Recovery guidance
What to do when Stripe returns insufficient_funds
What it means for the customer
The card may still be valid and the customer may still want the product. The recovery motion is about timing, a calm explanation, and an alternative payment path.
First recovery move
Send a plain email that explains the payment did not clear because of available funds and gives the customer a secure way to update or change the payment method.
Retry timing
Do not hammer the same card. Wait long enough for a payroll, card balance, or customer action window, then retry with a reminder.
Email angle
Keep the tone neutral: the payment could not be completed, the subscription is still active for now, and they can update the payment method safely.
What to avoid
Avoid blame, urgency that sounds like collections, or repeated same-day retries that create issuer noise without helping the customer.