When a customer in Qatar sees a payment declined with the message “Do Not Honor”, it feels vague and frustrating. For merchants, it can mean a lost sale, an unhappy customer, and extra support time. In this guide, we explain what this decline means, why it happens, and how businesses in Qatar can reduce it—while improving overall payment approval rates.
What does “Do Not Honor” mean?
“Do Not Honor” (decline code 05) is a generic response sent by the issuing bank refusing the transaction. The bank doesn’t provide a reason in the message—it simply blocks the payment.
Why “Do Not Honor” declines happen in Qatar
Although the message is generic, the most common causes in Qatar are:
- Insufficient funds — The account balance can’t cover the purchase.
- Fraud-prevention triggers — Unusual amounts, rapid repeat attempts, or cross-border patterns trip the issuer’s risk models.
- Incorrect card details — Typos in PAN, CVV, or expiry.
- Card or account restrictions — Expired card, frozen account, or spending limits.
- Geographic or currency issues — Some foreign cards are restricted by default for QAR or international usage.
Soft vs. hard declines (why this matters)
| Type | Examples | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| Soft decline | Insufficient funds, temporary network/issuer risk flags | Retry later (automated smart retries) |
| Hard decline | Stolen card, closed account, expired card without renewal | Ask for a different payment method |
The business impact in Qatar
- Lost revenue: Each failed payment risks losing the customer.
- Cart abandonment: Shoppers often give up after one failed attempt.
- Customer frustration: Customers may blame the merchant, not the bank.
- Higher support costs: Teams spend time resolving bank-driven issues.
In Qatar’s fast-moving digital economy, limiting these disruptions is essential for growth.
How Dibsy reduces “Do Not Honor” declines
- Smart Retry Logic: Automatically retries soft declines at optimized times (e.g.Issuer uptime patterns).
- Dynamic Routing: Sends transactions via the most reliable acquiring path to boost authorization rates.
- Localized Checkout (AR/EN): Clear, translated prompts reduce entry errors and confusion.
- Advanced Fraud Controls: Blocks risky traffic while letting genuine customers through.
- Mobile-first UX: Qatar is mobile-dominant; Dibsy’s flows are fast and friction-light.
- Real-time Insights: Track decline codes, spot trends, and act quickly.
Best practices for merchants in Qatar
- Show constructive error messages: “Please check your card details or try another method (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Himyan) or contact your bank.”
- Offer multiple payment options: Add Apple Pay, Google Pay, Himyan, and direct bank transfers to reduce drop-off.
- Enable network tokenization and card updates: Lower false declines due to expired cards.
- Analyze decline trends: Review code 05 patterns by BIN, bank, device, and time of day.
- Use velocity and risk rules wisely: Tight enough to block fraud; not so tight that you block good customers.
Tips for customers
- Double-check card number, expiry, and CVV.
- Ensure sufficient funds or available credit.
- Try another method: Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Himyan.
- Contact your bank to clear restrictions or fraud alerts.
- Notify your bank before traveling to avoid international blocks.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What does “Do Not Honor” mean in payments?
It’s an issuer response (code 05) refusing the transaction without sharing the detailed reason with the merchant.
2) Why does “Do Not Honor” happen in Qatar?
Common causes: insufficient funds, issuer fraud rules, incorrect details, expired/blocked cards, or restrictions on international/QAR usage.
3) How can merchants reduce “Do Not Honor”?
Use a local gateway like Dibsy with smart retries, dynamic routing, AR/EN checkout, and strong risk controls—plus offer multiple payment methods.
4) What should customers do after getting the message?
Check details, confirm funds, try another method, or contact the bank to remove blocks.
5) Can Dibsy help recover lost sales?
Yes. With intelligent routing, optimized retries, and fraud controls, Dibsy improves authorization rates and reduces unnecessary declines.
Final thoughts
“Do Not Honor” is common—but it doesn’t have to mean lost revenue. With the right tools and a local partner, Qatari merchants can reduce declines, recover more payments, and build trust with their customers.
At Dibsy, our mission is simple: empower Qatari businesses with smarter payments, fewer declines, and seamless customer experiences.
Talk to us about improving your approval rates, or explore our guides on online payments in Qatar and more payment insights.