Improve the approval process

Why is a payment order rejected?

A payment can be rejected due to an error with a payment method or non-compliance with security requirements. I.e, if a card lacks enough funds, a data fails to upload properly or unusual account movements are detected.

Note

For more information, check current rejection status and reasons.

In order to avoid any revenue loss with your business and to enhance your customers experience, we work with agents from each payment method and operate with the latest tools for fraud prevention and payment growth.

Bank rejected payments

When offering debit and credit card, the issuer can reject the charge due to several reasons. For instance, card may be expired, lack enough funds or have incorrect data.

You can see the payment status in the API response as rejected and the reason for rejection in status_detail.

{
    "status": "rejected",
    "status_detail": "cc_rejected_insufficient_amount",
    "id": 47198050,
    "payment_method_id": "master",
    "payment_type_id": "credit_card",
    ...
}

Also, you can find more information about payment details on Mercado Pago activity section, where payments are being receive.

Rejection without reason

Keep in mind that if the card issuer fails to inform the rejection reason, you’ll see the payment details as cc_rejected_other_reason. In this scenario, we recommend changing the payment method or reaching out to the bank to solve the issue.

Payments rejected due to fraud prevention

We track transactions in real time and perform security validations, to recognize payments that weren’t authorize by the card owner and also to avoid chargebacks.

When our fraud prevention system detects a suspicious payout, you'll be able to see the payment status in the API response as rejected and the rejection reason as cc_rejected_high_risk.

{
    "status": "rejected",
    "status_detail": "cc_rejected_high_risk",
    "id": 47198050,
    "payment_method_id": "master",
    "payment_type_id": "credit_card",
    ...
}

Note

For more information, check the current rejection status and reasons.

Tips to improve the approval process

To prevent real payments being rejected by security non-compliance, you must add as much information as you can while performing an operation.

Add our security code into your website

We can help you detect unusual client behaviour with our security code, created to prevent fraud. And don’t worry, we take care of your customers data and we won't share it with anyone.

It’s simple. Add the script, adjust the section of your website where you inserted it and that’s it! You’re all set and done. You just need to replace the view value for the page name you want.

<script src="https://www.mercadopago.com/v2/security.js" view="home"></script>

VIEW Values

Value	Section
home	Your website main page.
search	Search page or product list page.
item	Single product page with details for one product.

Note

In case of unavailable value for a section, left empty.

Include all payment information

In order to optimize payment security validation and avoid rejected payments, you can send us the customer and item data so we can analyze it. I.e., if you send us this information, we can detect if the buyer have done suspicious payments in the past.

Buyer Data

          
<?php
  // ...
  $payer = new MercadoPago\Payer();
  $payer->name = "Charles";
  $payer->surname = "Luevano";
  $payer->email = "charles@hotmail.com";
  $payer->date_created = "2018-06-02T12:58:41.425-04:00";
  $payer->phone = array(
    "area_code" => "",
    "number" => "949 128 866"
  );
  
  $payer->identification = array(
    "type" => "DNI",
    "number" => "12345678"
  );
  
  $payer->address = array(
    "street_name" => "Cuesta Miguel Armendáriz",
    "street_number" => 1004,
    "zip_code" => "11020"
  );
  // ...
?>

          
// ...
var payer = {
  name: "Charles",
  surname: "Luevano",
  email: "charles@hotmail.com",
  date_created: "2015-06-02T12:58:41.425-04:00",
  phone: {
    area_code: "",
    number: "949 128 866"
  },
  
  identification: {
    type: "DNI",
    number: "12345678"
  },
  
  address: {
    street_name: "Cuesta Miguel Armendáriz",
    street_number: "1004",
    zip_code: "11020"
  }
}
// ...

          
// ...
Payer payer = new Payer();
payer.setName("Charles")
     .setSurname("Luevano")
     .setEmail("charles@hotmail.com")
     .setDateCreated("2018-06-02T12:58:41.425-04:00")
     .setPhone(new Phone()
        .setAreaCode("")
        .setPhoneNumber("949 128 866"))
     
     .setIdentification(new Identification()
        .setType("DNI")
        .setNumber("12345678"))
     
     .setAddress(new Address()
        .setStreetName("Cuesta Miguel Armendáriz")
        .setBuildingNumber("1004")
        .setZipCode("11020"));
// ...

          
# ...
payer = MercadoPago::Payer.new({
  name: "Charles"
  surname: "Luevano"
  email: "charles@hotmail.com"
  date_created: Time.now
  phone: MercadoPago::Phone.new({
    area_code: "",
    number: "949 128 866"
  })
  
  identification: MercadoPago::Identification.new({
    type: "DNI",
    number: "12345678"
  })
  
  address: MercadoPago::Address.new ({
    street_name: "Cuesta Miguel Armendáriz",
    street_number: "1004",
    zip_code: "11020"
  })
})
# ...

          
using MercadoPago;
using MercadoPago.Resources;
using MercadoPago.DataStructures.Preference;
// ...
Payer payer = new Payer()
{
    Name = "Charles",
    Surname = "Luevano",
    Email = "charles@hotmail.com",
    Phone = new Phone()
    {
        AreaCode = "",
        Number = "949 128 866"
    },
    
    Identification = new Identification()
    {
        Type = "DNI",
        Number = "12345678"
    },
    
    Address = new Address()
    {
        StreetName = "Cuesta Miguel Armendáriz",
        StreetNumber = int.Parse("1004"),
        ZipCode = "11020"
    }
};
// ...

Item details

          
<?php
  $item = new MercadoPago\Item();
  $item->id = "1234";
  $item->title = "Heavy Duty Plastic Table";
  $item->quantity = 7;
  $item->currency_id = "ARS";
  $item->unit_price = 75.56;
  // ...
?>

          
// ...
items: [
    {
      id: '1234',
      title: 'Lightweight Paper Table',
      quantity: 3,
      currency_id: 'ARS',
      unit_price: 55.41
    }
  ]// ...

          
// ...
Item item = new Item();
item.setId("1234")
    .setTitle("Lightweight Paper Table")
    .setQuantity(3)
    .setCurrencyId("ARS")
    .setUnitPrice((float) 55.41);
// ...

          
# ...
item = MercadoPago::Item.new({
  id: "1234",
  title: "Lightweight Paper Table",
  quantity: 3,
  currency_id: "ARS",
  unit_price: 55.41
})# ...

          
// ...
preference.Items.Add(
  new Item()
  {
    Id = "1234",
    Title = "Lightweight Paper Table",
    Quantity = 3,
    CurrencyId = "ARS",
    UnitPrice = (float)55.41
  }
);
// ...

Learn all about these attributes in our API Reference.

Industry Data

Send data about your industry to improve your approval.

Go to industry data

Help your clients with their rejected payments

It’s important to explain to your clients the reason for a payment rejection and how to fix it. Your customers will have all the information they need to be able to pay you without problems.

For instance, if a payment is rejected due to lack of funds, you can recommend trying again with a different payment method.

Note

If you’re using Checkout Pro, don’t worry! All your messages are already set up. If you’re using another product, we recommend showing a specific message for each rejection reason.

Help us improve the documentation

Improve the approval process

Why is a payment order rejected?

Bank rejected payments

Payments rejected due to fraud prevention

Tips to improve the approval process

Add our security code into your website

VIEW Values

Include all payment information

Buyer Data

Item details

Industry Data

Help your clients with their rejected payments