Introduction

When processing transactions through Cybersource, credit card validity is a key factor in ensuring successful payments. In most cases, if an expired credit card is submitted, Cybersource will decline the transaction. This applies to both one-time and recurring payments, including tokenized transactions.

This article explains how Cybersource handles expired cards, outlines an exception for the Legacy NetSuite Plugin, and provides guidance on preventing declines caused by expired card details.

Expired Card Processing Policy

• Transactions using a credit card with a past expiration date are declined by Cybersource.
• The rule applies to all transaction types, including:
  • One-time transactions
  • Recurring billing
  • Tokenized payments
• If a stored payment token contains an expired card expiration date, the transaction will fail.

Exception: Legacy NetSuite Plugin

The Legacy NetSuite Plugin uses a default expiration date of December 2099 for stored payment methods. Because this date is far in the future, transactions processed with this plugin are not flagged as expired and are accepted, even if the actual card has expired.

Impact When Migrating to the Managed NetSuite Plugin

Merchants moving from the Legacy NetSuite Plugin to the Managed NetSuite Plugin may experience declines for transactions using expired cards or tokens. The Managed NetSuite Plugin uses the actual expiration date from the card or token, and does not substitute a default date.

This change can affect:

• Recurring orders
• Subscription billing
• Any stored tokenized payment methods with outdated expiration dates

Recommended Solution: Account Updater

To reduce declines caused by expired card details, merchants can enroll in the Account Updater service. Account Updater automatically refreshes stored payment tokens, including expiration dates, when a customer’s card information changes.

Benefits of using Account Updater include:

• Reduced payment declines due to expired cards
• Improved customer experience for recurring and subscription payments
• Higher authorization success rates

For more information on Account Updater, refer to the support article: Account Updater.

Additional Resources

For more information, see the following article:

ISV - Recurring Orders Are Failing Due to an Expired Card After Switching to the Managed NetSuite Plug-In