When Stripe returns decline code lost_card, it means: card reported lost. This is classified as a fraud in the Fraud subcategory. This type of decline usually requires direct customer action to resolve.
LostChurn does not auto-retry fraud-flagged transactions. Instead, we send a carefully worded email asking the customer to verify the charge with their bank, then provide a secure retry link. This protects both the merchant and customer.
Do not automatically retry fraud-flagged transactions. Wait for customer verification before attempting again. If the customer confirms the charge is legitimate, retry once after they've contacted their bank.
The code lost_card is also returned by 3 other payment processors:
LostChurn detects lost_card declines in real time and applies the optimal recovery strategy — no manual intervention needed.
