Description of GN01 Declines and Next Steps to Take
Table of Contents:
How can I find information regarding decline reasons in the Online Terminal?
How can I see customers who have had ACH returns?
Why are there more GN01 Declines?
What are my current options for customers who receive GN01 declines?
What are GN01 Declines?
If a transaction was declined as GN01 - Negative Information was Found, this means that the bank account has had negative data reported on it by the customer's bank at some point in the account history. Negative data would be considered any returned or 'bounced' check transaction and things of that nature.
iCG Pay does not have the specific risk or negative information available. We are just informed that the bank account has had negative data reported on it by the customer's bank at some point in the account history. The length of reporting time can vary between financial institutions.
How can I find information regarding decline reasons in the Online Terminal?
- Go to Reports -> Export Transaction Details
- Payment Method: Checks
- Set Date Range to include the transaction date
- Transaction Types: Decline Only
- Click Export Data
How can I see customers who have had ACH returns?
You can access a report in the Online Terminal that will show you customers who have had ACH returns.
- Go to Reports -> View Check Returns
- Choose the date range for your search
- The reason for the return will be listed on the report
- There is a Return Code Tab in the Online Terminal that will provide a reference for the ACH Return Code response.
Why are there more GN01 Declines?
The iCG Verification services have recently been enhanced to pull transaction history from not only a 3rd party source but also from our own extensive database. When an ACH transaction is processed, the system checks the bank account against this data and will return a decline code if there is any negative data or returns found on the account within the past year.
Based on this enhancement, the check verification is returning more accurate responses which is reflected in the increased number of declines you may see. iCG Verify is working as expected.
The iCG Pay tech team is working on new functionality that will allow you to manage these declines yourself on a case-by-case basis. However, we have not yet been given a release date for this new feature.
What are my current options for customers who receive GN01 declines?
You have the following options:
- Leave the decline codes as they are and ask any customer who is declined for an alternate payment method
- Have an Authorized Signer on the account request that the decline code GN01 be turned off to allow transactions to proceed regardless of the negative data. Please keep in mind that this is turned off for ALL customers and not just for this one.
Before you make your decision, please keep in mind:
- If we turn it off and the customer's transaction is allowed to go through, there is a risk that it could be returned. You will want to manage any returns you receive.
- You will want to make sure that your return rates stay below Nacha's thresholds. For example, if a customer has more than one return you may want to tell them they cannot use that payment method going forward.