GLOSSARY
What is a soft decline?
A soft decline is a temporary card decline, for example because of insufficient funds or a temporary issuer problem, that may succeed if retried later.
How it works
A hard decline, such as a stolen or closed card, should never be retried. Card networks also limit how often a declined card can be retried, so retry logic has to be selective.
Why it matters for high-risk brands
Recovering soft declines with smart retries is one of the cheapest ways for a subscription brand to protect revenue.
FAQ
Soft decline: questions
What is the difference between a soft and a hard decline?
A soft decline is temporary and can be retried; a hard decline is final and should not be retried.
When should a soft decline be retried?
At a better moment, such as after payday, and within the card networks’ retry limits.