Soft decline · recoverable

processing_error

Processor (Stripe or network) had an internal error.

What just happened

Transient infrastructure issue, not the customer's fault.

Retry strategy

Retry within an hour. Auto-retry up to 3x in 24h.

What to tell the customer

We hit a temporary processing issue. We'll retry shortly.

Recommended action

Auto-retry. If pattern persists, alert ops.

Want to see what this looks like on your Stripe?

See how often "processing_error" hits your Stripe account in the last 30 days — and how much MRR is at risk because of it.

Run free audit

Related codes

card_declined

Generic decline — the issuer didn't give a specific reason.

duplicate_transaction

Network thinks this is a duplicate of a recent charge.

generic_decline

Catch-all decline with no specific reason from the issuer.

insufficient_funds

Card account doesn't have enough money for the charge.

Frequently asked questions

Is "processing_error" a soft or hard decline?+
It's classified as a soft decline: Temporary issue. Retry later — most resolve within 7 days with the right cadence.
Should I retry a "processing_error" decline?+
Retry within an hour. Auto-retry up to 3x in 24h.
What should I tell my customer when this happens?+
We hit a temporary processing issue. We'll retry shortly.
How do I prevent this decline going forward?+
Auto-retry. If pattern persists, alert ops.
Does Rechurn handle this decline code automatically?+
Yes. Rechurn classifies "processing_error" and runs the optimal retry cadence with a personalized email sequence. Run a free audit to see how many of your failed charges are this code.
All decline codes