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Visa

Visa Issuer Response Codes 55: 55

soft decline

Last updated: October 22, 2026

Key details

Brand
Visa
Code
55
Response
55
Detailed Response
Incorrect personal identification number
soft decline
This transaction is retriable

Payments failing with code 55 are often recoverable with the right retry timing and routing. SmartRetry recovers up to 70% of soft declines with smart retries!

Actually, a big part of your declined transactions can be recovered

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What it means

Visa Issuer Response Code 55 indicates an "Incorrect personal identification number" (Incorrect PIN). The issuing bank declined the transaction because the PIN submitted with the payment request did not match the PIN on file for the cardholder's account. Under Visa's declined transaction resubmission rules, Code 55 is classified as a Category 3 decline, meaning reattempts are permitted within network limits once the underlying condition is addressed.

Why does code 55 occur?

  • The cardholder entered the wrong personal identification number (PIN) during checkout or at the point-of-sale terminal.
  • The customer confused the PIN for the presented card with the PIN of another card in their wallet.

How to solve 55?

To resolve a Visa Code 55 decline, prompt the customer to re-enter their personal identification number carefully and submit a new authorization request with the updated PIN data. Do not automatically resubmit the transaction without interactive customer input, as the previously submitted PIN is invalid. If the cardholder cannot recall their PIN, ask them to provide an alternative payment method.

Solving as a merchant

Configure your payment logic to block automated background retries on Code 55, since repeating a transaction without new customer input will fail and count toward Visa Category 3 retry limits. Instead, surface a clear prompt at checkout instructing the buyer to verify and re-enter their PIN or choose another payment method.

Solving as a client

Carefully re-enter the correct personal identification number (PIN) for the card being used. If you have forgotten your PIN, contact your card issuer to reset it or use a different payment method to complete the purchase.

See the full list of Visa's decline codes >Find code on Visa's website >

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Kyle Regacho

Author

Kyle Regacho
LinkedInFind me on Linkedin

Focused on payment recovery, decline codes, and authorization optimization at SmartRetry. Helps payment teams turn failed transactions into recovered revenue

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Decline codes tell you why. We fix it.

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