---
title: "How do promo codes work — and why was one declined?"
description: "Create promo codes to discount a payment or subscription. A code is declined when it's expired, out of uses, below the minimum order, wrong currency, first-time-only, or already used by that customer."
url: "/docs/accepting-payments/how-do-promo-codes-work-and-why-was-one-declined/"
category: "Accepting payments"
---

Promo codes let a customer apply a **discount** at checkout. You create them in **Online payments → Promo codes**, set the rules (validity, usage limits, currency, minimum order), and share the code. When a customer's code is rejected, it's always because one of those rules wasn't met — here's the full list.

## Why a promo code gets declined

- **"Expired" or disabled** — the code's validity window has passed, or you've turned it off.
- **Redemption limit reached** — the code has hit its total number of uses.
- **Below the minimum order** — the order is smaller than the code's minimum spend.
- **Currency mismatch** — the code is set for a different currency than the payment.
- **First-time customers only** — the code only works for a customer's first purchase.
- **Already redeemed by this customer** — a one-per-customer code they've used before.
- **Can't be combined** — the code can't be stacked with another promotion on the same order.

## Fixing a decline

Check the code against these rules first — most declines are an expired code or a minimum-order gap. If the customer should qualify and the code still won't apply, confirm the code's settings in **Promo codes**, or issue them a fresh code.

## Related

- [How do subscriptions and recurring billing work?](/docs/accepting-payments/how-do-subscriptions-and-recurring-billing-work/)