, fast, and user-friendly payment page directly affects conversion rates, proper configuration of callback and notification URLs ensures that payment results are processed correctly in the system. In all these processes, keeping the test environment (sandbox) separate from the live environment (production) prevents technical errors and data confusion. All of these steps are important for creating a secure, stable, and sustainable payment experience for both businesses and users.

 

Sources: 1, 2.  

 

This blog post contains general information, not legal, financial, or investment advice. The content is prepared for informational purposes only, and you are advised to seek professional advice for your specific circumstances. The expressions in this article do not carry any binding nature or responsibility and reflect only the author’s evaluation. All your decisions are your responsibility, and Papel Electronic Money and Payment Services Inc. accepts no liability for any consequences arising from them.