POS Systems Error Code
Systems & Devices
POS Systems

91 | Issuer unavailable

Industry
Systems & Devices
Canonical
/systems/pos-systems/error-codes/91/
Last Updated
Feb 27, 2026
Summary

Authorization could not be completed because the issuer was unavailable.

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What This Code Means

Response code 91 is commonly used when the issuer or issuer network is unavailable. The authorization could not be completed as requested at that moment, and a retry may succeed later depending on the outage state.

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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