Error codes
Soft decline
Stripe
merchant_blacklist
The payment was declined because it matches a value on the Stripe user's block list.
What does merchant_blacklist mean?
The merchant_blacklist decline is returned when the payment matches a value on your Stripe block list. This is a merchant-configured block — not an issuer refusal. The customer, card, email, or other attribute matched something you or your team previously flagged.
Is it a soft or hard decline?
Soft decline. The card itself is fine; the merchant has blocked this specific customer, card, email, or IP.
Common root causes
Previous chargeback or fraud event from this customer
Manual block added by your team
Automated block from Stripe Radar rule
Overly aggressive blocklist rules catching legitimate recurring customers
Recommended recovery steps
Review your Stripe Radar block lists for false positives
Check if the customer is legitimate — especially for long-term subscribers
Remove the block if it was a false positive
Display a generic decline to the customer, not
merchant_blacklist
How FlyCode handles merchant_blacklist
FlyCode helps merchants audit Radar rules to reduce false positives on legitimate recurring customers. Blocks on long-term subscribers often indicate rules that are too aggressive for subscription billing contexts.
What does merchant_blacklist mean?
The merchant_blacklist decline is returned when the payment matches a value on your Stripe block list. This is a merchant-configured block — not an issuer refusal. The customer, card, email, or other attribute matched something you or your team previously flagged.
Is it a soft or hard decline?
Soft decline. The card itself is fine; the merchant has blocked this specific customer, card, email, or IP.
Common root causes
Previous chargeback or fraud event from this customer
Manual block added by your team
Automated block from Stripe Radar rule
Overly aggressive blocklist rules catching legitimate recurring customers
Recommended recovery steps
Review your Stripe Radar block lists for false positives
Check if the customer is legitimate — especially for long-term subscribers
Remove the block if it was a false positive
Display a generic decline to the customer, not
merchant_blacklist
How FlyCode handles merchant_blacklist
FlyCode helps merchants audit Radar rules to reduce false positives on legitimate recurring customers. Blocks on long-term subscribers often indicate rules that are too aggressive for subscription billing contexts.
What does merchant_blacklist mean?
The merchant_blacklist decline is returned when the payment matches a value on your Stripe block list. This is a merchant-configured block — not an issuer refusal. The customer, card, email, or other attribute matched something you or your team previously flagged.
Is it a soft or hard decline?
Soft decline. The card itself is fine; the merchant has blocked this specific customer, card, email, or IP.
Common root causes
Previous chargeback or fraud event from this customer
Manual block added by your team
Automated block from Stripe Radar rule
Overly aggressive blocklist rules catching legitimate recurring customers
Recommended recovery steps
Review your Stripe Radar block lists for false positives
Check if the customer is legitimate — especially for long-term subscribers
Remove the block if it was a false positive
Display a generic decline to the customer, not
merchant_blacklist
How FlyCode handles merchant_blacklist
FlyCode helps merchants audit Radar rules to reduce false positives on legitimate recurring customers. Blocks on long-term subscribers often indicate rules that are too aggressive for subscription billing contexts.
Understanding This Decline Code
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does merchant_blacklist mean?
Should I retry a merchant_blacklist decline?
FlyCode helps audit Radar block lists to identify false positives — especially on long-term subscribers whose charges may have been blocked by rules intended for fraud prevention on first-time buyers.
How can FlyCode help with block list declines?
FlyCode works with merchants to audit Radar block lists, helping distinguish genuinely risky charges from legitimate recurring customers who were incorrectly blocked.
