A "do not honour" response means your bank has refused to process a payment you tried to make
When you attempt a payment—online, by card, by transfer—and it fails with a "do not honour" message, your bank has actively blocked it rather than the payment timing out or the recipient's bank rejecting it. The payment never left your account. Your bank made the decision to stop it, and the reason matters because it determines what happens next.
The term comes from card payment networks like Visa and Mastercard, which use standardised response codes. Code 05 is "do not honour"—it means the card issuer (your bank) has declined the transaction. You will see this most often on debit or credit card purchases, but the principle applies to other payment types too: your bank can refuse any payment instruction you give it.
The message itself tells you almost nothing about why. That is the problem. Your bank knows the reason, but the merchant or payment processor sees only the code. You have to contact your bank to find out what actually happened.
Key Takeaways
- A "do not honour" response means your bank blocked the payment, not the merchant or the recipient's bank.
- Common reasons include insufficient funds, a card that has expired or been reported lost, fraud detection flags, or a payment that violates your account terms.
- The payment did not leave your account, so no money is stuck anywhere—but you will need to resolve the underlying issue before trying again.
- Your bank's fraud detection system may block a payment automatically if it looks unusual for your account, even if it is legitimate.
- Contacting your bank directly is the only way to find out the specific reason and what to do next.
Why your bank refuses a payment
The most straightforward reason is insufficient funds. If you do not have enough money in the account to cover the payment, your bank will refuse it. This applies even if you have overdraft protection or a credit limit—if the payment would exceed what you are allowed to spend, it gets blocked.
Card-specific issues account for many refusals. An expired card, a card you have reported lost or stolen, a card that has been frozen due to suspected fraud, or a card that has not been activated yet will all trigger a "do not honour" response. If you recently received a replacement card, the old one stops working when ready.
Your bank's fraud detection system may block a payment if it looks out of character for your account. A large purchase in a foreign country, a payment to a new recipient, or a transaction at an unusual time can all raise flags. The system is designed to protect you, but it sometimes blocks legitimate payments. This is especially common if you travel or make an unusual purchase.
Account restrictions or holds will also cause refusals. If your account is frozen pending investigation, if you have violated your account agreement, or if your bank has placed a hold on your funds for any reason, payments will be declined. This can happen if there is a dispute with the bank, if you have missed payments on a loan, or if the bank suspects fraud on the account itself.
The difference between "do not honour" and other payment failures
A "do not honour" response is specific: your bank said no. Other failures mean something else happened. If the payment times out or shows an error code from the payment processor, the problem is usually technical—a connection broke, the system was down, or the request was malformed. These are not refusals; they are failures to process.
If the recipient's bank rejects the payment, you will usually see a different message—something about the receiving account being closed, invalid, or unable to receive transfers. The money may take a few days to return to you. With "do not honour", the money never left your account in the first place.
A declined card at a checkout is a "do not honour" response in real time. An online transfer that fails because your bank blocked it is also "do not honour", though the message may be worded differently depending on the bank's system. The underlying reason is the same: your bank refused to send the money.
What to do when ready after a "do not honour" response
First, check your account balance. If you do not have enough money, that is your answer—add funds and try again. This solves the problem in most cases where the refusal is straightforward.
If your balance is sufficient, contact your bank directly. Use the phone number on the back of your card or your bank's official website—do not use a number from a search result or an email. Tell them you received a "do not honour" response and ask them to explain why. They can see the specific reason in their system.
Be ready to provide details: the date and time of the attempted payment, the amount, and the recipient or merchant name. Your bank will need this information to look up the transaction in their logs. If the refusal was due to fraud detection, they may ask you to confirm that the payment was legitimate. Answer honestly—confirming legitimate payments helps your bank learn your normal spending patterns.
If your card has expired or been reported lost, your bank will tell you that when ready. If you need a replacement card, they can issue one. If your account has a hold or restriction, your bank will explain what triggered it and what you need to do to clear it.
Fraud detection blocks and how to resolve them
If your bank blocked the payment because it looked suspicious, they will usually tell you that when you call. The block is temporary—it is designed to protect you, not to punish you. Once you confirm the payment was legitimate, your bank can clear the flag and allow the payment to go through.
Some banks allow you to whitelist recipients or increase your daily spending limit through their app or website. If you travel frequently or make large purchases regularly, setting these limits in advance can reduce the number of blocks you encounter. Check your bank's settings to see what options are available.
If your bank repeatedly blocks legitimate payments, ask them to adjust their fraud detection sensitivity for your account. This is a real option—your bank can tune the system to match your actual spending patterns. It takes a phone call, but it solves the problem for future transactions.
Retrying the payment after the block is cleared
Once you have resolved the underlying issue—added funds, confirmed the payment is legitimate, or replaced your card—you can try the payment again. Wait a few minutes before retrying; some systems need time to update after you make changes.
If you are paying a merchant or sending money to someone, let them know the payment failed and that you are trying again. This prevents confusion if they see two attempts or if they are waiting for the money. If the second attempt also fails, contact your bank again—there may be a second issue you have not discovered yet.
For recurring payments (subscriptions, loan payments, rent transfers), contact the recipient to let them know the payment failed. Ask them to resubmit the request or give you a few days to resolve the issue before they take action. Most organisations will work with you if you communicate proactively.
Preventing "do not honour" responses in the future
Keep your card information current. Update your address with your bank if you move, and replace your card before it expires. Set up automatic renewal if your bank offers it, so you receive a new card before the old one stops working.
Monitor your account regularly. Check your balance before making large purchases, and review your transaction history to spot any unauthorised activity. If you see something wrong, report it to your bank when ready—a frozen account due to fraud investigation will cause "do not honour" responses on all your payments.
If you travel, notify your bank in advance. Tell them the dates and countries you will be in, and they can adjust your fraud detection settings so legitimate purchases abroad do not get blocked. This straightforward step prevents most travel-related payment failures.
For online payments, use the same card or account consistently with regular merchants. Your bank learns your normal patterns and is less likely to block payments to places you use frequently. If you are paying a new recipient for the first time, start with a small amount to test whether it will go through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does "do not honour" mean my card is cancelled?
Not necessarily. It means your bank refused that specific payment, but your card may still be active. However, if your card has expired, been reported lost, or been frozen due to fraud, then yes, it is no longer usable. Contact your bank to find out which situation applies to you.
Will the money come back to my account?
Yes. With a "do not honour" response, the payment never left your account. The money is still there. You do not need to wait for a reversal or refund—it was never taken in the first place.
Can I dispute a "do not honour" response?
You can ask your bank to explain why they blocked it and request that they process it if you believe the refusal was an error. If your bank made a mistake—for example, blocking a legitimate payment due to a fraud detection error—they can override the block and process the payment. This is not a formal dispute; it is a request to your bank to reconsider.
What if my bank keeps blocking legitimate payments?
Contact your bank and ask them to review your fraud detection settings. Explain what types of payments are being blocked and ask them to adjust the sensitivity or whitelist specific recipients. If your bank refuses to help or continues blocking legitimate payments, you may want to consider switching banks.
Does a "do not honour" response hurt my credit?
No. A declined payment does not appear on your credit report. However, if the payment was for a bill you owe (like a loan or credit card payment) and it fails, missing that payment could hurt your credit if you do not make it by the due date. Resolve the "do not honour" issue and retry the payment as soon as possible to avoid late payment consequences.