Is do_not_honor a hard or soft decline?

Neither, exactly: a retry alone won’t work, but the customer can fix it (reply or call bank).

How many retries are too many?

Stripe’s recommended default is 8 tries within 2 weeks, and it doesn’t retry hard declines such as lost_card or stolen_card until a new card is added (Stripe docs, Oct 2026). Card networks can penalize merchants for repeated retries.

Does Stripe Smart Retries handle this?

Smart Retries pick when to retry, and North Metric doesn’t retry at all. When Stripe’s retries end unpaid, or Stripe can’t retry the code, North Metric drafts a personal note with a card-update link for you to approve.

do_not_honor in Stripe: meaning and fix

Q: Should I retry do_not_honor?

Not on your own. Active account? Ask them to call their bank. Falling usage? Treat it as a cancellation risk.

What does do_not_honor mean in Stripe?

It means the customer’s bank declined the payment without giving Stripe a reason. The card may be fine; the bank simply said no.

What happens next

The same decline, handled two ways: a fixed retry ladder, and Stripe Smart Retries with North Metric following up once they end. North Metric never retries a card; its part in failed payment recovery starts when Stripe stops.

THE NEXT 14 DAYS · EXAMPLE✕FAILED RETRYACTIONPAID

Fixed retry ladder · day 1, 3, 5, 7Fails ×4

M✕

W✕

F✕

S✕

Four blind attempts, and the bank still hasn’t said why. A call from the customer clears it, not the calendar.

Stripe + North MetricNote · day 14

North Metric drafts one plain note asking them to call their bank or switch cards, at once if Stripe can’t retry it, or when its retries end. You approve it first.

What it means

It is one of the most common Stripe declines and the hardest to read, because it covers fraud checks, account holds and limits alike. Stripe returns it as a decline_code inside a card_error, so your integration sees the charge fail and the reason sits in this field.

{
  "error": {
    "type": "card_error",
    "code": "card_declined",
    "decline_code": "do_not_honor",
    "message": "Your card was declined."
  }
}

Why it happens

•The issuer declined the charge and didn’t share a reason.•The bank’s fraud or risk checks stopped a payment it didn’t expect.•The customer’s account has a hold, limit or restriction the bank won’t disclose.

What to do

01Read usage firstActive account? Ask them to call their bank. Falling usage? Treat it as a cancellation risk.

02Send one plain emailAsk them to approve the charge with their bank, or switch cards.

03Collect once it’s fixedWhen the bank clears it or a new card is saved, the open invoice can be paid.

See which customers with a failed payment are at risk, in your own Stripe.Actions off until you turn them onGet your free churn report →

What to tell the customer

Ask plainly. Their bank declined it without a reason; a quick call or a different card fixes it.

From: Maya at AcmeSubject: Your bank declined this month’s payment

Hi Sam, Your bank declined this month’s Acme payment without giving us a reason. A quick call to them usually clears it, or you can switch cards here. Reply if you’d like us to try again. Maya

SEND AT ONCE IF STRIPE CAN’T RETRY, OR WHEN ITS RETRIES END

What not to do

✕Retry four times in a week.✕Assume fraud and lock the account.✕Offer a discount; this isn’t about price.

do_not_honor: talk to the customer.