revocation_of_authorizationAuthenticationrare

Revocation of Authorization

What This Means

The cardholder has specifically revoked authorization for this charge or merchant. Unlike the blanket revocation_of_all_authorizations, this targets a specific transaction or recurring agreement. SaaS businesses should stop charging and reach out to the customer.

This decline is not retryable.

Retrying will likely fail again. The customer needs to update their payment method or contact their bank.

Common Causes

  • 1Customer contacted their bank to stop a specific recurring charge
  • 2Customer disputes the subscription and asked the bank to block it
  • 3Bank revoked authorization based on a customer complaint

Recovery Tactics

  1. 1Stop retrying this charge immediately
  2. 2Reach out to the customer to understand why they revoked authorization
  3. 3Offer to resolve any billing concerns before they cancel
  4. 4If the customer wants to continue, ask them to provide a new authorization
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FAQ

Is this the same as a chargeback?

No, but it is related. Revoking authorization prevents future charges, while a chargeback disputes a past charge. However, a revocation often comes alongside or before a chargeback, so review recent charges for potential disputes.

Should I cancel the subscription?

Not immediately. Reach out to the customer first. They may have wanted to switch payment methods, had a billing concern, or made the revocation in frustration. Resolving the underlying issue can save the customer.

Free Tool

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