Why Is My Card Being Declined?

Your card may be declined for a number of reasons. When our payment processor submits a charge to your bank, your bank will typically have automated systems that determine whether or not to accept the charge. These systems take various signals into account, such as the cardholder's spending habits, account balance, and card information like the expiration date and cvv/cvc security number.

Some declines are self-explanatory, such as incorrect information being submitted or insufficient funds. The most frequent reply we get from banks (and the most frustrating for consumers) relates to possible fraud. Since fraud detection signals are constantly changing, a previously successful card might be declined in the future. even if all of the card information is correct, and the cardholder previously had a successful payment, a future charge may still be declined by a bank’s overzealous fraud system.

If all of your card information seems correct, it is best to contact your bank directly and ask for more information. For privacy and security, banks and card issuers can only discuss the specifics of a declined payment with their cardholders – they cannot discuss this with the merchant.