Payment declined why

Once a customer has entered their card details and clicked Pay, if their card gets declined, they will be directed to an error message along with an error code. This is a typical scenario. This decline code helps the customer determine whether the card failure was a soft or a hard decline. Once you know that, you can decide what course of action you and your customer should take. These codes are not standardized across payment gateways. For example, PayPal has their own set of error codes, while another payment gateway such as Braintree have their own.

However, this message is not always available to you, the business owner, to read or process. This is to maintain confidentiality between customers and their card issuers. Customers may not want businesses to know the specific reasons why their card got declined. Card decline messages are deliberately kept vague and unclear. One reason for this is the fear of fraudulent transactions. Should a fraudster try to make a purchase using a stolen card, a detailed decline message could allow them to find ways around the fraud checks.

Invalid address : Billing address entered does not match address on record with card issuer. While this kind of decline is intended as a safeguard against possible fraudulent transactions, it is often a result of a simpler problem such as a system failure, insufficient funds, outdated card information, or the business being located in a country different than that of the card issuer.

Valid transactions often get incorrectly rejected for these reasons. These declines are called false declines , and they are a growing concern for businesses and card issuers all around. False declines are often due to overly-protective checks put in place by banks in their attempts to curtail fraud. Such misunderstandings can usually be cleared up with a call to your credit card company to verify that your card has not been compromised.

Again, credit card companies have become very adept at picking up on potential identity theft. Your card has expired. You made a typo. Nerdy tip: If you're trying to pay by phone, the error may be on the merchant's end, not yours.

Make sure the representative got all the digits right. A hotel or rental car company has put a 'hold' on your card. There's been a suspicious purchase. Your card has been exposed to a threat. Keep the lines of communication open, and you should enjoy uninterrupted card activity. But the next time you do find yourself faced with a declined card at the register, here are some tips for how to handle it:. You should always have more than one way to pay. Keep another card as backup, plus your debit card and a bit of cash in your wallet just in case.

Save your purchase for another time and leave the store to figure out what the issue is. Otherwise, you should look to the merchant to work out a plan. Give the business your contact information and ask if you can return later on with your payment. Stay calm and polite, and cooperate with the manager or business owner so you can find a viable solution for both parties.

The first item on your to-do list after your card is declined should be calling your credit card issuer. Your issuer will be able to determine why you were unable to make the transaction and help you work out a solution to regain access to your credit line. If it was a case of suspected fraud, you may be asked to verify previous purchases or your location to prove you are the account holder. Missed payments and closed accounts may be a bit more time-consuming to solve, but your issuer can help you explore options for repayment and bring your account back in good standing.

How We Make Money. Kendall Little. Written by. Kendall Little is a personal finance writer who previously covered credit card news and advice at Bankrate. Kendall currently is a staff writer for NextAdvisor. She is originally …. Edited By Mariah Ackary. Edited by. Mariah Ackary. Mariah Ackary is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit card rewards and small business credit.

Mariah is a lifelong writer, but she began writing about finance in …. Reviewed By Antonio Ruiz-Camacho. Reviewed by. Antonio Ruiz-Camacho. Antonio Ruiz-Camacho is senior director of content for CreditCards.

He has more than 20 years of international experience leading content teams, …. You can add multiple payment methods to your Apple ID. Your payment method will be charged for the unpaid balance.

Then you can make other purchases and update your apps, including free apps. Get more help If you disputed a charge from the App Store or iTunes Store, contact your financial institution again to authorize that charge and future purchases from the App Store or iTunes Store.

If you're outside of the United States, you might need to contact your financial institution to allow international purchases. In some countries and regions, your payment method might be declined because of changes to local law. Learn about billing and purchases in Europe or what to do if your card is declined in India.