# Authorization error: 'GENERIC\_DECLINE'

**URL:** <https://developer.squareup.com/forums/t/authorization-error-generic-decline/19912>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Tags:** web-payments-sdk\
**Created:** [December 3, 2024, 11:40am UTC](https://developer.squareup.com/forums/t/authorization-error-generic-decline/19912 "2024-12-03T11:40:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![vicnentchen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bb73d2/32.png) [@vicnentchen](https://developer.squareup.com/forums/u/vicnentchen)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 11:40am UTC](https://developer.squareup.com/forums/t/authorization-error-generic-decline/19912/1 "2024-12-03T11:40:51Z")

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LocationId L03MVX4Z73PSZ

idempotencyKey 20241203192946173322538644879

response {“errors”:[{“category”:“PAYMENT\_METHOD\_ERROR”,“code”:“GENERIC\_DECLINE”,“detail”:“Authorization error: ‘GENERIC\_DECLINE’”}]}

There are no issues with the testing environment  
Report this error in the production environment

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Square-Dev-AI](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/square/forums/user_avatar/developer.squareup.com/square-dev-ai/32/2513_2.png) [@Square-Dev-AI](https://developer.squareup.com/forums/u/Square-Dev-AI)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 11:41am UTC](https://developer.squareup.com/forums/t/authorization-error-generic-decline/19912/2 "2024-12-03T11:41:12Z")

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👋 I’m Square Dev AI, here to help answer your question!  
Based on the information you’ve provided, the following documentation will help answer your question:

> **[Troubleshoot the Payments API](https://developer.squareup.com/docs/payments-api/error-codes)**
>
> Learn about the error codes returned by the Payments API.

> **[Refund Payments](https://developer.squareup.com/docs/payments-api/refund-payments)**
>
> Learn how to process refunds with the Square Refunds API.

> **Additional Documentation**
>
> [Payments API Integration](https://developer.squareup.com/docs/pos-api/payments-integration)  
> [Locations API](https://developer.squareup.com/docs/locations-api)  
> [Troubleshoot In-App Payments SDK Problems](https://developer.squareup.com/docs/in-app-payments-sdk/troubleshooting)

If this documentation helped you find a solution, please check the box indicating that this reply solves the problem.  
Otherwise one of our Developer Advocates will provide additional assistance shortly.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![vicnentchen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bb73d2/32.png) [@vicnentchen](https://developer.squareup.com/forums/u/vicnentchen)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 11:47am UTC](https://developer.squareup.com/forums/t/authorization-error-generic-decline/19912/3 "2024-12-03T11:47:35Z")

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I used my own card for testing

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Square-Dev-AI](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/square/forums/user_avatar/developer.squareup.com/square-dev-ai/32/2513_2.png) [@Square-Dev-AI](https://developer.squareup.com/forums/u/Square-Dev-AI)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://developer.squareup.com/forums/t/authorization-error-generic-decline/19912/4 "2024-12-03T17:14:24Z")

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The error you’re encountering, “GENERIC\_DECLINE”, indicates that the payment method used was declined by the card issuer. This could be due to a variety of reasons such as insufficient funds, the card being reported as lost or stolen, or the card issuer not recognizing the payment source. It’s recommended to ask the cardholder to contact their card issuer for more information.

_This answer was reviewed by @Bryan-Square._

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fproa18](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9a140/32.png) [@fproa18](https://developer.squareup.com/forums/u/fproa18)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 12:58am UTC](https://developer.squareup.com/forums/t/authorization-error-generic-decline/19912/5 "2025-01-15T00:58:21Z")

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Hello! Hope you’re doing well. We’re currently experiencing the same issue with Square  
Have you managed to resolve it or found a workaround? We’d greatly appreciate any insights you can share!