POS Systems Error Code
Systems & Devices
POS Systems

05 | Do not honor

Industry
Systems & Devices
Canonical
/systems/pos-systems/error-codes/05/
Last Updated
Feb 27, 2026
Summary

A card transaction was declined with a non-specific “do not honor” response.

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What This Code Means

Response code 05 (“Do not honor”) is commonly used when the issuer declines a transaction without providing a specific reason to the merchant. It indicates the payment was not approved as requested, and the details are usually only available to the cardholder via the issuer.

Where Users Usually See This Code

  • Checkout and payment attempts
  • Settlement and batch close workflows
  • Device pairing or peripheral setup
  • POS sync and configuration screens

Why This Code Appears

  • A payment decision was returned by issuer/processor
  • Connectivity or configuration prevented completing the transaction
  • A device or service dependency was unavailable

What Typically Happens Next

  • The POS shows an error or decline message
  • The transaction is not completed as requested
  • The system may allow retry after the underlying issue is resolved

What This Code Is Not

  • It is not a guarantee of fraud
  • It is not always a hardware failure

Troubleshooting Checklist

  • Confirm whether the message is a decline or a technical error
  • Avoid repeated retries if you are unsure whether a charge succeeded
  • Verify internet connectivity and service status
  • Check the processor record for the authoritative final state
  • Confirm terminal and POS configuration (TID/MID, pairing)
  • Escalate to vendor/processor support for repeated failures

Notes And Edge Cases

POS workflows span multiple layers; the same message can surface from different causes.

Related Codes

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