Authentication Required
What This Means
The bank requires the cardholder to complete 3D Secure (3DS) authentication before the transaction can be approved. This is increasingly common due to Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) regulations in Europe and other regions.
Smart retry logic can recover this payment. Use exponential backoff and retry after 24-72 hours.
Common Causes
- 1European bank enforcing SCA (Strong Customer Authentication) requirements
- 2Bank's risk assessment requires additional verification for this transaction
- 3Merchant is not set up to handle 3D Secure authentication flows
- 4Recurring charge on a card that now requires re-authentication
Recovery Tactics
- 1Implement Stripe's 3D Secure flow in your checkout process
- 2For recurring charges, use Stripe's off-session payment intent with 3DS support
- 3Send the customer a link to complete the authentication step
- 4Set up Stripe Billing to handle SCA requirements automatically
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FAQ
What is 3D Secure and SCA?
Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) is a European regulation requiring additional verification for electronic payments. 3D Secure (3DS) is the primary method for satisfying SCA, adding a step where the customer verifies their identity through their bank app, SMS code, or biometric.
Does this affect subscription renewals?
Yes. Some banks require re-authentication for recurring charges. Stripe handles this by setting up mandates and exemptions, but occasionally the bank insists on fresh authentication. Stripe Billing can trigger these automatically.
How do I implement 3D Secure?
Use Stripe Payment Intents or Checkout Sessions, which handle 3DS automatically when required. Stripe determines whether 3DS is needed and presents the authentication challenge to the customer.
How healthy is your Stripe account?
Get a free churn health report. Find pending cancellations, failed payments, and expiring cards putting your MRR at risk.
Run Free Audit