Why does my card keep refusing?

Understanding Card Declines: Common Causes and Solutions

Have you ever experienced the frustration of having your card declined at the checkout counter? While it can be an embarrassing and inconvenient situation, understanding the potential reasons for a card decline can help prevent future occurrences.

Expired Card

One of the most common reasons for a declined card is an expired date. Credit and debit cards have an expiration date printed on the front, indicating the last month and year in which the card is valid. Using an expired card will result in a decline.

Solution: If your card has expired, contact your bank or credit union to request a replacement card.

Exceeded Credit Limit

Credit cards have a specific credit limit, which is the maximum amount of money you can borrow and spend. If you exceed your credit limit, your card will be declined until you pay down the balance.

Solution: Monitor your credit card balance regularly and avoid exceeding your credit limit. If you need to make a large purchase that exceeds your limit, contact your card issuer to request a temporary increase.

Suspicious Activity

Card issuers monitor transactions for suspicious activity to protect against fraud. If your card is declined due to suspicious activity, the issuer may have detected an unusual pattern of purchases or a purchase made in an unfamiliar location.

Solution: Contact your card issuer immediately to report the suspected fraud. They will investigate the matter and determine if your card can be reactivated.

Pre-Authorized Hold

When you make a hotel reservation, rent a car, or purchase tickets for an event, the vendor may place a pre-authorized hold on your card. This is a temporary hold for the amount of the purchase or rental, which is released when the service is completed or the items are returned.

Solution: If you have a pre-authorized hold on your card, you can either wait for the hold to be released automatically or contact the vendor to have it removed.

Other Possible Reasons

In some cases, card declines can occur for reasons beyond the user’s control, such as:

• Technical glitches with the payment system
• Incorrect card information entered
• Damaged or faulty chip or magnetic strip on the card

If you experience a card decline for an unknown reason, contact your card issuer or the merchant to investigate the issue.