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What is a soft decline?

soft de - cline
noun

Soft declines are momentary interruptions in the payment process, wherein the initial authorization encounters a temporary failure. However, these issues can often be rectified through subsequent attempts. Consequently, while the first endeavor may not proceed seamlessly, a second or third try could potentially lead to a successful transaction, enabling customers to finalize their purchase with minimal inconvenience.

How does a soft decline work?

Soft declines occur for various reasons, such as insufficient funds, surpassing card activity limits, technical glitches and expired cards. It's worth noting that among all declined transactions, a significant majority, ranging from 80% to 90%, fall under the category of soft declines. These instances can often be resolved through proper customer communication and addressing the underlying issues.