Discover Payment Decline Code
Discover Decline Code 38: Allowable PIN Tries Exceeded
Category Authentication or PINRetry Guidance Hard Decline (Editorial Classification)By Payment Defender Editorial TeamUpdated July 17, 2026Last reviewed July 17, 2026
What Discover Decline Code 38 Means
Discover decline code 38 (Allowable PIN Tries Exceeded) indicates that the allowable number of PIN entry attempts has been exceeded.
Where the Response May Come From
Code 38 is returned when the number of permitted PIN attempts has been exceeded, causing the issuer to block further PIN authorization. It is an authentication-limit condition on the account, so the issuer's records govern handling.
Common Reasons for This Response
Common causes include repeated incorrect PIN entries at the point of sale.
Should the Merchant Retry the Payment?
Additional attempts will continue to fail once the PIN-try limit is reached; the cardholder must resolve the PIN block with their issuing bank before a PIN transaction can succeed.
Recommended Merchant Action
Stop prompting for the PIN and, where possible, offer a signature or alternate payment path, advising the customer to contact their bank to restore PIN use.
What to Tell the Customer
Ask the customer to contact their issuing bank to reset or unblock their PIN, and offer another way to pay in the meantime.
How to Reduce Similar Payment Failures
Detecting repeated code 38 events helps you offer alternate authentication paths quickly instead of prompting for a PIN that the issuer has already locked.
Important Limitations
Decline-code meanings vary by processor, gateway, and payment environment, and issuers do not always disclose the specific reason behind a response. The retry classification on this page is Payment Defender editorial guidance, not an official network rule. Merchants should confirm handling with their processor or gateway.
Related Decline Codes
Sources and Review Information
Last reviewed July 17, 2026
Raw network-response codes are supplemental to the complete processor or gateway response. Meanings and recommended actions can vary by issuer, processor, gateway, card network, payment method, region, and merchant configuration.