Requested Function Not Supported
A "Requested Function Not Supported" decline means the specific transaction type or feature requested — such as a particular refund method, cash advance, or account inquiry — isn't supported by the cardholder's issuer for that card. It reflects a capability mismatch rather than a funds or fraud issue and usually requires a different transaction approach.
Decline code by card network
| Card network | Code | Network's wording |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | 40 | Requested Function Not Supported |
| Mastercard | 40 | Requested Function Not Supported |
Common causes
- The card product, such as prepaid, debit, or a specific co-branded card, doesn't support the requested transaction type.
- The issuer hasn't enabled a particular feature, such as cash advances or certain refund types, for that card or account.
- The transaction was attempted through a channel, such as card-not-present, that the issuer doesn't support for that specific function.
What merchants should do
- Confirm whether the transaction type attempted, such as a cash advance or specific refund method, is one commonly supported across card products before retrying.
- Offer an alternative transaction method, such as a standard sale or refund, instead of the unsupported function.
- If this occurs frequently for a specific transaction type, review your processing setup with your acquirer to confirm which functions are enabled for your account.
How to prevent this
- Confirm with your processor which transaction types and features are supported for the card products your customers commonly use.
- Avoid relying on niche transaction types, like cash advances, in consumer-facing flows unless you've confirmed broad issuer support.
- Provide fallback transaction flows, such as a standard refund, for cases where a specialized function isn't supported.
This decline is most often seen with specialized transaction types rather than everyday purchases, since issuers selectively enable advanced functions by card product. Identifying exactly which function triggered the decline usually points directly to a workable alternative.
Frequently asked questions
Does this decline mean something is wrong with the customer's card?
Not exactly — it means the specific transaction type or feature requested isn't supported by the issuer for that card, not that the card itself is invalid or restricted in general.
Can we retry with the same card using a different transaction type?
Often yes. Since the issue is with the specific function requested, a standard sale or refund frequently succeeds even when a more specialized transaction type doesn't.