--- title: "Charge errors: Subscriptions docs | Chargezen" description: "Every reason a subscription charge can fail in Chargezen, whether it is retried, where you see it and what to do to get the renewal paid." url: "https://chargezen.com/docs/subscriptions/charge-errors" lang: "en" updated: "2026-10-18" --- Canonical URL: https://chargezen.com/docs/subscriptions/charge-errors # Charge errors Every reason a subscription charge can fail in Chargezen, whether it is retried, where you see it and what to do to get the renewal paid. Last updated: 2026-10-18 When a renewal charge fails, Shopify returns an error code. Chargezen sorts each code into a group that decides whether it retries, whether the customer is told, and whether you need to step in. Use this page to look up a code and its fix. ## Where you see the reason * **Subscriptions → Manage → Orders**, in the **In dunning** and **Failed** views, under **Last failure**. This shows Shopify's own message, or the code. * The charge page, which shows **Last failure** and a notice such as "This charge failed. Chargezen retries it automatically on" a date, or "Needs your action" with what to fix. * The subscription's **Logs**, in plain words, for example "Payment failed: Insufficient funds". * **Analytics → Dashboards → Order Errors**, grouped under **Errors by type**. ## Reasons and fixes ### Customer payment problem * **Codes:** `card_declined, declined, expired_card, expired_payment_method, insufficient_funds, invalid_card, invalid_payment_method, payment_method_declined, payment_method_not_found, authentication_error, buyer_canceled_payment_method, fraud_suspected, invalid_customer_billing_agreement, paypal_error_general` * **What it means:** The bank or wallet refused the payment, or the saved method no longer works. * **Retried:** Yes, on your Dunning schedule, with customer messages. Your final action runs if every retry fails. * **What to do:** Send the customer a payment update link so they can add a working card. For insufficient funds, a later retry often succeeds on its own. ### Store setup problem * **Codes:** `payment_provider_is_not_enabled, payment_provider_not_enabled, payment_provider_disabled` * **What it means:** The Shopify payment provider for your store is turned off. * **Retried:** No. The charge shows Needs your action and waits for you. * **What to do:** Turn the payment provider back on in Shopify. Retries resume once it's fixed. ### Shopify rejected the request * **Codes:** `initiation_failed, invalid, contract_not_found, contract_paused, contract_terminated, contract_under_review, cycle_index_out_of_range, cycle_start_date_out_of_range, origin_time_before_contract_creation, origin_time_out_of_range, upcoming_cycle_limit_exceeded, billing_cycle_charge_before_expected_date` * **What it means:** Shopify refused the charge request, so no payment was attempted. * **Retried:** No. The charge shows Needs your action. * **What to do:** Check the subscription in Shopify (for example, whether it was paused or ended there), then charge it from Chargezen with Process order now. ### Out of stock * **Codes:** `insufficient_inventory, inventory_allocations_not_found` * **What it means:** A product on the order isn't available. * **Retried:** Yes, on your Dunning schedule. The customer isn't told their payment failed and it doesn't use up their retries. * **What to do:** Restock or swap the product. Turn on Inventory guard to hold charges until stock is back. ### Temporary Shopify error * **Codes:** `rate_limit, throttled, timeout, network_error, service_unavailable, transient_error, unexpected_error` * **What it means:** Shopify was busy or briefly unavailable. * **Retried:** Yes, quietly. It doesn't use the customer's retries. If it keeps happening, the charge shows System error. * **What to do:** Usually nothing. If a charge ends as System error, retry it with Retry charge now. ### Anything else * **Codes:** `Any other code Shopify sends` * **What it means:** Treated as a customer payment problem. * **Retried:** Yes, as a customer payment problem. * **What to do:** Read the Last failure message on the charge, then follow the matching fix above. Bank confirmation Sometimes the bank asks the customer to confirm a payment. Chargezen sends the Bank confirmation email and text, and you can copy the confirmation link from the subscription's **Payments** section. ## Troubleshooting ### A charge shows System error Chargezen couldn't complete the charge because of a temporary error, and no order was created. Open the charge and choose **Retry charge now**. ### Lots of charges failed on the same day with the same code That points to your store or Shopify rather than your customers. Check your payment provider in Shopify, then retry the charges. ### The charge says Retries ran out Every retry failed and your final action ran. You can still send a payment update link and charge the order once the customer updates their card. ## Related * [Failed payment recovery](https://chargezen.com/subscriptions/failed-payment-recovery): how Chargezen gets renewals paid. * Glossary: [decline code](https://chargezen.com/glossary/decline-code), [involuntary churn](https://chargezen.com/glossary/involuntary-churn), [dunning management](https://chargezen.com/glossary/dunning-management). ### Related Articles [ #### Failed payments Retry schedule and final actions ](https://chargezen.com/docs/subscriptions/dunning)[ #### Subscription orders and charges In dunning and Failed views ](https://chargezen.com/docs/subscriptions/orders)[ #### Payment methods and currency Send a payment update link ](https://chargezen.com/docs/subscriptions/payment-methods) Was this page helpful? Need more help? [Contact support](https://chargezen.com/docs/checkoutos/troubleshooting/support)