Moderate FrequencyStripe Decline Code

Stripe Error: try_again_later

The bank is temporarily unable to process the charge. Retry after a short wait.

What This Means

Try_again_later is the bank's way of saying 'we can't process this right now, but we might be able to soon.' This is a pure soft decline — the bank isn't rejecting the charge for any reason related to the card or account. Their systems are temporarily overloaded, undergoing maintenance, or experiencing a technical issue. This is the most recoverable of all decline codes because the bank is explicitly telling you to come back later.

Why This Happens

  • The bank's payment processing systems are temporarily overloaded
  • Scheduled maintenance or system upgrades at the issuing bank
  • Network congestion between the card network and the bank
  • Peak transaction volume causing temporary processing delays

How To Fix It

  1. 1Wait 1-2 hours and retry — this is almost always a temporary issue
  2. 2If the first retry fails, wait 12-24 hours and try again
  3. 3This code rarely requires customer involvement — it's a bank infrastructure problem
  4. 4If you see this across multiple customers at the same time, it's likely a bank-wide outage

The Automated Solution

Revive excels at recovering try_again_later declines. Its retry engine is purpose-built for transient failures like this, timing retries to catch the bank's systems when they come back online. Recovery rates for this code typically exceed 85% with smart retries alone.

Revive connects to your Stripe account in 60 seconds. It monitors every failed charge, applies the right recovery strategy for each decline code, and sends branded emails to your customers when human action is needed. No code changes. No configuration. Just recovered revenue.

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Related Stripe Errors

processing_error

A temporary error occurred while processing the card. The charge should be retried.

card_declined

The customer's card was declined by their bank with no specific reason given.

generic_decline

The card was declined for an unspecified reason.

do_not_honor

The customer's bank has declined the transaction without giving a specific reason.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I wait before retrying?

Start with a 1-2 hour wait. If that fails, wait 12-24 hours. Most try_again_later declines resolve within a few hours as the bank's systems recover.

Should I notify the customer about a try_again_later decline?

Usually not for the first occurrence. Since this is a bank infrastructure issue, it almost always resolves with a retry. Only contact the customer if retries fail after 2-3 days.

Is try_again_later the same as processing_error?

They're similar — both indicate temporary infrastructure issues. Processing_error tends to be on the Stripe/network side, while try_again_later comes from the issuing bank. Recovery strategies are the same for both.

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