What Is "Recurring Transaction Not Permitted"
When you subscribe to a service, the merchant stores your card details and automatically charges you each billing cycle. These are called recurring transactions.
The error "recurring transaction not permitted" means the bank received a recurring charge request but declined it specifically because of the transaction type — not because of insufficient funds or a technical error.
Why It Happens
Common causes:
- Missing or invalid mandate. Modern standards (PSD2 in Europe) require the first payment in a series to go through 3DS with explicit cardholder consent. If the mandate was not set up correctly, the bank blocks subsequent payments.
- Card flagged as "no recurring." Some card types (prepaid, single-use virtual cards) do not support being stored for recurring billing.
- Cardholder cancelled the mandate. If you previously cancelled the subscription through your bank (not the merchant), the bank may have set a recurring block flag.
- Mandate expired. Some banks require periodic re-authorization.
- Incorrect transaction type. The merchant sends the charge as an MIT (Merchant Initiated Transaction), but the mandate was never established or has been revoked.
Fix Steps
Check that the subscription is active with the merchant. Log into the service and confirm the subscription has not been cancelled on their end.
Update your card details. If your card was reissued (new number or expiry date), update the information in the merchant's account settings.
Contact your bank. Ask whether a recurring transaction block has been placed on your card. Banks sometimes set this flag automatically after a dispute.
Contact the merchant. Ask them to initiate a new charge with full 3DS authentication — this re-establishes the mandate.
Use a different card. If your current card does not support recurring payments, switch to one that does.
Marix cards support recurring transactions and comply with modern mandate standards.
FAQ
What is a mandate in the context of payments? A mandate is the cardholder's explicit consent to recurring charges. In Europe, the mandate must be confirmed via 3DS authentication on the first payment.
Can I remove the recurring block myself? Usually not. Your bank applies and removes this flag. Call their support line and explain the situation.
Why did an old subscription suddenly stop working? The mandate most likely became invalid: your card was reissued, or your bank updated its authentication requirements for recurring charges.
Need a card that works reliably with subscriptions and recurring billing? Marix offers virtual cards with full support for international recurring payment standards.