Why did I get the PAYMENT_DENIED API response or my customer's card declined?

Typically, a merchant receives a PAYMENT_DENIED API response or card decline error when: 

• The payment was declined by the bank, card issuer or PayPal
• The card is expired or the billing address is outdated
• The buyer's PayPal account is limited
• The buyer needs to confirm their identity with PayPal
• The buyer needs to confirm their PayPal email address
• The buyer needs to confirm their card

Due to consumer privacy laws and regulations, we cannot provide merchants with details regarding buyer payment declines. Please have the buyer reach out to their card-issuing bank or PayPal Customer Support for additional information. 

See also: 

How do I handle an INSTRUMENT_DECLINED error?