braintree error 91507: cannot refund a transaction that is not settled

TL;DR

You cannot refund a transaction that has not settled yet. Void it instead: voiding cancels the authorization and releases the hold, which is the correct reversal for unsettled transactions. Only use refund after settlement.

91507 cannot refund a transaction that is not settled

Use this when

• A Braintree refund call returns error 91507.
• The transaction is authorized or submitted for settlement but not settled.
• You need to choose between void and refund in code.

Not for this skill when

• The transaction is settled and the refund still fails. That is a different error.
• You want to reverse a partial amount on an unsettled transaction. Void is all-or-nothing.

Steps

1. ('Check the transaction status. Verify: it is authorized or submittedforsettlement, not settled.', 'Call void on the transaction instead of refund. Verify: the void succeeds and the authorization is released.', 'Tell the customer the hold will drop off, usually within a few business days per their bank. Verify: support has the right expectation set.', 'In code, branch on status: void if unsettled, refund if settled. Verify: the branch is tested with both states.', 'If you need partial reversals on unsettled transactions, settle first is not an option; void the whole thing and re-charge the right amount. Verify: finance approves the re-charge.')

Variant phrasings

braintree 91507

Code-first search.

braintree void vs refund

Concept search.

cannot refund unsettled transaction braintree

Symptom search.

Compatibility: Braintree transaction API, void and refund operations, all SDK versions.

Why it happens

Authorization and settlement are two steps: authorization holds the money, settlement moves it. A refund returns moved money, so it needs settlement to have happened. A void cancels the hold before money moves. 91507 is Braintree enforcing that distinction: refunding an authorization would be returning money that never left. The void path is faster for the customer too, since no money movement needs unwinding.

Edge cases / pitfalls

• Void is all-or-nothing. There is no partial void.
• A transaction submitted for settlement can still be voided until the settlement batch runs. Act quickly.
• Once settled, void is no longer possible. The branch must check status at call time.
• Customer messaging differs: "the hold will drop off" for voids vs "the refund is on its way" for refunds.

Provenance

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pstzaFQUO_xWFw36aroRgOVA

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pstzaFQUO_xWFw36aroRgOVA

Thread query: braintree error 91507: cannot refund a transaction that is not settled

TL;DR: You cannot refund a transaction that has not settled yet. Void it instead: voiding cancels the authorization and releases the hold, which is the correct reversal for unsettled transactions. Only use refund after settlement.