As with any credit card transaction, sometimes a benefit card transaction will fail for one reason or another. Should this happens, account holders who have provided Savers with an email address will receive an email explaining why the transaction was denied. Listed below are the most common error codes that will be seen in these emails.

Low Funds in Participant Account -or- Amount Exceeds Plan Max Total
The dollar amount of the transaction exceeds the available fund balance in the benefit account. Log on to the Online Participant Portal to check your available balance or call Savers at 800-949-0311. In rare instances this error is caused by other account conditions. If you feel that your available fund balance should cover the transaction amount, please call Savers for assistance.

Inactive Account and/or Card
Your benefit card is most likely temporarily disabled due to an old, unsubstantiated transaction on your account. Please submit any requested receipts for processing. This error also occurs if your benefit card is expired. Check the expiration date on the front of your card. For help in identifying needed receipts or to request a new card, please contact Savers at 800-949-0311 for assistance.

Merchant Category Code Not Found
Your FSA MasterCard benefit card is designed to work at providers of qualifying medical services, such as doctor’s offices, hospitals, pharmacies, dentists, and vision care providers. The MasterCard processing system assigns a Merchant Category Code (MCC) to each merchant and then uses the MCC to identify qualifying medical providers. While it may be possible for other merchants to sell FSA eligible products or services, their MCC may not classify them as a provider of qualifying medical services. In these instances your FSA benefit card may not work at that merchant and it will generate this error.

Additionally, in order to accept FSA benefit cards, participating drug stores and pharmacies are required to have a point-of-sale (POS) approval system for FSA products and services. This system allows them to immediately approve eligible FSA items when you check out, which eliminates the need for you submit a receipt to substantiate the expense. This error occurs if a drug store or pharmacy doesn't participate in the POS approval system. It may also occur if there is a problem with their POS system at the time of your transaction. Please click here for more information about the POS system and the rules affecting eligible over-the-counter (OTC) products.

If you feel that your purchase is for an eligible product or service and your FSA benefit card has been denied at the merchant providing the product or service, please feel free to submit a manual reimbursement claim to Savers for processing from your FSA account. You may download a claim form here.

No Eligible Items Purchased
The merchant’s point-of-sale (POS) approval system is able to determine if FSA-eligible items are presented for purchase and deny any that are ineligible. As a reminder, the list of eligible over-the-counter (OTC) items changed on January 1, 2011. Please click here for more information regarding OTC items.

System Problem with Benefit Card Security Code (Card Not Present / Card Verification Value)
This error can occur when the cardholder provides his/her card number either by phone or mail to pay an expense. Typically, the merchant must also enter the Card Verification Value (CVV) – the three-digit security code found on the back of the card. If the CVV is not entered or it’s entered incorrectly the transaction will be denied.

Card is Not Yet Effective
The card was used prior to its effective date. Typically, this occurs with new plans. Benefit cards are typically mailed to participants prior to the start of a new plan so they will have their cards in hand at the start of the plan year. This error occurs if a participant tries to use his/her card before the plan year begins.

Transaction Timeout Error
A temporary communication error between the merchant and the card processing center can cause a transaction to fail. This error may also occur if the transaction amount is less than $1.00.

Invalid Track Data on Benefit Card
If your card usually works, but you see this error at a particular merchant, it is likely due to a problem with the merchant’s card reader. However, if you encounter this error at several different merchants it may be a problem with your card. In this case please contact Savers for assistance in obtaining a new benefit card. A fee may apply for replacement cards.