Stripe decline code
pickup_cardThe card issuer has instructed the merchant to retain the card. The card is blocked.
Type
Recoverable
Frequency
Rarepickup_card is a more severe variant of lost_card or stolen_card. It is rare online because the "pickup" instruction was designed for in-person transactions. When it appears online, treat it exactly like stolen_card.
Never retry. Detach the payment method.
Do not contact the customer about this specific card. If you have another way to re-engage (account login), do so without referencing the blocked card.
Card is compromised or flagged for fraud. Do not retry. Detach the payment method.
Some issuers return pickup_card as a generic "do not use this card" signal, even online. Functionally, it is a hard decline with no recovery path.
How Rebounce handles pickup_card
Rebounce classifies every failed payment by its Stripe decline code and applies the optimal recovery strategy automatically. For pickup_card, that means skipping retries and contacting the customer immediately. Multi-channel follow-up through email, SMS, WhatsApp, and in-app banners ensures the customer actually sees the message.
stolen_cardFraud or securityThe card has been reported stolen to the issuing bank. It cannot be charged.
lost_cardFraud or securityThe card was reported lost to the issuer and has been blocked.
fraudulentFraud or securityThe card issuer has flagged this specific card as fraudulent. The card is compromised and cannot be charged.